Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, Op. 60 – Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, Op. 60 by Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven completed his fourth symphony in 1806, with the first performance being given in March of the same year at a private event held at the town house of Prince Lobkowitz.

In the summer of 1806, Beethoven was invited to reside at the country estate of Prince Lichnowsky in Silesia (present day Poland). Lichnowsky was a frequent patron of Beethoven, with the composer dedicating seven compositions to the Prince, in particular the piano sonata No. 8 in C minor ‘Pathetique’.

While at the country estate, Lichnowsky would visit the estate of Count Franz von Oppersdorff, accompanied by Beethoven. The Count was an admirer of Beethoven’s work and offered commission for Beethoven to compose a new symphony. While it seems that Beethoven had already begun work on the fourth symphony before the commission, he would dedicate the work to Oppersdroff, with the count retaining exclusive performance rights on the symphony for the first six months of completion.

The work is comprised of four movements:
I. Allegro – Allegro vivace 00:00
II. Adagio 10:26
III. Scherzo and trio 20:27
IV. Finale 26:20