premiered in a concert that included the overture Die Weihe des Hauses and Kyrie, Credo and Agnus Dei from the Missa solemnis, and was conducted by a totally deaf Beethoven
in 1793 Beethoven decided to set Schillers Ode an die Freude (Ode to Joy) to music. He made his first two attempts in 1798 and 1812
the first time a composer included voices in a symphony
milestone and touchstone, as a result of which even the number 9 took on a deeply symbolic meaning for later composers