Pianist Alfred Brendel died on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. He was 94 years old.

As a tribute, I present Beethoven’s Fantasy for piano, vocal soloists, mixed chorus, and orchestra, Op. 80, as performed by Alfred Brendel and the New York Philharmonic, conducted by the now disgraced James Levine.

The Fantasy is commonly called the Choral Fantasy. Beethoven composed the Choral Fantasy in 1808. Its premiere was on December 22, 1808 in Vienna. That concert also saw the premieres of his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, the Fourth Piano Concerto, and excerpts of the Mass in C major (busy, busy!).

Beethoven wanted a “brilliant finale” that would include all the participants in the program. The first part is an extended piano solo: then, the chorus and orchestra gradually join in, and the Choral Fantasy indeed ends with a brilliant finale.

The Choral Fantasy is viewed as a precursor to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony: listen 🎶 and you’ll understand.