From The Nine Symphonies of Beethoven in Score, Albert Wier, editor (1935), p. 280:
The first performance of [Beethoven's] Symphony No. 9 took place on May 7, 1824, at the Karnthnerthor Theatre, Vienna, at a concert given by Beethoven. Only two rehearsals were allowed where at least six were required. Beethoven stood beside the conductor to indicate the tempos at which the various movements were to be played, but he was totally deaf at this time, and of course unable to judge for himself the tonal effect of the work. At its close, standing with his back to the audience and unable to hear the tumultuous applause, Beethoven was unaware of the enthusiasm until the contralto soloist, Fräulein Ungher, induced him to turn around.
Hats were thrown into the air. People raised their arms. There were five standing ovations.
Today marks the 190th anniversary of the premier of what many people feel is the greatest piece of orchestral music--perhaps of any kind of music--ever created.
The below is a strong performance of the symphony in full, though the recording itself is perhaps a tad thin-sounding, with the trio in the 2nd movement and the march section of the 4th movement played faster than is commonly heard. Parts of Beethoven's 9th Sym. are performed so often at a tempo slightly to much slower than evidence suggests that Beethoven indented that it makes me wonder if tastes have changed, if conductors mess too much with the tempo, if Beethoven misjudged, or if modern orchestras don't have sufficient virtuosity to sustain the tempo. Of course, perhaps none of these are the reason.
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