Bernstein wrote in his first book “The joy of Music”: "When you get the feeling that whatever note succeeds the last is the only possible note that can rightly happen at that instant, in that context, then chances are you’re listening to Beethoven.” Bernstein performed and recorded this piece throughout his career. This filmed performance from 1979 already foreshadowed his final performance in Berlin in 1990 celebrating the fall of the Berlin wall. Bernstein talks about the work, not in terms of interpretation, but as the search for world peace. Beethoven’s music achieves peace, reconciliation and triumphal joy, and mankind should and could learn from his example. The Vienna Philharmonic has been associated with this work since 1843. Together they make this performance one of Bernstein’s finest and most convincing.