- Beethoven worked on this symphony between 1822-4, and it premiered in Vienna on May 7, 1824.1
- Beethoven considered giving the premiere of the 9th Symphony in Berlin rather than Vienna, because he felt discouraged at the time with Vienna’s reception of his music. He was persuaded to give the premiere in Vienna after a group of his friends and his fans got together to write him an encouraging letter, insisting that he did have support in Vienna.
- Beethoven conducted the work’s premiere, but due to his hearing disability, he was unaware of the enthusiastic applause until the contralto soloist, Caroline Unger, pulled on Beethoven’s sleeve and pointed to the audience, whereupon he turned around and took a bow.
- This famous story is remembered differently by several of the concert’s attendees.
- Pianist Sisigmond Thalberg remembered this happening after the Scherzo.
- Beethoven’s factotum Anton Schindler remembered it happening after the last movement.
- Caroline Unger, the contralto who actually did the sleeve-pulling, also remembered this happening at the end of the symphony.
- Original text and translations of Friedrich Schiller’s An die Freude, used in the symphony’s final movement.
Sources
- Douglas Johnson et al, “Beethoven, Ludwig van,” Grove Music Online (Oxford University Press, 2001), accessed February 11, 2021, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000040026.
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