The second programme of the Philharmonia’s visit to the Tonhalle, Zürich, concluded with the Seventh Symphony of Beethoven, who had conducted it in the winter of 1813, in aid of Austrian and Bavarian soldiers wounded at the Battle of Hanau. By now orchestras under Beethoven’s direction were led by the senior musicians among their ranks, including Louis Spohr on this occasion, who reported that ‘The performance was quite masterly despite the composer’s uncertain and often laughable conducting.’