Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”

Carefree masterpiece: In 1807/08, at the same time as the mighty Fifth, Ludwig van Beethoven composed a work that was almost the opposite of the fateful force of his Fifth Symphony: With the Pastoral Symphony he created probably his most light-hearted symphony. The music is “more the expression of feelings than sound painting” – but the composer imitates the sounds of nature with orchestral instruments: bird calls, a hiker’s footsteps, the rippling sounds of a flowing stream and a thunderstorm. The Pastoral leads the listener into country life depicted in sound in five poetic images showing the great symphonist in a cheerful mood not commonly seen.