Beethoven – Symphony No.5 in C minor (1808)

It was on 22 December 1808 that Beethoven held a concert that had the following programme:

Symphony 6 in F major ‘Pastoral’

‘Ah! Perifido’ (a concert aria for soprano)

Gloria from the Mass in C major

Piano Concerto No.4 in G major

[Interval]

Symphony 5 in C minor

Sanctus from the Mass in C major

Improvised solo from Beethoven

Choral Fantasy for piano, choir, and orchestra

Today’s choice opened the second half, after a first half that was dramatic but fairly easy listening by comparison. This symphony is a work that is often called ‘revolutionary’ – not just for it striking opening, the segue from the third to the fourth movement, but also for the time and context in which it sits.

A 30-minute podcast exploring the context, history and workings of the Beethoven’s 5^th Symphony:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000q38j

As with Symphony 3, here is a short documentary by Sir John Eliot Gardiner about Symphony 5: