Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 'Fate'

30 June 2026

Background

Composed between 1804 and 1808 at the Pasqualati House in Vienna.
During Beethoven's compositional Middle Period, when he was struggling with increasing deafness.
Schicksalssinfonie (the Fate Symphony) was first performed in Vienna in 1808. It begins with a distinctive four-note "short-short-short-long" motif.

Recordings

9 Symphonies

Wiener Philharmoniker

Cond. Leonard Bernstein · Deutsche Grammophon

The Symphonies

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Cond. Riccardo Chailly · DECCA

🏆 Presto Recording of the Week (2012)
🏆 Gramophone Awards (2012): Finalist Orchestral
🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2011): Disc of the Month
🏆 Radio 3 (2020): Building a Library Recommended

Symphony No. 5 Extended (Performed by a Double Orchestra)

Insula Orchestra, Insula Camerata

Cond. Laurence Equilbey · Harmonia Mundi

Complete Symphonies

Danish Chamber Orchestra

Cond. Adam Fischer · NAXOS

🏆 Presto Recording of the Week (2019)
🏆 International Classical Music Awards (2020): Winner Recording of the Year
🏆 Opus Klassik Awards (2020): Winner Orchestral (19th Century Music)

Symphonies 5 & 7

Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique

Cond. Sir John Eliot Gardiner · SDG

🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2013): Editor's Choice

Symphonies Nos. 1–9

Chamber Orchestra of Europe

Cond. Nikolaus Harnoncourt · Teldec

🏆 Gramophone Magazine: 100 Greatest Recordings
🏆 Gramophone Awards (1992): Recording of the Year

Symphony No. 5 & 7

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Cond. Manfred Honeck · Reference Recordings

🏆 Radio 3 (2021): Record of the Week

Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Cond. Carlos Kleiber · Deutsche Grammophon

🏆 Penguin Guide (1995): Rosette
🏆 Radio 3 Building a Library (2016): First Choice
🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2026): 100 Greatest Recordings

The 9 Symphonies and Overtures

Philharmonia Orchestra

Cond. Otto Klemperer · Warner Classics

🏆 Radio 3 (2009): First Choice

Symphonien 1–9

Berliner Philharmoniker

Cond. Sir Simon Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker

🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2016): Disc of the Month
🏆 Diapason d'Or de l'Annee (2016): Winner Musique Symphonique

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