Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, "Opus 67," is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music to novices and experts alike. Its distinctive four-note motif struck twice to introduce the piece is immediately identifiable as a hallmark of Western, if not World, Civilization.
The Fifth Symphony was difficult for Beethoven to complete. The first sketches of the piece were made in 1804, following Beethoven's finishing touches on the Third Symphony. Between 1804 and 1808, Beethoven was repeatedly distracted from his work on the "Opus 67" to compose other pieces, including the first version of his opera Fidelio, the Appassionata piano sonata, the Violin Concerto, the Fourth Piano Concerto, and the Fourth Symphony. Completion of the Fifth Symphony took place in late 1807, early 1808 and was conducted contemporaneously with completion of the Sixth Symphony.
The Fifth Symphony premiered on December 22, 1808 at a at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. The concert consisted entirely of Beethoven premieres directed by the composer himself. The performance took more than four hours and included in addition to the Fifth Symphony, the Sixth Symphony, sections from the C Major Mass, the Fourth Piano Concerto, and the Choral Fantasy.
Beethoven has never been out vogue or the concert hall. Recordings of the complete Nine Symphonies abound and of the Fifth and Ninth Symphonies in particular. Two notable orchestras and conductors are currently working their respective ways through Beethoven's symphonic canon: Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra (in the first American cycle in decades) on BIS and Philippe Herreweghe and the Royal Flemish Philharmonic on Pentatone.
These two conductors and orchestras approach Beethoven from two unique and well-established directions with two equally unique and fresh interpretations. Add to this the hybrid SACD capability and these recordings win on all fronts. The nice thing about recording Beethoven Symphony cycles is that the listener is guaranteed nine superb pieces of music.
Article comments
1 - Jordan Richardson
Nice piece. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing it!
2 - bliffle
"The concert consisted entirely of Beethoven premieres directed by the composer himself. The performance took more than four hours"
This magnificent concert presentation was reproduced a couple years ago by someone (I forget who) and I heard it on the radio, probably NPR.
Sometimes Beethoven is so heart-achingly and incomparably beautiful one wonders that anyone could ignore him. It is almost always interesting to hear new presentations of his major works: they are so full of new interpretive potential.