Written shortly after the epic "Eroica" expanded the concept of what a symphony can be, Ludwig van Beethoven's Fourth Symphony makes a simpler statement.
It's a crowd-pleaser. Symphony No. 4 is more direct than the groundbreaking "Eroica" but still has many moments of brilliance, like the fun, rapid-fire melodies in the finale. And you can hear Beethoven toy with some of the famous musical ideas of the Fifth Symphony -- if you know where to find them in the score.
Watch a performance
Watch the Vienna Philharmonic and conductor Christian Thielemann playing Symphony No. 4: