The only time in Beethoven’s symphonic career that he wrote any “program notes” occurred at the premiere of his Sixth Symphony on December 22, 1808, at the Theater an der Wien. In the printed program that evening, the following guide appeared:
“Pastoral Symphony, more an expression of feeling than painting.
First piece: pleasant feelings, which awaken in men on arriving in the countryside.
Second piece: scene by the brook.
Third piece: merry gathering of country people, interrupted by the:
Fourth piece: thunder and storm, which breaks into the
Fifth piece: salutary feelings combined with thanks to the Deity.”
Here is Bernard Haitink to conduct this amazing symphony:
