Two hundred years ago, Beethoven shook the world with his final symphony, and especially its Ode to Joy finale, one of the most celebrated melodies ever written. A declaration of friendship, compassion and our common humanity, it holds special meaning in our hyper-polarized times. When you hear it live, the power of so many triumphant voices stirs the soul. Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä pairs this monumental work with Beethoven’s poignant Elegy, a meditation on longing and connection, and Boulez’s iridescent cantata The Sun of Waters, which evokes renewal and the shimmer of a world awakening.