Beethoven's Ninth Symphony performed in 1944 to boost morale of Allied troops

Historic concert broadcasts celebrate 90 years of the ABC

It was live music that launched the ABC in 1932. We're celebrating nine decades of live music-making since then, re-living 90 great classical concerts from the last 90 years.
Classic 90 for 90 will present two historic concerts from 8pm every Monday. Sit in the audience with the troops as American Eugene Ormandy conducts Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at the Sydney Town Hall in 1944, catch Claudio Arrau in 1957 at the piano with the Sydney Symphony, and hear Stravinsky on the podium with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 1961.
Listen to the first two concerts on our website and ABC listen. And tune in 8pm Monday 31 January to hear Vladimir Verbitsky conduct the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, as well as Yehudi and Hephzibah Menuhin in recital with the Sydney String Quartet.