A concert in memory of the 238th anniversary of Beethoven's birth was held at the Beethoven Center in the old town of Austrian capital Vienna on Sunday evening.

During the concert, artists from Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, Sweden and Japan played Beethoven's works including "Spring Sonata", "Eroica-Variations" and "Sonatas for Pianoforte and Violoncello, Op. 5/1", as well as sang his Choral Symphony "Ode to Joy".

This is the first Beethoven memorial concert held in Austria. President of Beethoven Center Vienna Susanne Rittenauer said Beethoven, born in Germany, moved to Vienna in 1792 and "most of his works were composed in Vienna."

In this sense, "there is every reason" to hold Beethoven memorial concert in Vienna. She also noted that this concert "will be held every year in the future."

Beethoven, known as "the Music Saint", was born in the German town Bonn by the River Rhine in December, 1770. With great musical talent, he began to give performance since he was eight years old and was able to perform freely at the age of 12.

Beethoven had composed a great deal of works including "Moonlight Sonata", "Ninth Symphony", "Fate Symphony", "Eroica Symphony" and "Solemn Mass", which are referred to as beautiful pieces expressing freedom, passion and enthusiasm.

Beethoven died on March 26, 1827 in Vienna. When he was buried on March 29, Vienna schools were all closed to express people's condolences. About 20,000 people came to escort his coffin. At Beethoven's grave, Austrian poet Grillparzer wrote, "we can only say this to a person like him: he has accomplished a great cause."

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2008)