Beethoven: 9 Symphonies

Deutsche Grammophon presents Herbert von Karajan's iconic cycle of Beethoven's nine symphonies on 5 CDs and Blu-ray Audio, remastered in 24 bit / 96 kHz. This special edition includes reproductions of the original LP covers and recording logs, an essay by Richard Osborne and a reprint of a letter from Karajan's producer Elsa Schiller.

Herbert Karajan recorded Beethoven's complete symphonies four times for DG, but this first recording from 1963 was the most financially daring, artistically radical and commercially successful. By 1973, almost a million records had been sold.

Even 50 years after its release, the recording remains the best-selling Beethoven cycle of all time. The 1963 recording shone like no other, not least because of the ‘clean, clear, boldly lit’ recordings made in Berlin's Jesus Christ Church by the young Günter Hermanns, who made his debut as Karajan's chief sound engineer on these recordings. Critics and audiences alike were particularly impressed by the urgency and beauty of the music-making and the unbridled joy that culminated in a rousing performance and eloquent singing of the finale of the Ninth Symphony.

Tracklisting:

CD 1   

No. 1 in C major op. 21

No. 2 in D major op. 36

CD 2   

No. 3 in E flat major op. 55 “Eroica”

No. 4 in B flat major op. 60

CD 3   

No. 5 in C minor op. 67

No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral”

CD 4   

No. 7 in A major op. 92

No. 8 in F major op. 93

CD 5   

No. 9 in D minor op. 125

BD       

Symphonies Nos. 1–9 | Symphony No. 9: Rehearsal