In this context I would like to point to the free edx Harvard course series "First Nights", which introduces some important pieces of classical music and the context around their first public performance. The series is aimed at laypeople. The series also includes one course for the one being discussed here:

https://www.edx.org/course/first-nights-beethovens-9th-symph...

> First Nights - Beethoven's 9th Symphony and the 19th Century Orchestra

> Learn about Beethoven’s monumental 9th Symphony and forms of orchestral music.

I found the entire series very interesting and very well made, and the instructor, Thomas Forrest Kelly (Professor of Music, Harvard University) doing a very good job.