Beethoven's Ninth Symphony has been played Vienna to mark the 200th anniversary its first performance. The premiere Beethoven's masterpiece took place a theatre in Austria's capital city the 7th of May, 1824. Vienna is the city where the German composer lived and worked much of his life. He composed many of his most famous works there. The anniversary performance earlier this week was conducted the world-famous Italian conductor Riccardo Muti. A member the choir told the BBC how happy she was to sing the 200-year celebration. She said: "It's the whole world to us to be able to sing this wonderful message of love. You're lifted …when you're singing."
The Ninth Symphony is believed to be one the greatest pieces of music ever written. It is also one the most played and most widely-recognized classical works. The symphony's final part – the fourth movement – is called Ode to Joy. This was revolutionary 200 years ago because it used solo voices and a choir. An adapted version Ode to Joy is the anthem the European Union. It is loved and played orchestras worldwide. In Japan, it is sung each December a choir 10,000 singers. The Ode represents peace and international understanding. Heidrun Irene Mittermair, a singer a Viennese choir, called Beethoven's Ninth, "a wonderful message love". She added that it "moves the darkness to the light".
