Symfonie nr. 9 in d mineur, op. 125 by Beethoven, do. 01 aug 1968, Van (1968/1968), Dirigent Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmonie, Berlijn, Duitsland

The 9th symphony, which Beethoven composed when he was completely deaf, was first performed on May 7, 1824 in Vienna. Despite the imperfect reproduction, the public success was great, only the professional world wavered for a long time between complete rejection and enthusiastic approval. Above all, the last movement, in which Beethoven used the words of poets and human voices, contrary to the applicable stylistic laws, was criticized. Beethoven had been thinking about setting Schiller's Ode "An die Freude" to music since 1793, but it was only in the autumn of 1823, while he was working on this symphony, that he chose the "Joy of Joy" as the finale's theme. This decision arose from the realization that only a choir could express his feelings.