Thread: Best Beethoven symphonies

My rant in my previous post was not against Eroica, which happens to be my favourite as well. I simply feel that comparing it to Mozart as a point of underlying its greatness is irrelevant.

Originally Posted by Kurkikohtaus

My rant in my previous post was not against Eroica, which happens to be my favourite as well. I simply feel that comparing it to Mozart as a point of underlying its greatness is irrelevant.

A fair point. I simply used Mozart as an example, though. I agree that being innovative isn't the only measure of a work, but I do find it to be an important one.

i was such an idiot 3 years ago, why did i start this stupid thread? "Best Beethoven Symphonies" what a hilariously idiotic concept.

Originally Posted by Kevin Acker

I agree that being innovative isn't the only measure of a work, but I do find it to be an important one.

There we can agree, innovation prevents music from becoming derivative and uninspired.

9--Zander, Tennstedt/LPO, Szell/Cleveland, Toscanini/NBC, Furtwangler 3/1942
6--Szell, Solti, Monteux
5--Zander, C. Kleiber, Reiner
7--Solti, Zander, Mravinsky, C. Kleiber
3--Keilberth, Furtwangler 12/44, Furtwangler 1952?, Karajan 1962, Klemperer
4--Klemperer, Monteux
8--Szell, Solti
1--Solti
2--Solti

Tie for first place - 3 & 9
then 6,8,7,1,5,4,2

9 Karl Bohm('70s, the best 3rd movement), Fricsay, Karajan, Abbado
6 Karl Bohm
5 Carlos Kleiber
3 ?(best recording not yet known to me, still searching)
7 Carlos Kleiber
4
8
2
1

1 Walter
2-3 Bernstein
4 Walter
5 Kleiber (Just heard the Vanska/Minnesota performance, and it is certainly in competition with this one!)
6 Walter
7 Bernstein
8 (no real preference)
9 Solti

I was never too fond of the Ninth. It really is ingenious, and I respect it very deeply; I just don't see what all the hullabaloo is about...

1) 3
2) 7
3) 9
4) 5
5) 4
6) 1
7) 6
8) 8
9) 2

That's my list. I just got Toscanini's cycle in the mail a couple of weeks ago, so I'll come back to this one, too.

Originally Posted by Todd

Interesting lists, but the correct one is as follows:

3
9
6
7
5
4
8
1
2

Correct? This is music, friend. Nobody's right.

9
3
1
6
5
7
8
4
2

I like the Sixth.

3
6
7
9
5
1
4
8
2

1) 4th
2) 3rd
3) 9th
4) 5th
5) 6th
6) 8th
7) 2nd
8) 1st
9) 7th

1) 9th
2) 3th
3) 5th
4) 6th
5) 7th
6) 8th
7) 4th
8) 2th
9) 1st

3
5
7
6
9
1
4
8
2

I just started collecting Osmo Vanska's cycle (4 and 5 in the mail right now; the fifth should be intense!). I have high hopes that it'll be every bit as great as reviews have been, and am sure they will be; Osmo's Sibelius that I've heard is absolutely stunning.

7th
9th
6th
5th
3rd
4th
8th
2nd
1st
all from Walter Weller