On 8 December 1813, Ludwig van Beethoven unveiled his Symphony No. 7 in A Major to an enthralled Viennese audience, conducting the premiere himself at a charity concert.
Held at the University of Vienna to benefit soldiers wounded in the Battle of Hanau, the performance captivated listeners with its exuberant rhythms and hauntingly beautiful Allegretto, evoking waves of applause and cementing the work's place as one of Beethoven's most celebrated compositions.
Renowned contemporaries, including Ignaz Schuppanzigh and Antonín Reicha, contributed to the orchestra, making the evening a triumph both musically and in service to a noble cause.
