Watch a Full Work by Beethoven (Varies)

Choose one of the pieces below to listen to in full, or you can go back to these steps and listen to one of the following:

Beethoven’s Middle and Late Period

1. Symphony No. 3
2. Violin Concerto

Beethoven’s Music

1. Piano Trio Op. 97, “Archduke”
2. String Quartet, Op.127
3. Symphony No. 5
4. Symphony No. 9 “Choral”

Listen to Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 “Emperor”

Performed by American pianist Murray Perahia and conducted by Sir Neville Marriner with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Perahia is well known for his engaging interpretations of music from the classical era.

Listen to Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral”

Performed by German conductor Gunter Wand, one of the most famous conductors of Romantic music in the 20th century. This was one of his final performances; it is a lush, beautiful recording.

Listen to Symphony No. 7

Performed by the legendary Austrian conductor Carlos Kleiber. He is considered one of the very best conductors of the 20th century, with an extraordinary ability to draw sounds out of orchestras. He was well known for his Beethoven: tight, strong, full of power. An excellent performance.

Listen to Piano Sonata No. 23, Op. 57 “Appassionata”

Performed here by the amazing Brazilian pianist Claudio Arrau, extremely famous for his approach to the Beethoven sonatas.

Listen to Missa Solemnis (Solemn Mass), Op. 123

Conducted here by John Eliot Gardiner with the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.