Beethoven began composing his Third Symphony shortly after his increasing deafness and suicidal thoughts became public knowledge. The ‘heroic’ style of this symphony can be interpreted as a musical expression of his triumph over personal suffering. But the symphony also has enormous musical significance: with the ‘Eroica’, Beethoven expanded the symphonic form and thus changed the expectations of a four-part symphony for the next two centuries.

Giulini’s recording with Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra is highly regarded as reference recording.