Beethoven’s symphonies were a portal to classical music after first hearing the 5th Symphony in 1969.    I went on to listen to all 9 symphonies and I have retained a great love for numbers 3,4,5,6,7, and 9.   I have attended symphony concerts for most of these over a period of decades and I still go back for another listen, especially after YouTube added performances to watch the orchestras interpret the works.

Symphony No. 7 was written in 1811 – 1812 as he was becoming deaf and as the Napoleonic Wars ravaged Europe.    The piece was innovative, strongly rhythmic, and full of dance-like orchestral color.   The second movement (Allegretto in A Minor) has been universally acclaimed.

It takes about 36 – 40 minutes to listen to the symphony, time well-spent.