Prom 12: Beethoven Cycle – Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 by Beethoven, Boulez, From (2012/2012), Conductor Daniel Barenboim, Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom

About this event Two familiar iconic masterpieces that embrace and extend the musical possibilites of their day frame two exploratory 20th-century miniatures from Pierre Boulez. Mémoriale was written in the memory of a young flautist colleague, while Messagesquisse spotlights the virtuosity of the orchestra's cellos. In his 'Pastoral' Symphony Beethoven leads us through an evocation of the Austrian countryside to symphonic euphoria. During the Second World War the Fifth's opening rhythmic figure became synonymous with 'V for victory' (Morse code's three dots and a dash), the call sign used by the BBC to occupied Europe.