It begins with the most famous four notes in musical history. The Fifth Symphony is the perfect distillation of Beethoven's stupendous musical genius and there can be no final word on the work, no definitive recording. Nonetheless, here are three very fine, and sharply contrasted, performances.

For the latest, most authoritative classical music reviews, be sure to subscribe to Gramophone magazine today: gramophone.co.uk/subscribe

The Modern Choice

Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique / Sir John Eliot Gardiner (Soli Deo Gloria)

'The way Gardiner brings home the unforgiving militarism of the piece, the way the martial brassiness of trumpets and drums pompously interrupts the homely variations of the second movement. The roar into the light of the finale is tremendous...'

Read the full review in the Reviews Database

The Classic Choice

Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Carlos Kleiber (DG)

'I still remember the sinking feeling I experienced – a mere tiro reviewer on Gramophone – when I dropped into the post-box my 1000-word rave review (they had asked for 200) of what struck me as being one of the most articulate and incandescent Beethoven Fifths I had ever heard...'

Read the full review in the Reviews Database

The Vintage Gem

New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra / Arturo Toscanini (Naxos)

'I don’t know who to pity more: the budding maestro who hears this Beethoven Fifth before attempting to conduct the work himself‚ or the one who doesn’t. Either way‚ Toscanini is a near­-impossible act to follow...'

Read the full review in the Reviews Database

Welcome to Gramophone ...

We have been writing about classical music for our dedicated and knowledgeable readers since 1923 and we would love you to join them.

Subscribing to Gramophone is easy, you can choose how you want to enjoy each new issue (our beautifully produced printed magazine or the digital edition, or both) and also whether you would like access to our complete digital archive (stretching back to our very first issue in April 1923) and unparalleled Reviews Database, covering 50,000 albums and written by leading experts in their field.

To find the perfect subscription for you, simply visit: gramophone.co.uk/subscribe