Beethoven sales soar

Last Modified: 22 Sep 2008
Source: ITN

Sales of Beethoven's Fifth symphony have soared after celebrity conductors took part in a reality TV show.

Eight celebrities, including Jane Asher, Katie Derham, David Soul and Alex James, competed against each other in Maestro. Comedian Sue Perkins beat drum and bass musician Goldie in the live final.

Both had to conduct the first movement from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony before going to a public vote.

Since the series was broadcast, sales of Beethoven's popular composition have trebled.

HMV classical manager Tony Shaw said: "These days people often tend to discover classical music through film soundtracks or TV ads, so it's refreshing that an intelligent programme such as Maestro should have had such a similarly positive effect.

"If it's one more way to get the public interested in classical music, that's got to be a great thing."

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