Note 140 — MUSICAL OBSERVATIONS.[109]

Will it be believed in Vienna that Beethoven's Symphonies were assiduously practised from twelve to sixteen months, and the Ninth Symphony, with Schiller's Ode to Joy, full two years, in the Conservatoire of Paris, before they were performed in public? This is a fact. It is also a fact that on occasion of the first performance of this Ninth Symphony, in 1824, at the Kärnthner-Thoe theater, Beethoven could obtain no more than two rehearsals, because the orchestra was engaged in rehearsing a new Ballet. Remonstrances and entreaties, on the part of Beethoven, for a third rehearsal, which he considered necessary, proved unavailing. He received for definitive answer—"Two rehearsals will be quite sufficient." What will the professors of the Paris Conservatoire, and M. Habeneck, the leader, say to this?