Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7 by Beethoven

Two symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven, No. 6, ‘Pastoral’, and No. 7, for orchestra, in a classical music programme at the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona.

Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, known as the ‘Pastoral’, was composed by Beethoven between 1802 and 1808 and premiered in Vienna in 1808. It is a work in five movements with descriptive titles, such as ‘Awakening of cheerful feelings on arriving in the countryside’ or ‘Scene by the brook’, which portray life in the countryside.

Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, was composed between 1811 and 1812 and premiered in Vienna in 1813. Its second movement, an Allegretto in A minor, is one of the best-known parts of the work. Both symphonies form part of Beethoven's orchestral catalogue, in which the composer developed the symphonic form over the course of his career.

The Palau de la Música Catalana is a Modernist building by Lluís Domènech i Montaner, built between 1905 and 1908 and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Besides its concerts, the venue hosts exhibitions and cultural activities in Barcelona.