Beethoven's 9th Symphony: Development in Baden and Animonial in Vienna

Beethoven's 9th Symphony: Development in Baden and Animonial in Vienna

Ludwig van Beethoven wrote on September 5, 1823 from Baden to his publisher Ferdinand Ries in London about the progress of his 9th symphony. Despite his stay in the cure in Baden due to health problems, Beethoven could hardly enjoy the advantages of the spa town, since he worked intensively on his symphony. This letter was a crucial indication that Beethoven wrote a large part of the symphony in the Lower Austrian spa town.

The Beethovenhaus Bonn provided the valuable letter document to the Beethovenhaus in Baden for the special exhibition "The Way of the Ninths of Baden to the World". The exhibition still illuminates the path of the ninth symphony and takes a look at the premiere on May 7, 1824 in the Vienna Carinthteror Theater. Beethoven had to organize everything himself, from the hall and musicians to advertising for the concert.

Despite Beethoven's almost complete deafness in the premiere, the ninth was a great success. Soloists like Henriette Sontag, Caroline Unger, Anton Haizinger and Joseph Seeplen performed, while Michael Umlauf was at the conductor's desk. A contemporary witness described how Beethoven was turned to the applauding audience at the end of the Scherzo.

In the exhibition in the Beethovenhaus in Baden, visitors can graphically pursue the complex structure of the symphony. In addition to digital representations, the museum offers an insight into Beethoven's stay in the spa town with original pieces of furniture from its time. Visitors describe emotional experiences in the guest book of being Beethoven as close as possible.

For the anniversary of the 9th Symphony, specialist lectures, special tours and an open day in the Beethovenhaus in Baden take place. On May 7, the symphony will float over bathing as a cloud of sound, while "ORF III" and "Arte" broadcast the work of the Viennese symphonists on television.