The Genius of Beethoven’s Symphonies – clip

Thomas Kelly / Harvard University

Beethoven’s symphonies are sometimes referred to as a “cycle,” as though they had been composed together and were intended somehow to belong together. In fact they represent compositions for public performance from all periods of Beethoven’s life. There is also evidence of symphonies, or plans for symphonies, from before and after the symphonies that we now know.