Beethoven's Fifth became a symphonic archetype for the Romantic generation. Its emotional journey from darkness to light, rescuing victory from the jaws of Fate, can be heard resonating strongly in music over the next century and beyond. Even the young firebrand, Richard Strauss, could not escape its omnipotent presence, as witness his mesmerising tone poem Tod und Verklärung ('Death and Transfiguration'), an extraordinary achievement for a 25-year-old, which traces an artist's final moments before being transported to 'the infinite reaches of Heaven'. Strauss's songs are magical distillations of his creative genius - he claimed that it took him around ten minutes to compose each one!
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More concerts with Andris Nelsons
Nelsons conducts in London
Oct 10 2013, 19:30 - Royal Festival Hall
Andris Nelsons conducts Brahms's Symphony No. 1 and is joined by Hélène Grimaud to perform Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 1
Nelsons conducts in London
Oct 13 2013, 19:30 - Royal Festival Hall
Andris Nelsons conducts Brahms's St Anthony Variations, Double Concerto in A minor and Symphony No. 3
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Symphony No. 5 in C minor
Buy on CD or download Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.
Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche / Ein Heldenleben
Buy on CD or download Strauss's Till Eulenspiegel and Ein Heldenleben.
Podcasts
Principal Timpanist Andy Smith looks back on his 40 year journey with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
