About the work
Ludwig van Beethoven's Third Symphony, composed in 1803-1804 and originally dedicated to Napoleon, is regarded as a turning point in music history and the beginning of musical Romanticism.
Plot
The symphony in E-flat major consists of four movements: a dramatic opening movement of unprecedented length, a moving funeral march, an energetic scherzo, and a variation finale on a theme from Beethoven's ballet The Creatures of Prometheus. The work burst all previous dimensions of the symphony.
Cultural significance
The Eroica marks the beginning of Beethoven's heroic period and ushered in a new era of orchestral music. The legend that Beethoven angrily struck out the dedication to Napoleon when the latter crowned himself emperor is a key moment of music history.