There is not a single lover of classical music that doesn’t have few Beethoven recordings in his or her’s collection.
Born in Bonn in 1770, died in Vienna in 1827, Beethoven represents a “bridge” between the classical and romantic era of the 19th century. An ingenious revolutionary in spirit, his constant rebellion against common composition practices of the day gave way to a better respect to the classical tradition, a duality omnipresent in much of his late pieces.
It’s a common practice among musicologists to divide Beethoven output into 3 periods – Early, middle and late. The middle period is where most of new Beethoven listeners begin, and where most of the pieces mentioned in this article derived from.
Beethoven’s lifetime included many struggles, personal and professional. Since his late twenties he gradually and tragically lost his hearing, and by the end of his life was practically (and literally) deaf. His music affected the western culture tremendously, making the world think differently about music and the persona of the artist as a stand-alone voice in society. Some of his pieces were used to inspire and symbolize historic events, from crucial moments in the European wars of the 20th century, to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
As with all of our beginners’ guides to great composers of classical music, the following list contains some pieces that are a good starting point to acquaint yourself with Beethoven. The rest is up to the listeners and the path he or she will take with the music. The recordings recommendations for each piece are also taken as a good starting point for introducing it to the listeners, and are not necessarily an official “best of” choice which we will continue to do on a piece-by-piece basis.
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67
There is little doubt that Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is one of the well-known pieces of music ever written. But what is the secret of its popularity and force? Beethoven followed an example by his on-and-off teacher, Joseph Haydn, built a full-length Symphony based on a tiny cell, comprised of 4 notes. All 4 movements of the Symphony expend of this small motive which makes the Symphony tightly structured, rhythmically exciting and emotionally charged. A lot of cultural elements were attached to this piece, including war, peace, fate, despair and hope.
There is no orchestra, conductor or record label that has not performed or recorded this Symphony many times over, and the album choices are virtually endless. The Symphony is sometimes coupled with other Symphony pieces by Beethoven, and one such an album is recommended bellow, that happens to include 2 other recommended pieces from this guide. If you want to choose a single recommended performance of the Fifth, you can’t go wrong with one of the best-known albums ever made – By Carlos Kleiber and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (DG), here coupled with no less impressive performance of the 7th Symphony.
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 (“Pathétique)
There is no better exemplification of the 3 Beethoven periods than in his 32 piano sonatas. From the first group, usually marked up to his 12th sonata (Op. 26), the 8th is the most famous and the one you should start with. All of the movements are well known, but the second is probably the most recognizable.
The 3 movements are tightly organized and form an effective fast-slow-fast piece that lasts about 20 minutes.
Very commonly, the Sonata is grouped with some other famous, “named” sonatas, the most famous of which include No. 14 (“Moonlight”), No. 15 (“Pastoral), No. 17 (“Tempest”), No. 21 (“Waldstein”) and No. 23 (“Appassionata”). Alfred Brendel’s double CD collection offers all of these named Sonatas in one collection, with an authoritative, well-recorded performance. Many similar collections available from other pianists.
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat, Op. 55 (“Sinfonia Eroica”)
Beethoven famously wanted to dedicate this Symphony to Napoleon, who fascinated the Austrian composer for his ideals. Disappointed that the French revolutionary appointed himself Emperor, the composer violently strike through the dedication from the score (This is clear from the still-exist copy of a score with Beethoven writing, located In the “Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde” in Vienna).
This is the first real symphonic masterpiece Beethoven produced, after two already impressive Symphonies. The first movement introduces the second subject very late in the game – a very new way of keeping the listeners of the time in suspense. The second movement is the most famous – a Funeral march which reaches emotional heights and intensity not known before. The third movement gives the horn players some difficult passages, making them in effect a group of soloists within the orchestra. The finale, in a theme and variations form, is almost madly driven and ends the Symphony with a triumph.
The Symphony is nick-named “Eroica” for its character, and many conductors found it their favorite amongst the nine Beethoven symphonies. Not more so than Otto Klemperer, the stereo recording of is hard to rival to this day (1961). For anyone wishing to get a feel for the atmosphere of a listener of the time Beethoven first performed the piece, listen to Jordi Savall’s recording, played on period instrument.
