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Background:

• Completed in 1808, the 45 minutes work premiered on 22 December 1808 at the Theater an der Wien, together with his Fifth Symphony.
• One of Beethoven’s rare programmatic ideas, in five movements, telling a story about nature and human emotions, viz., cheerful feelings arriving in the countryside, birds singing, streams flowing, folks merry making, a shepherd thankful for the rain, and a thunderstorm. He was a lover of nature who spent a great deal of time on walks in the country.
• The final three movements (the peasant gathering, the storm, and the shepherd’s song) flow into one another without a break. Beethoven described the Sixth as “more an expression of feeling than painting.”

Recordings:

• 9 Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Wiener Philharmoniker.
  Leonard Bernstein.
  Deutsche Grammophon.

• The Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Gewandhausorchester Leipzig.
  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.

• Complete Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Danish Chamber Orchestra.
  Adam Fischer.
  Naxos.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2019).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2019): Finalist.
  Radio 3 (2020): Building a Library Recommended.
  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 Nos. 1 – 9.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
  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.

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 Pastoral & Stucky: Silent Spring.
  Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
  Manfred Honeck.
  Reference Recordings.
  Gramophone Magazine (2022): Editor’s Choice.
  Grammy Awards (2023): Nominee Best Engineered Album, Classical.
  International Classical Music Awards (2023): Nominated Symphonic Music.

• The 9 Symphonies and Overtures.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Philharmonia Orchestra.
  Otto Klemperer.
  Warner Classics.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2010)
  Radio 3 (2009): First Choice.

• The Complete Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Kammerakademie Potsdam.
  Antonello Manacorda.
  Sony.
  Opus Klassik Awards (2024): Nominated Conductor of the Year.
  Opus Klassik Awards (2024): Winner Symphonic Recording of the Year.

• Symphonien 1 – 9.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Berliner Philharmoniker.
  Sir Simon Rattle.
  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.

• Revolution: Symphonies 6 - 9.
  Symphony No. 6.
  Le Concert des Nations.
  Jordi Savall.
  Alia Vox.
  Gramophone Awards (2022): Finalist Orchestral.
  Gramophone Magazine (2022): Recording of the Month.
  International Classical Music Awards (2023): Nominated Symphonic Music.

• The Symphonies.
  Symphony No. 6.
  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.