What’s Your Favourite Symphony?

[Sir Velo]

A century ago it would generally have been admitted that Beethoven's Fifth Symphony was the most sublime noise that had ever penetrated into the ear of man.

[Serial_Apologist]

A century ago it would generally have been admitted that Beethoven's Fifth Symphony was the most sublime noise that had ever penetrated into the ear of man.

That's because women had only just won the vote.

[Serial_Apologist]

What's your favourite sandwich?

BLT - meaning Beat London To It, whenever the one remaining is the last one available!

[Serial_Apologist]

What's your favourite rhetorical question?

What's his name?

I'll make my favourite symphony Honegger's Fourth - "Deliciae Basiliensis"; it has the most wonderful wide-spaced orchestration in the first movement, designed for cooling those overheated summer days - and that uproarious finale, with its passacaglia crowned by the mediaeval tune of Basle that evokes the peasantry parading jovially into town, headed with the court jester.

[Joseph K]

What's your favourite sandwich?

Cheese and chutney.

[teamsaint]

What's your favourite window cleaning product?

White vinegar.

Which isn't white of course.

[Barbirollians]

I think we could also have what is your favourite piece of 20th/21st century Emperor's new Clothes music - but somehow fortunately they are less popular than symphonies - don't be deterred BBM ! " What is your favourite symphony" ? It is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. No different to Desert island Discs or Private Passions.

[Beef Oven!]

What's your favourite sandwich?

Nooo! That's way too difficult! Too many to choose from! At a push, I'd say corned beef and brown pickle.

[Beef Oven!]

Cheese and chutney.

Close, but no cigar.

[MickyD]

I have enough trouble nominating my favourite Haydn symphony, let alone an overall symphony.

(And if it is of any interest to anyone, for the moment, my favourite Haydn is no. 79, which I have got to know in the wonderful recent Dantone recording).

[Richard Barrett]

I think we could also have what is your favourite piece of 20th/21st century Emperor's new Clothes music

Good idea - what's yours?

[Sir Velo]

Haydn 104, Mozart 40, Schubert 8, Brahms 4, Bruckner 8, Nielsen 4 and Sibelius 5 all have their claims on my affections.

However, it has to be something by the greatest of all symphonists. Leaving aside the Eroca. the Fifth and the Choral, it would have to be the apotheosis of the dance, jumping yaks 'n all.

[Belgrove]

Sibelius 6.

[LMcD]

Please keep this thread going for a while - I'm always happy to follow up recommendations of works currently unknown to me.
(Since somebody asked, my favourite sandwich is the one in Kent)

[Ferretfancy]

A century ago it would generally have been admitted that Beethoven's Fifth Symphony was the most sublime noise that had ever penetrated into the ear of man.

Certainly EM Forster thought so.

For drama and a certain melancholy solace I'll pick Shostakovich 8