Whose Symphony Was Composed While Deaf?

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) began losing his hearing in his late 20s and was almost entirely deaf by his mid-40s, yet continued to compose masterpieces. His Ninth Symphony, premiered on 7 May 1824 in Vienna, was composed during a period of profound deafness. The symphony, famous for its final movement setting Friedrich Schiller poem "Ode to Joy" to choral music, was revolutionary: it was the first major symphony to include voices. At the premiere, Beethoven stood on stage to help set the tempo but could not hear the orchestra. When the audience erupted in applause, a soloist had to turn him around to see the standing ovation.