Ninth Symphony

Four years later that same conductor was back making history at the Bowl by conducting Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in a special free concert.

Ludwig van Beethoven debuted his Ninth Symphony, widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of Western classical music, in 1824 as he was losing his hearing.

This, Nicholas says, helps guide an audience through the Ninth Symphony because "this is the biggest he ever wrote. It's a mammoth piece."

Laura explains with his Ninth Symphony Beethoven was "really pushing the boundaries of what expectations were of the symphony."

Conversations between Ludwig van Beethoven and his friends are being used for a British Sign Language exploration of his Ninth Symphony, 200 years on from its premiere.