Ludwig van Beethoven conceived his Seventh Symphony in the summer of 1811 in the Bohemian spa of Teplitz. The fair copy of the score autograph was made the following year. The work was heard for the first time on 8 December 1813 in the auditorium of the Vienna University, when the Seventh was given its first, enthusiastically applauded audition – together with the programmatic symphony “Wellington's Victory or the Battle of Victoria” op. 91.

The present Urtext edition is the first to be based on the evaluation of all the sources transmitted for the work. The score contains the complete Critical Report. Observations deemed particularly important, as well as divergences from established editions, are clearly marked within it.

“Words are not enough to praise this exemplary edition, resulting from many years of systematic editorial work on the sources. Breitkopf's source-critical, practice-oriented edition by Clive Brown and Peter Hauschild will provide valuable new impulses in the interpretation of Beethoven's music.” (Kurt Masur, 2006)Urtext Edition