STEVES: Yes, in so many ways, the Europeans of the Romantic age, the 19th century, laid the groundwork for the freedoms that we enjoy today in the 21st century. And that European passion for freedom continues. The biggest news of our generation is the transformation of that long bickering continent into a peaceful union, The European Union. While in practice, it’s tough to get that unwieldy collection of proud and distinct nations to do anything in unison, the motto of the European Union is “United in Diversity.” And one thing Europe can do well together is to embrace the ideals of its official anthem.

Our final stop is a piece conceived in that 19th century spirit of revolution, set to a poem about universal brotherhood. This anthem is as relevant today as the day Beethoven set pen to paper. It calls on all people to come together, to be united joyfully in their diversity and to celebrate freedom.

Now, the finale of our Symphonic Journey, the official anthem of the European Union, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

[music: Ode to Joy by Beethoven]