Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, was finished and first performed in 1808. It achieved fame soon enough, going on to become one of the most popular compositions in classical music. Beethoven was in his mid-thirties: his personal life was troubled by increasing deafness. In the world at large, the period was marked by the Napoleonic Wars. The symphony soon acquired status as a central item in the repertoire: groundbreaking in terms of both technical and emotional impact, it had a large influence on composers and music critics, and inspired work by such composers as Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner, Mahler, and Berlioz. The 1st mov. was featured on the Voyager Golden Record.