ABSTRACT
The ninth Symphony was growing. On April 6th, 1822, Ludwig van Beethoven had written to Franz Ries in London, asking, "What would the Philharmonic Society be likely to offer him for a Symphony". Other projects in the air at this time were an opera; an oratorio, the story of Judith being considered; further settings of the Mass; and the Diabelli variations. Only the last-named came to fruition. The works actually published in 1822-3 were few—the last two pianoforte sonatas, and some Bagatelles. The beginning of 1824 — February — saws Beethoven relieved by the conclusion of the Symphony. Its first performance took place at Vienna on May 7th. The announcement of the concert is shown overleaf. There still persists a tradition that so far as his later works were concerned Beethoven was a prophet without honour in his generation, and that the ninth Symphony was too hard a nut for the public of his day.
