3 Favourite Beethoven Symphonies

[Lisztianwagner]

Ludwig van Beethoven is absolutely one of my favourite composers of all the time; his music is so gorgeous and passionate, that is impossible to not get struck by its extreme beauty and power!! 

Here you can choose your 3 favourite Beethoven symphonies; I'll start myself voting for No.3 "Eroica", No.7 and No.9

I think Karajan is the best interpreter of Beethoven's music I've ever heard, but also Bernstein and Abbado are definitely wonderful.

Please, votes and comments are extremely appreciated 

Ilaria

[karlhenning]

Interesting poll, Ilaria!  I might vote otherwise on another day . . . but today I had to cast my votes for nos. 3, 4 & 7.  (Though in fact, I do like them all very much.)

[DavidW]

3, 5 and 7 for me.

[not edward]

This would be a toughie: at present I'd have a lot of trouble deciding between 3, 4, 7 and 8. Might have to select a random one to drop.

[Lisztianwagner]

Interesting poll, Ilaria!  I might vote otherwise on another day . . . but today I had to cast my votes for nos. 3, 4 & 7.  (Though in fact, I do like them all very much.)

Thanks Karl 

No problem, you can vote when you prefer 

Ilaria

[Bulldog]

For me it's 5, 7 and 9 (with 9 at the top).

[springrite]

2,5,9

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

5, 8 and 9. Not that I don't love 7, too, but the Eighth Symphony is so joyful and so compact....

[Lisztianwagner]

5, 8 and 9. Not that I don't love 7, too, but the Eighth Symphony is so joyful and so compact....

I may share the feeling; the choice is not so easy, all those symphonies are authentic masterpieces.....

Ilaria

[Mn Dave]

For me it's 5, 7 and 9 (with 9 at the top).

Ditto.

[madaboutmahler]

So hard to choose!

Ended up going for no.3, 6 and 9. I really wanted to vote for no.5 and 7 as well though!
I absolutely love each of the Beethoven symphonies, but I suppose those three that I voted for are the most special for me personally.

Daniel

[Lethevich]

4, 5, 8

[Geo Dude]

3, 6, and 9.

[Lisztianwagner]

So hard to choose!

Ended up going for no.3, 6 and 9. I really wanted to vote for no.5 and 7 as well though!
I absolutely love each of the Beethoven symphonies, but I suppose those three that I voted for are the most special for me personally.

Daniel

We always seem to have very close tastes Daniel  I voted for No.3, 7 and 9, but I had to leave out other symphonies I really love, like No.5 and 6; I agree, it's very difficult to choose.

Franz Liszt arranged all the Beethoven symphonies for piano, they're masterpieces too, so powerful and melodious! 

Ilaria

[springrite]

I am always the only one to vote for #2...

[jwinter]

#7 has long been my favorite.  When Wagner called it the "apotheosis of the dance" he was (for once) on the money; the best performances literally make me want to jump out of my chair and dance along.

While I often listen to a Beethoven symphony, listening to #9 is still a bit of an event; it's corny, but I can still find it moving after many, many hearings.  I'll rank it my 2nd favorite.

Third could be almost any of the others, depending on my mood.  Judging by my listening habits over the last six months or so, I'll say #6.

If I'm going to grab a single disc of Beethoven, though, it'll most likely be one that couples #7 with #8, as they make a satisfying pair.

[mszczuj]

I voted for 3rd, 6th and 9th. Probably I choose them because they are longer than other.

[madaboutmahler]

We always seem to have very close tastes Daniel  I voted for No.3, 7 and 9, but I had to leave out other symphonies I really love, like No.5 and 6; I agree, it's very difficult to choose.

Franz Liszt arranged all the Beethoven symphonies for piano, they're masterpieces too, so powerful and melodious! 

Ilaria

Yes, it is so wonderful that we have very close tastes! I really did want to include no.5+7! Choosing an absolute favourite would be very difficult, overall maybe 3 or 6. Too hard!

Yes, I always enjoy listening to those Liszt arrangments of the Beethoven symphonies, absolutely amazing! I am playing an eight-hand arrangment of no.1 at my chamber group in the Royal Academy of Music, really great fun!

Daniel

[mc ukrneal]

#6. Just #6.

[SonicMan46]

I think Karajan is the best interpreter of Beethoven's music I've ever heard, but also Bernstein and Abbado are definitely wonderful.

Well, I'm quite surprised that you've not received some comments on the statement above - 

For me @ the moment, I'll pick 3, 5, & 6 (could replace 5 w/ 9 depending on whether I want an hour long symphony -   )