LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, SYMPHONY NO. 9 IN D MINOR, OP. 125

I can't think of a better way to spend Sunday afternoon in the Christmas season than sitting comfortably in San Diego's symphony to hear the symphony orchestra with the master chorale presenting Beethoven's 9th Symphony.  Beethoven, at age 22 when he was not deaf, began at least thinking about putting Shiller's "An Die Freude" to music.  Twenty years later by the time he had actually finished the work so it could be played he was completely deaf.  We hear today "Ode to Joy" grateful that Beethoven, the cranky rascal that he was, actually lived and that we have the ability to hear his work... all of it.  It moves me to tears.  Life is good.