Piano Concerto No. 5 In E-Flat, Op. 73 (“Emperor”)
All of Beethoven’s piano concertos are early to middle-period pieces, with the first 4 performed by the composer himself, as customary at the time. The Fifth Concerto, also known as “The Emperor”, was the only one performed by Carl Czerny, Beethoven’s favorite pupil, due to the composer’s advanced hearing problem.
The concerto is on a grand scale, lasting roughly 40 minutes and brings the piano of the time to its limits, especially on the first and third, final movement. There is also a tremendous tenderness, though, in some mysterious sections in the first movement and the divine second movement.
A longtime favorite among listeners and virtuoso pianists alike, there is no difficulty finding a good recording of the piece (If you have a favorite pianist – He or she has probably recorded the piece!).
Williams Kempff, the Berlin Philharmonic and Ferdinand Leitner represent an old-school A-Team of Beethoven performers, and their dedicated account remains as exciting as ever. The stereo recording from the early 1960’s is good for its age, but if you prefer a newer, digital recording of the piece, try the one by Alfred Brendel, The Vienna Philharmonic and Simon Rattle. Some prefer Murray Perahia more delicate approach, or Kovacevich more forceful one (There’s also a much-praised digital recording by Arrau and Davis, which this writer personally finds less convincing).
Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61
Beethoven wrote only 1 Violin Concerto, but it is one of the best ever written. An exemplary composition in the concerto form.
The concerto presents a more delicate, lyrical side of Beethoven, a side that exists in other pieces such as the 4th concerto, and the “Pastoral” Symphony. Following the Concerto’s success, Beethoven later wrote a piano and orchestra arrangement of it, and many violinists prefer this arrangement’s cadenza to the original one.
Wolfgang Schneiderhan, with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Eugen Jochum, presents an unbeatable version, full of class, inner strength and overall profoundness. It’s an “old school” Beethoven performances, one that you rarely hear in concert halls today. For a more “modern” take on this concerto, try Gideon Kremer’s version with Harnoncourt (Teldec), or the more recent version by Patricia Kopatchinskaja with Conductor Phillippe Herreweghe, on period instruments.
Symphony No. 6 in F, Op. 68 (“Pastorale”)
First performed on the same night as the Fifth Symphony (1808), the 6th Symphony offers a lyrical, retrospective view of nature. The 5 movements are each given a title by the composer, depicting a scene. This is a lovely, moving Symphony, that despite its delicacy gives some intensive movements, such as the fourth movement, appropriately titled “the storm”.
From all of Beethoven nine Symphonies, the 6th is often given a lesser performance when presented as a cycle by a conductor or an orchestra. Very famous cycles are falling short in this particular Symphony, perhaps because it’s so different in character than the other eight.
There are two celebrated recordings of the Symphony that stand tall to this day – one made by Bruno Walter and the “Colombia Symphony Orchestra” (1959), and a 1970 recording by the famous Vienna Philharmonic under Karl Bohn. Hearing it by the Viennese, you won’t be able to imagine it performed any other way. It’s that magical.
If you insist on digital, newer recording, Nicholas Harnoncourt’s take on the Symphony is superb, and a performance by the period instruments ensemble “The London Players”, under conductor Roger Norrington, gives us a fascinating example of how the piece might have sounded like in a cold day in 1808, when the piece was first performed.
Violin Sonata No. 9 in A, Op. 47 (“Kreutzer”) / Violin Sonata No. 5 in F, Op. 68 (“Spring)
The two most famous (And arguably most accessible) Violin Sonatas are No. 5 (“Spring”) and No. 9 (“Kreutzer”).
The “Spring Sonata” is sunny, belying some delightful melodies and is temperamentally comparable to the Pastoral Symphony. The “Kreutzer”, on the other hand, is more in line with the sound world of the Fifth.
But the comparison to the Symphonies is not totally in place; This is fully realized chamber music, with 2 players considered equal partners with having fascinating dialogue, debate, warm or chilling emotions.
