HomeLaura PerrinsMy classical choice: Beethoven’s Symphony No 5

My classical choice: Beethoven’s Symphony No 5

June 17, 2018

This Sunday, we have the brilliant Beethoven’s Symphony No 5 featuring the most famous opening notes in classical music.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), born in Bonn, is considered by many to be the greatest composer ever. He wrote one opera, nine symphonies and five piano concertos as well as string quartets and other chamber music, and some of the best-known piano sonatas.

Some commentators refer to the first five bars of the Fifth Symphony as ‘terrifying’ and ‘fate knocking at the door’.

I have heard this in concert myself and it is a wonderful experience, worth listening to in its entirety.

This performance from the 2012 Proms is by the West-Eastern Divan youth orchestra, comprising players from the Middle East including Iran, Israel, Jordan and Palestine, and conducted by its co-founder Daniel Barenboim.

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