It took an endorsement from the Allgemein musikalische Zeitung a year later to kickstart its popularity. Premiered at the infamous Theatre an der Wien concert of 1808, one reviewer described the piece as ‘large, very protracted, overlong’, and in general it elicited little comment.
It took, however, a little time for this symphony’s genius to be recognised. ‘Fate knocking at the door’, is how Beethoven is reported to have described the theme to his secretary and (not entirely reliable) biographer, Anton Schindler.
The four notes that open Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony have a claim to being the most famous musical motto ever written.
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