Theatricality and spectacular sound effects are the hallmarks of this unusual work that conjures up the life-and-death drama of one of Europe's most decisive battles — the Duke of Wellington's victory over Napoleon in a Basque province in 1813. First performed in December 1813 at a concert in Vienna to benefit Austrian and Bavarian soldiers wounded at the Battle of Hanau, Wellington's Victory, also known as "The Battle of Vittoria," had been commissioned by Johann Maelzel — inventor, avid promoter, and friend of Beethoven — to exploit patriotic sympathies for Maelzel's financial gain. The result was a wildly popular success beyond expectations of either promoter or composer. Dover's handsome edition of the score — reprinted from the authoritative Complete Works edition originally published by Breitkopf & H#65533;rtel — includes facsimile pages from the original publication. Beethoven's original instructions for performance, an annotated instrumentation list, and a prefatory note describe the events that led up to — and followed — the creation of this exceptional work.