Cocktail Party Fact: The apocryphal story about the first movement’s da-da-da-dum theme representing “fate knocking at the door” is, for once in the world of musical legend, apparently true. Beethoven himself said so. The great German writer Goethe (of “Faust” fame) heard it and thought Beethoven was insane.

Commitment Factor: About 35 minutes

Vital Statistics: Classical Period (1808). A four-movement symphony, but with many unique features. The third movement Scherzo (”Joke”) movement is anything but light and breezy. It leads directly to the victorious finale in one of the most famous crescendos in all music–and it comes back right in the middle of victory parade for one last gasp.

What to Listen For: Everyone knows how this symphony begins, few know how it ends–and ends–and ends–it’s got a finale that just won’t quit. Incidentally, that finale uses piccolo, contrabassoon, and trombones for the first time in a symphony. The extra brass makes a big difference, as you will hear for yourself.