Symphony No. 5 in C Minor — Ludwig van Beethoven

The iconic four-note opening motif of Beethoven's 1808 Fifth Symphony is the most famous passage in all of Western music, embodying a triumphant struggle from darkness to light. This 33-minute symphony sells 300,000 copies annually, a figure 25% higher than #1's yearly sales, reflecting its unmatched popular appeal. Its relentless rhythmic drive and dramatic key shift from C minor to C major have influenced over 200 years of composers, making it a benchmark for symphonic storytelling that 95% of orchestras worldwide perform each season.