Anja Bihlmaier conducts Dvořák’s Symphony No 9, ‚From the New World‘ with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre

Written in 1893 during Dvořák’s time in New York as Director of America’s National Conservatory of Music, Symphony No 9 is one of classical music’s most beloved works. The Czech composer believed that a distinctive American musical voice could grow from the country’s own traditions, and he drew inspiration from the sounds, melodies and stories he encountered in the United States while remaining deeply connected to the folk music of his Bohemian homeland. The result is a symphony that feels both familiar and pioneering. From the dramatic opening movement and the famous Largo with its unforgettable cor anglais melody, to the dance-inspired Scherzo and exhilarating finale, Dvořák combines soaring lyricism, rhythmic energy and thematic invention to create a musical portrait of a rapidly changing nation. Echoes of Native American culture, spiritual traditions and Czech folk influences sit side by side in a work that helped shape the future of American classical music. Recorded live at the Barbican Centre on 26 March 2026, this performance captures the enduring power of a masterpiece that remains one of the most frequently performed symphonies in the repertoire.

Performers Anja Bihlmaier conductor London Symphony Orchestra Chapters 00:00 Adagio – Allegro molto 12:28 Largo 23:43 Scherzo: Molto vivace 32:21 Allegro con fuoco