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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.

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    Listen to this 10,000-strong Japanese megachoir sing Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’

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    LeBron James reveals he listens to Beethoven to ‘calm down’ before games

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    Orchestra’s outer space Beethoven performance leaves legendary conductor in tears

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    When Daniel Barenboim, Yo-Yo Ma and Anne-Sophie Mutter combined to gift us achingly beautiful Beethoven

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    'Beethoven's Funeral March' was played at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral procession

    The power of ‘Beethoven’s Funeral March’, the musical masterpiece played during the Queen’s procession

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    Beethoven symphony dropped from Edinburgh International Festival following Covid-19 mask disagreement

    Bottlenose dolphins enjoyed listening to Bach as part of the study

    Dolphins behave better after listening to Bach and Beethoven, study finds

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    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

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    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

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    15 LGBTQ+ composers in classical music history that you probably already know

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