[NorthMountain]

Beethoven’s Ninth — particularly the Chorale — is the finest piece of music ever written.

I once believed that.

Then I heard the Verdi Requiem.

Live.

When it ended, the entire audience sat, utterly silent, stunned, pinned to their seats, for about 5 seconds … then simultaneously erupted into the greatest standing ovation I have ever witnessed.

Now I am not so presumptuous as to label anything the finest piece of music ever written.

But I will admit Beethoven #9 is in the (no order) top five.

[IronJack]

There are other “big” pieces ... glorious works (Wagner, Handel, Bach, Mozart, et.al.). But their best doesn’t rise to the level of the Ninth. It stands alone.