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Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was played in Vienna for the 200th anniversary of its first performance. The premiere of Beethoven's masterpiece took place in Austria's capital city on the 7th of May, 1824. The German composer lived and worked in Vienna for much of his life. He composed his most famous works there. A member of the choir told the BBC how happy she was to sing in 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 up…when you're singing."
Many people think the Ninth Symphony is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. It is one of the most widely-recognized classical works. The symphony's fourth movement is called Ode to Joy. This was revolutionary 200 years ago because it used a choir. A version of Ode to Joy is the anthem of the European Union. It is played by orchestras worldwide. The Ode represents peace and international understanding. A singer in a Viennese choir called Beethoven's Ninth "wonderful". She added that it "moves from the darkness to the light".
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