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    Beethoven

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    Beethoven - Symphony No.7 in A: The 10 best recordings

    200 years ago on 8 December 1813, Beethoven's Symphony No.7 was premiered. Both dramatic and dance-like, the Symphony was put to stirring use in The King's Speech. Here are 10 very different recordings of this great work.

    1. Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Carlos Kleiber Vienna Philharmonic

      1. Carlos Kleiber conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

      German-born Austrian conductor Klieber made fewer than 20 recordings. His version of Beethoven’s Seventh is often cited as the outstanding recording of the work – dramatic and urgent.

    2. Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Karajan Berlin Philharmonic

      2. Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic

      From a number of recordings the mighty Karajan made of the Beethoven symphonies, the 1961-1962 set stands out. For a work described by Wagner as the ‘apotheosis of the dance’, Karajan’s rendition of Symphony No. 7 is suitably rich and rhythmic.

    3. Beethoven Seventh Symphony

      3. Leonard Bernstein conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra

      Performed at his final ever concert, Bernstein’s interpretation of Beethoven’s Seventh is sweeter and more passionate than many others.

    4. Beethoven Seventh Symphony

      4. Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela

      The brilliant Venezuelan marshals his enthusiastic young orchestra to deliver a performance of extraordinary energy, technical brilliance and maturity.

    5. Beethoven Symphony No.7 Vanska

      5. Osmo Vanska conducting the Minnesota Orchestra

      This version is among the finest, with the great Finnish conductor finding something new and interesting to explore, with his characteristic precision and warmth.

    6. Beethoven Seventh Symphony

      6. Bernard Haitink conducing the London Symphony Orchestra

      A live recording on the LSO’s own label sees Haitink approaching the work’s lyrical sections with tenderness and the dance rhythms with an easy swagger.

    7. Beethoven Seventh Symphony

      7. Christopher Hogwood conducting the Academy of Ancient Music

      Using period instruments, the Academy of Ancient Music pull off an authentic sounding version with Hogwood coordinating the players - rather than conducting - as might have been done in the past.

    8. Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Gardiner

      8. John Eliot Gardiner conducting the Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique

      Recorded live at Carnegie Hall, this recording stands out for its extraordinary energy and rhythmic force.

    9. Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Rattle Vienna

      9. Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

      In 2002, Rattle committed his superhuman dynamism to leading the Vienna Philharmonic through a thrilling series of Beethoven symphonies. This recording was made live and is full of gusto.

    10. Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Bell

      10. Joshua Bell conducting the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

      The most recent recording of Beethoven’s Seventh on the list features the great American violinist taking the Academy through its paces with a fresh, high-octane performance.

    Beethoven News

    See more Beethoven News

    Beethoven in 250 words.

    Beethoven at 250: famous figures share what his music means to them, in 250 words

    3-year-old conductor

    This 3-year-old kid conducting to Beethoven’s Fifth is the future of classical music

    Slate article tells classical fans to ‘stop calling Beethoven by his last name’

    ‘Fullnaming’ Mozart and Beethoven to fight sexism and racism? Twitter squabbles over Slate article

    Beethoven Music

    See more Beethoven Music

    Beethoven art

    10 works of Beethoven that actually changed the world

    Beethoven Moonlight Sonata

    Beethoven’s ‘Moonlight’ Sonata: discover the 1801 piano masterpiece

    Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral')

    The remarkable story of Beethoven’s ‘Choral’ Symphony No. 9 and the ‘Ode to Joy’

    Beethoven Pictures

    See more Beethoven Pictures

    San Quentin Prison interior

    10 of the greatest composers who broke the law

    Beethoven composer letters

    Letters of the great composers: 14 moving, funny and inspiring quotations from the documents they left behind

    Discover Music

    Anna-Maria Mozart mother

    Famous composers' mothers

    Discover Music

    Beethoven Album Reviews

    See more Beethoven Album Reviews

    new releases 30th july

    New releases: Irnberger and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra play Beethoven and Rachmaninov with Martin Jones

    new releases 1st may

    New releases: Beethoven with the Royal Northern Sinfonia & Lars Vogt and 'Strauss in St Petersburg'

    new releases 10th april

    New releases: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Brahms and Beethoven with the London Philharmonic Orchestra

    Beethoven Guides

    See more Beethoven Guides

    Ludwig van Beethoven and Nannette Streicher

    Meet Nannette Streicher, ‘the woman who built Beethoven’s pianos’

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    So if Beethoven was completely deaf, how did he compose?

    A step-by-step guide to Beethoven’s nine symphonie

    A step-by-step guide to Beethoven’s nine symphonies

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