SYMPHONIES AND REUNIFICATION

Ludwig van Beethoven: detail of an 1804 portrait

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony was premiered on 22^nd December 1808 at a mammoth concert at the Theatre an der Wien in Vienna consisting entirely of Beethoven premieres, and directed by Beethoven himself. The concert lasted for more than four hours. The two symphonies appeared on the program in reverse order: the Sixth was played first, and the Fifth appeared in the second half. The program was as follows:

•    The Sixth Symphony

•    Aria: "Ah, perfido", Op. 65

•    The Gloria movement of the Mass in C major

•    The Fourth Piano Concerto (played by Beethoven himself)

•    (Intermission)

•    The Fifth Symphony

•    The Sanctus and Benedictus movements of the C major Mass

•    A solo piano improvisation played by Beethoven

•    The Choral Fantasy

Beethoven dedicated the Fifth Symphony to two of his patrons, Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz and Count Razumovsky. The dedication appeared in the first printed edition of April 1809.

On 22^nd December 1989, the Brandenburg Gate crossing was reopened when Helmut Kohl, the West German chancellor, walked through to be greeted by Hans Modrow, the East German prime minister. Demolition of the rest of the Wall around the area took place the following year.