Beethoven鈥檚 Fifth Symphony
I can think of no other piece of classical music that towers in the collective soul as mightily as does Beethoven鈥檚 Fifth Symphony. From its iconic opening 鈥� 鈥渇ate knocking at the door鈥� 鈥� to its majestic scherzo, to the riveting transition into its triumphant finale, there are too many great moments in this symphony to count, and each one leaves you feeling better than the ones before. There鈥檚 a reason why Beethoven鈥檚 Fifth is arguably the best-known, best-loved work in the classical repertory 鈥� it鈥檚 music so inspired that every performance of it seems to bring out the best of humanity.
How this music can change your life: After hearing Beethoven鈥檚 Fifth Symphony, you鈥檒l feel like you can do anything. And it鈥檚 good to be reminded that, really, you just about can.
Here鈥檚 the complete Fifth Symphony by Beethoven. Leonard Bernstein conducts the Vienna Philharmonic: