The Artist:
One of the greatest and most radical composers of all time. A tormented genius, who went deaf in later life and never heard his final works. His nine symphones are probably his greatest achievement, each one an unrivalved masterpiece, but he also wrote 5 piano concertos, piano sonatas, string quartets and one opera, Fidelio.
Info:
This is unlike the slow 2nd movement of many symphonies. Its theme is quickly established and has a hauntingly beautiful melody.
Beethoven composed this Symphony while improving his health in the Bohemian spa town of Teplice. The second movement, Allegretto, was the most popular movement and had to be encored. The instant popularity of the Allegretto resulted in its frequent performance separate from the complete symphony.
