This video presents Birth of a Symphony: Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. It is performed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Festival Orchestra, comprised of many of the country's finest musicians. In 1963, the CBC invited renowned conductor Karl Bohm to conduct the orchestra. Born in Austria in 1894, Bohm was the principal conductor of the Salzburg Festival for 25 years, and was considered to be one of the great opera conductors of the 20th century. Along with a beautifully rendered live performance of the symphony, the video includes a rehearsal session, which gives insight into the dynamics between the conductor and the musicans. Beethoven's 7th symphony remains one of his most controversial works. Some critics thought it was brilliant, others thought it was a sign that he had lost his mind. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, Rovi