Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'

2 June 2026

Background

Commissioned by the Philharmonic Society of London in 1817. Composed between 1822 and 1824.
First performed at the Theater am Kärntnertor, Vienna, on 7 May 1824; Beethoven was by then completely deaf.
The final symphonic movement features a full chorus and soloists — the first major symphony to do so.

Recordings

The Symphonies

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig

Cond. Riccardo Chailly · DECCA

🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2011): Disc of the Month
🏆 Gramophone Awards (2012): Finalist Orchestral
🏆 Radio 3 (2020): Building a Library Recommended

Complete Symphonies

Sara Swietlicki (Soprano), Morten Grove Frandsen (Countertenor), Ilker Arcayürek (Tenor), Lars Moller (Baritone)

Danish Chamber Orchestra, Danish National Concert Choir

Cond. Adam Fischer · NAXOS

🏆 International Classical Music Awards (2020): Winner Recording of the Year
🏆 Opus Klassik Awards (2020): Winner Orchestral (19th Century Music)
🏆 Radio 3 (2020): Building a Library Recommended

Symphonies Nos. 1–9

Charlotte Margiono (soprano), Birgit Remmert (alto), Ridolf Schasching (tenor), Robert Holl (bass)

Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Arnold Schoenberg Choir

Cond. Nikolaus Harnoncourt · Teldec

🏆 Gramophone Magazine: 100 Greatest Recordings
🏆 Gramophone Awards (1992): Recording of the Year

Symphony No. 9 'Choral', Choral Fantasy in C minor Op. 80

Christiane Karg (soprano), Sophie Harmsen (mezzo), Werner Gura (tenor), Florian Boesch (baritone)

Freiburger Barockorchester

Cond. Pablo Heras-Casado · Harmonia Mundi

🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2020): Orchestral Choice

Symphony No. 9

Christina Landshamer (soprano), Jennifer Johnson Cano (mezzo-soprano), Werner Güra (tenor), Shenyang (bass-baritone)

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh

Cond. Manfred Honeck · Reference Recordings

🏆 Radio 3 (2021): Record of the Week

Symphonien 1–9

Annette Dasch (soprano), Eva Vogel (mezzo), Christian Elsner (tenor), Dimitry Ivashchenko (bass)

Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin

Cond. Sir Simon Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker

🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2016): Disc of the Month
🏆 Diapason d'Or de l'Annee (2016): Winner Musique Symphonique

Revolution Volume II. Symphonies 6 & 9

Sara Gouzy (soprano), Salome Fischer (alto), Mingjie Lei (tenor), Manuel Walser (baritone)

Le Concert des Nations

Cond. Jordi Savall · Alia Vox

🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2022): Recording of the Month
🏆 Radio 3 (2022): Building a Library Recommended

The 9 Symphonies and Overtures

Aase Nordmo Løvberg (soprano), Christa Ludwig (mezzo-soprano), Hans Hotter (bass)

Philharmonia Orchestra

Cond. Otto Klemperer · Warner Classics

🏆 Radio 3 (2009): First Choice

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