These two named Violin Sonatas are very often paired on record, and work particularly well together as they represent such a differentiation of mood and character. Itzhak Perlman and Vladimir Ashkenazy offer a hard to beat partnership in this repertoire, and their recording has been a favorite among critics and public for many years.
String Quartet No. 7 in F, Op. 59 No. 1 (“Razumovsky”)
Just like the piano sonatas, Beethoven’s 16 string quartets represent the evolution of a genius composer, with him incorporating a vast tradition with ground-breaking innovations.
After a group of six early string quartets (Op. 18), which still look back at the master of the genre (Haydn), Beethoven revolutionized the string quartet as well. Like his mentor, Beethoven incorporates large-scale ideas derived from small units, but does so in a completely new manner – All the four instruments of the quartets are given their equal weight in the group, and the scope alone demands a different listening to the genre – It’s literally as long as a Symphony.
The first “Razumovsky” quartet can be a good gateway to the world of Beethoven string quartets – The first movement surprisingly gives the cello the first theme, the second movement is hard to resist with its unapologetic energy, the slow movement is one of the most moving of all of Beethoven’s slow movements, and there are a good humor and high spirit in the finale.
As for recommended recording, a recent performance by the Cuarteto Casals is one of the most beautifully executed in recent memory – Taking into account historical practices while being totally fresh. The slow movement is given a quiet yet profound performance. If you want to go the “safe route”, Alban Berg Quartet’s performance is a long time favorite.
Cello Sonata No. 3 in A, Op. 69
Maybe not the best-known repertoire, and certainly less known than his Violin Sonatas, but Beethoven’s Sonatas For Cello And Piano are a joy to listen to and is unmistakably Beethoven. His 3rd sonata is a game of night and day, light and shadow. The first movement, while lyrical and almost sunny, contains, for instance, a quote from Bach’s St. Johannes-Passion (A tragic alto and Viola de-Gamba aria – “It’s all finished”). This combination of tragedy vs. Tenderness and playfulness continues in all four movements, and this Sonata is still considered one of the masterpieces for the instrument.
Mstislav Rostropovich and Sviatoslav Richter give a dedicated, direct version of this sonata, in their classic set of the complete Cello Sonatas for phillips. Their partnership as equal partners is exemplary, as do the warm recording quality, much improved in this remastering.
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 (“Choral Symphony”)
Another Symphony, but a completely different experience. Beethoven Symphony No. 9 stands alone from the other eight; the composer, now at the last stretch of his creativity, wanted to create a piece that “represent” mankind, and to do so created his most ambitious Symphony yet – It includes a large orchestra, 4 solo singers and mixed choir. The final is the most famous, and in a beginners guide it can be tempting to recommend new listeners to jump directly to the final, famous movement. However, all of the Symphony movements are masterpieces that lead to the collimation – The final movement based on Friedrich Schiller’s poem, “Ode to Joy”.
Beethoven’s 9th is a tough piece to pull off, on concert and on record. There are too many distinguished recordings to mention, but for a listener who first encounters the piece there is no better introduction than a Beethoven conductor that tends to be overlooked in recent years – George Szell, conducting on “his” Cleveland Orchestra and chorus. For a listener who wants a “period instrument” version of the piece, one of the best versions is by Phillippe Herreweghe and his groups of players and singers (Harmonia Mundi).
Bonus: Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor, “Für Elise”
Millions of piano students have played this short solo piano piece, and almost any music lover can recognize its tune. The piece has not been published in Beethoven’s lifetime, and there is still a debate on the identity of this mysterious “Elise”. Be that as it may, it’s one of the composer’s most popular works.
Alfred Brendel plays this Bagatelle as if it was a true masterpiece, letting it speak for itself with mesmerizing simplicity. His recording, taken in the mid-eighties for Phillips, is available on few collections and as part of his later digital set of the entire bagatelles.
All the albums mentioned in this article are available on our Amazon store.
This rounds up our beginners guide to Beethoven. If you’d like to know when the next guide is published, sign up for our free newsletter and get notified when new guides, reviews and news are published.
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