: Opened the night, representing man's relationship with nature.
: During the broadcast, the BBC highlighted the symphony's historical ties; its famous four-note motif (short-short-short-long) matches the Morse code for the letter 'V' , which led to it becoming a symbol of resistance and victory during WWII.
The performance is remembered for its emotional weight, but it also had some famously human moments: Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 (Proms 2012)
Critics from The Guardian and Bachtrack noted that while the Fifth had "great nobility," it was the shared effort of these musicians from conflicting backgrounds that made the performance truly linger in the memory as a symbol of hope. Beethoven: Symphony No 5 in C minor - BBC Proms 2012
On July 23, 2012, at the Royal Albert Hall, conducted the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (WEDO). This ensemble is uniquely composed of Israeli, Palestinian, and other Arab musicians, founded by Barenboim and the late Edward Said to promote cross-cultural understanding. : Opened the night, representing man's relationship with
The evening, titled , was themed around "Nature and Fate". Barenboim made the unconventional choice to play the symphonies in reverse order:
: The grand finale, famously associated with "Fate knocking at the door". Key Highlights and "Foul-ups" Beethoven: Symphony No 5 in C minor -
: In a striking stylistic choice, Barenboim had the piccolo player stand during the final movement of the Fifth Symphony to emphasize its triumphant entrance, though critics noted it was slightly out of tune that evening.