Repertoire: The BEST Beethoven Seventh Symphony

The first classical box I ever bought (1970) was the Szell Beethoven symphonies, so they are my first love. His seventh is always thrilling to hear.

George Sizzle

I was pleased to see Beecham on your list, as I had the privilege in 1959 to see him conduct the 7th on his final American tour. The concert was in Washington, but the orchestra was not the then mediocre National Symphony, but the splendid Philadelphia! Spellbinding from beginning to end, but the last movement brought the house down. I wish someone had recorded it. Several years ago I discovered the special qualities of the Casals Marlboro recordings, and I'm glad to see them recommended so eloquently here.

Yes! Toscanini and Beethoven. What a magical combo, and especially in the seventh. Glad to know about this particular release.

Beethoven’s 7th is an amazing symphony. The first movement is very joyful and you can’t help but smile while hearing it. The allegretto is one of the most tragic movements in the symphonic repertoire. The third movement is quite comedic with it being in F Major instead of A Major and the presto has really exciting sforzandos it’s like a roller coaster to me.

All great choices. I must give a plug to Bruno Walter's 1959 Columbia Symphony version, which many modern-day listeners will immediately regard as too heavy. BUT...the coda to the first movement is totally thrilling: once the big ostinato in the cell/bass starts grinding away, Walter actually SLOWS the tempo a bit and lets the massive sense of momentum build, with ethereal violins and winds above that slowly begin to animate. It is amazing. In the coda to the FINALE, it would be difficult to imagine a conductor not being able to whip up excitement, but the generally warm, "humane' Bruno Walter is as thrilling as ANY that I've heard! He actually does some re-voicing of the big fff A7 chord, so that not all winds and trumpets are playing the same G natural; the second trumpet, for instance, plays an 'E' a third below, and the effect is, well...more warm and "humane", amidst all of the delirium surrounding it. I love it. The West-Coast Columbia Symphony included personnel from the LA Phil but also many great European expatriates who did most of the studio/film work in Hollywood..and you can imagine how THRILLED they were to have the opportunity to play this music under a great conductor. LR

I was so glad to see Casals in there which was my first, and it's always a joy to see a youthful memory untarnished by nostalgia! It was listed by High Fidelity Magazine in their article called 25 Years or A Quarter Century of Recorded Riches, and I used that thing as an audiophiles Bible. I still remember how I felt when I first heard the Casals, like experiencing the sun suddenly bursting through the clouds 😀

That Blomstedt was wonderful! First hearing. As is his 6th. His 7th is big, bold, perfectly tempo'd, majestic! I think the 7th needs a name. It has great elements of the 6th and the 4th, creating a whole new sound.

Love to see the Casals recognized. I first found that recording as a cutout bargain when I was a teenager (reared on Munch/BSO and Toscanini/NBC) and it blew me away. It proves that the music doesn't have to be rushed to pound the pulse.

In honour of Beethoven's 250th, with the help of your reviews, I have been broadening my Beethoven horizons! I've really enjoyed and benefited from your BEST Beethoven Ninth (I put on a tie to type that :), Eight, and Seventh! I'm looking forward to the BEST Sixth, Fifth, etc! Any and all Beethoven reviews are very welcome and appreciated! Thanks and best wishes!

Exemplary work, as always, Mr. Hurvitz...thank you. Though I'm familiar with and enjoy almost all of your recommended traversals, I recall most fondly an LP of a young Colin Davis leading the RPO. It remains my favorite version.

thank you for reminding me of the great Casals recording. I had it as a teenager and forget about it

Yes! Szell! Amazing. Energy and clarity. It is perfect. Thank you for your comments on Carlos Kleiber. I agree.

I am familiar with about half of these performances. Can’t wait to taste the others! Thanks for your passionate recommendations.

I "grew up" with Toscanini's commercial recording with NBC, and it has imprinted me ever since. However, I have ventured far afield of the Maestro over the decades and have come to enjoy Casals, Beecham, Walter (sluggish at times, but inimitably humane), Jochum, Ormandy (underrated), Cluytens, and Fricsay, among others. I was intrigued that you plugged Dorati on Mercury. I have the big Mercury boxes in my collection but have never gotten around to hearing that conductor's Beehoven. Now I must. Thank you, Dave, for a highly enjoyable romp through Beehoven's Seventh and a few of its better recordings.

So pleased you mentioned Erich Kleiber. I find his 7th is magnificent. Also, agree wholeheartedly with your comments on Wand. I wonder what you think of Ormandy, a conductor I like a lot but seems to have fallen through the slats, so to speak. I very much appreciate your Beethoven discussions. I'm currently embarked on a Beethoven symphony exploration and your recommendations and descriptions are a lighthouse in the infinitude of recorded options.

Dorati recorded all nine symphonies with Detroit and were broadcast on PBS in the early 80s. Would be nice to see and hear them again.

I’m absolutely in love with the Lenny-Vienna one. You can count on those horns to get it right, and what rich textures!

OMG I love the Szell Cleveland 7th. It’s thrilling and perfect. I am spoiled because this is the first Beethoven 7th I ever heard and owned. Now decades later I can’t tolerate any other rendition. They all sound so wrong in comparison. Thank you!

As a kid in the '80s, my first complete set was the venerable Steinberg/Pittsburgh. Record stores (Remember those?) were getting rid of all their vinyl and I got a steal. Still have and love it.