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The Ten Most Famous Symphonies of all Time

You have to know them. You have to hear them. It's never been properly measured, but the feeling one gets asking among friends is that it's nonetheless possible to come up with the ten best-known symphonies. Here they all are, starting with the most famous one of all: Beethoven's Fifth. A subjective list, with recordings selected subjectively too, but an essential compendium for all IDAGIO fans. Playlist curated by Arno Lücker. [Due to licensing restrictions, some recordings are unavailable in certain territories]

  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67
     •
    I. Allegro con brio
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67
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    II. Andante con moto
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67
     •
    III. Allegro –
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 5 in C minor op. 67
     •
    IV. Allegro
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in D minor op. 125 “Choral”
     •
    I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in D minor op. 125 “Choral”
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    II. Molto vivace – Presto
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in D minor op. 125 “Choral”
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    III. Adagio molto e cantabile – Andante moderato
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in D minor op. 125 “Choral”
     •
    IV. Finale. Presto 'Ode to Joy'
  • Dvořák
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in E minor op. 95 B 178 “From the New World”
     •
    I. Adagio – Allegro molto
  • Dvořák
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in E minor op. 95 B 178 “From the New World”
     •
    II. Largo
  • Dvořák
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in E minor op. 95 B 178 “From the New World”
     •
    III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
  • Dvořák
    •
    Symphony No. 9 in E minor op. 95 B 178 “From the New World”
     •
    IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550
     •
    I. Molto Allegro
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550
     •
    II. Andante
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550
     •
    III. Menuetto. Allegretto
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 40 in G minor KV 550
     •
    IV. Allegro assai
  • Schubert
    •
    Symphony No. 7 (8) in B minor D 759 “Unfinished”
     •
    I. Allegro moderato
  • Schubert
    •
    Symphony No. 7 (8) in B minor D 759 “Unfinished”
     •
    II. Andante con moto
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 41 in C major KV 551 “Jupiter”
     •
    I. Allegro vivace
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 41 in C major KV 551 “Jupiter”
     •
    II. Andante cantabile con moto
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 41 in C major KV 551 “Jupiter”
     •
    III. Menuetto. Allegretto – Trio
  • Mozart
    •
    Symphony No. 41 in C major KV 551 “Jupiter”
     •
    IV. Molto allegro
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral”
     •
    I. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande. Allegro ma non troppo
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral”
     •
    II. Szene am Bach. Andante molto mosso
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral”
     •
    III. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute. Allegro
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral”
     •
    IV. Donner, Sturm. Allegro
  • Beethoven
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral”
     •
    V. Hirtengesang, frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm. Allegretto
  • Brahms
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in E minor op. 98
     •
    I. Allegro non troppo
  • Brahms
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in E minor op. 98
     •
    II. Andante moderato
  • Brahms
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in E minor op. 98
     •
    III. Allegro giocoso
  • Brahms
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in E minor op. 98
     •
    IV. Allegro energico e passionato
  • Tchaikovsky
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in B minor op. 74 TH 30 “Pathétique”
     •
    I. Adagio - Allegro non troppo
  • Tchaikovsky
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in B minor op. 74 TH 30 “Pathétique”
     •
    II. Allegro con grazia
  • Tchaikovsky
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in B minor op. 74 TH 30 “Pathétique”
     •
    III. Allegro molto vivace
  • Tchaikovsky
    •
    Symphony No. 6 in B minor op. 74 TH 30 “Pathétique”
     •
    IV. Finale. Adagio lamentoso
  • Mendelssohn Bartholdy
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in A major op. 90 MWV N 16 “Italian”
     •
    I. Allegro vivace
  • Mendelssohn Bartholdy
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in A major op. 90 MWV N 16 “Italian”
     •
    II. Andante con moto
  • Mendelssohn Bartholdy
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in A major op. 90 MWV N 16 “Italian”
     •
    III. Con moto moderato
  • Mendelssohn Bartholdy
    •
    Symphony No. 4 in A major op. 90 MWV N 16 “Italian”
     •
    IV. Saltarello. Presto