Beethoven Essentials

About this playlist

Ludwig van Beethoven. Those 3 words are almost synonymous with classical music. It's Beethoven who is so often used as shorthand for the enigmatic, tortured genius composer. It's his bust that sits atop pianos the world over, and adorns the procsenium arch of concert halls. Why him? Listen and find out.

Tracklist

Beethoven: Symphony No.8 in F major, Op. 93

Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

9:31

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.8 in C minor, Op. 13

2. Adagio cantabile

Daniel Barenboim

5:23

Beethoven: String Quartet No.16 in F major, Op. 135

I. Allegretto

Tokyo String Quartet

6:25

Beethoven: Symphony No.6 in F major, Op. 68

1. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande: Allegro ma non troppo

Berliner Philharmoniker

11:32

Beethoven: Violin Sonata No.5 in F major, Op. 24

Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring": II. Adagio molto espressivo

Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov

5:46

Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring": III. Allegro molto

Isabelle Faust and Alexander Melnikov

1:09

Beethoven: Missa solemnis in D major, Op. 123

II. Gloria: Gloria

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

5:47

II. Gloria: Qui tollis

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

4:55

II. Gloria: Quoniam

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

7:03

Beethoven: Leonore No.3 - Intended for opera ''Fidelio'' in C major, Op. 72b

Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b (Live)

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

13:54

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.21 in C major, Op. 53

1. Allegro con brio

Claudio Arrau

11:48

Beethoven: String Quartet No.12 in Eb major, Op. 127

IV. Finale

Tokyo String Quartet

7:00

Beethoven: Violin Sonata No.9 in A major, Op. 47

Violin Sonata No.9 in A Op. 47 'Kreutzer': I. Adagio sostenuto - Presto - Adagio

Victoria Mullova, Kristian Bezuidenhout

13:44

Beethoven: Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op. 67

I. Allegro con brio

Wiener Philharmoniker

7:22

Beethoven: String Quartet No.7 in F major, Op. 59/1

Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59 No. 1 "Razumovsky": I. Allegro

Alban Berg Quartett

9:33

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.29 in Bb major, Op. 106

4. Largo - Allegro risoluto

Maurizio Pollini

12:18

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.23 in F minor, Op. 57

1. Allegro assai

Vladimir Ashkenazy

9:38

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No.3 in A major, Op. 69

III. Adagio - Allegro vivace

Nicolas Altstaedt, Alexander Lonquich

8:29

Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A major, Op. 92

2. Allegretto

Wiener Philharmoniker

8:48

4. Allegro con brio

Wiener Philharmoniker

7:03

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61: I. Allegro ma non troppo

Dmitry Sitkovetsky/Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields/Sir Neville Marriner

24:29

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72, Act 2: No. 11, Introduction

Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer

3:32

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72, Act 2: No. 11, Recitative "Gott! Welch' Dunkel hier!" (Florestan)

Jon Vickers/Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer

2:15

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72, Act 2: No. 11, Aria "In des Lebens Frühlingstagen ist das Glück..." (Florestan)

Jon Vickers/Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer

2:34

Beethoven: Fidelio, Op. 72, Act 2: No. 11, Aria "… Und spür ich nicht linde" (Florestan)

Jon Vickers/Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer

2:31

Beethoven: Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21

I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio

Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique

8:22

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor, Op. 37

Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37: III. Rondo. Allegro – Presto

Berliner Philharmoniker, Mitsuko Uchida and Sir Simon Rattle

9:18

Beethoven: Septet in Eb major, Op. 20

I. Adagio - Allegro con brio

Leonidas Kavakos

9:55

Beethoven: Egmont, Op. 84

Beethoven: Egmont, Op. 84: Overture

Otto Klemperer/Philharmonia Orchestra

9:09

Beethoven: Grosse Fuge in Bb major, Op. 133

Grosse Fuge in B flat major, Op.133

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

18:55

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.5 in Eb Major, Op. 73

1. Allegro

Maurizio Pollini

20:29

Beethoven: Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op. 125

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 "Choral": IV. (a) Presto - Allegro assai

Simon Rattle

6:18

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 "Choral": IV. (b) "O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!" (Ode to Joy)

Sir Simon Rattle

17:40

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.14 in C# minor, Op. 27/2

I. Adagio sostenuto

Maria João Pires

7:01

Total playing time

5:09:53

Curated by

Guy Jones

Head of Curation

About this playlist

Ludwig van Beethoven. Those 3 words are almost synonymous with classical music. It's Beethoven who is so often used as shorthand for the enigmatic, tortured genius composer. It's his bust that sits atop pianos the world over, and adorns the procsenium arch of concert halls. Why him? Listen and find out.

Curated by

Guy Jones

Head of Curation

Done