Have a theological question?

Background

• Composed between 1804 and 1808 at the Pasqualati House in Vienna.
• During Beethoven's compositional Middle Period, when he was struggling with increasing deafness.
• Schicksalssinfonie (the Fate Symphony) was first performed in Vienna in 1808. It begins with a distinctive four-note "short-short-short-long" motif.

Recordings

• 9 Symphonies
  Wiener Philharmoniker
  Cond. Leonard Bernstein · Deutsche Grammophon

• The Symphonies
  Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
  Cond. Riccardo Chailly · DECCA
  Presto Recording of the Week (2012)
  Gramophone Awards (2012): Finalist Orchestral
  Gramophone Magazine (2011): Disc of the Month
  Radio 3 (2020): Building a Library Recommended

• Symphony No. 5 Extended (Performed by a Double Orchestra)
  Insula Orchestra, Insula Camerata
  Cond. Laurence Equilbey · Harmonia Mundi

• Complete Symphonies
  Danish Chamber Orchestra
  Cond. Adam Fischer · NAXOS
  Presto Recording of the Week (2019).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2019): Finalist.
  International Classical Music Awards (2020): Winner Recording of the Year
  Opus Klassik Awards (2020): Nominee Conductor of the Year.
  Opus Klassik Awards (2020): Winner Orchestral (19th Century Music)

• Symphonies 5 & 7
  Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
  Cond. Sir John Eliot Gardiner · SDG
  Gramophone Magazine (2013): Editor's Choice.
  Presto Favourites (2013): Recommended Recording.
  
  
• Symphonies Nos. 1–9
  Chamber Orchestra of Europe
  Cond. Nikolaus Harnoncourt · Teldec
  Gramophone Magazine: 100 Greatest Recordings.
  Radio 3 (2005): Budget Choice.
  Gramophone Awards (1992): Recording of the Year.
  Radio 3 (2020): Building a Library Recommended.
  
  
• Symphony No. 5 & 7
  Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
  Cond. Manfred Honeck · Reference Recordings
  Granny Awards (2022): Nominee Best Orchestral Performance.
  Grammy Awards (2022): Nominee Best Engineered Classical Album.
  Radio 3 (2021): Record of the Week

• Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
  Cond. Carlos Kleiber · Deutsche Grammophon
  Penguin Guide (1995): Rosette.
  Presto Greatest Recordings of the 1970s.
  Presto Favourites (1995): Recommended Recording.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (1999): First Choice.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2007): First Choice.
  Radio 3 Building a Library (2016): First Choice
  Gramophone Magazine (2026): 100 Greatest Recordings

• The 9 Symphonies and Overtures
  Philharmonia Orchestra
  Cond. Otto Klemperer · Warner Classics
  Presto Recording of the Week (2010)
  Radio 3 (2009): First Choice

• The Complete Symphonies.
  Kammerakademie Potsdam.
  Antonello Manacorda.
  Sony.
  
  
• Symphonien 1–9
  Berliner Philharmoniker
  Cond. Sir Simon Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker
  Presto Recording of the Week (2016).
  BBC Music Magazine (2016): Disc of the Month
  Diapason d'Or de l'Annee (2016): Winner Musique Symphonique.
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2016): Finalist.

• The Symphonies.
  Minnesota Orchestra.
  Osmo Vanska.
  BIS.
  Gramophone Magazine (2006): Editor’s Choice.
  
  
  
  

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.