BBC Music Magazine

Ludwig van Beethoven

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On 7 May 1824, Beethoven directed the premiere of his monumental Ninth Symphony, with its famous Finale setting Schiller’s Ode to Joy, in Vienna’s Kärntnertor Theatre. Fortunately, a second conductor had been engaged, because the performance taking place in Beethoven’s mind had only a tenuous connection with what was happening on the stage. As the symphony came to an end, the deaf composer still had his head buried in the score, and he had to be turned round by one of the solo singers so that he could see the wildly enthusiastic applause, even if he couldn’t hear it.

Just a month earlier, Beethoven’s equally to the virtual exclusion of all else. At no other

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