Page "Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)" Paragraph 14

When the audience applauded — testimonies differ over whether at the end of the scherzo or the whole symphony — Beethoven was several measures off and still conducting.

Because of that, the contralto Caroline Unger walked over and turned Beethoven around to accept the audience's cheers and applause.

According to one witness, " the public received the musical hero with the utmost respect and sympathy, listened to his wonderful, gigantic creations with the most absorbed attention and broke out in jubilant applause, often during sections, and repeatedly at the end of them.

" The whole audience acclaimed him through standing ovations five times ; there were handkerchiefs in the air, hats, raised hands, so that Beethoven, who could not hear the applause, could at least see the ovation gestures.