A Beethoven Century: 1946–1970
For the Beethoven anniversary, Arno Lücker curates four playlists covering 100 years of Beethoven on record. We feature both popular works and unknown gems, showcasing a broad array of artists to chart developments in performance style, repertoire trends and recording technology. Explore how Beethoven has been perceived and his works brought to musical life over the course of the last century. [Due to geo-blocking restrictions, some tracks might be unavailable in certain territories.]
- Beethoven • Sonata for Piano No. 8 in C minor op. 13 “Pathétique” • I. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brioSonata for Piano No. 8 in C minor op. 13
I. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brioRudolf Serkin (Piano)℗ 1946 - Beethoven • Concerto for Piano, Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra in C major op. 56 (Triple Concerto) • III. Rondo alla PolaccaConcerto for Piano, Violin, Violoncello and Orchestra in C major op. 56 (Triple Concerto)
III. Rondo alla PolaccaDavid Oistrakh (Violin), Sviatoslav Knushevitsky (Violoncello), Lev Oborin (Piano), Alexander Orlov
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra1947 - Beethoven • Symphony No. 6 in F major op. 68 “Pastoral” • I. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande. Allegro ma non troppoSymphony No. 6 in F major op. 68
I. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande. Allegro ma non troppoErich Kleiber, London Philharmonic Orchestra1948, London, Kingsway Hall - Beethoven • Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 10 in G major op. 96 • I. Allegro moderatoSonata for Violin and Piano No. 10 in G major op. 96
I. Allegro moderatoYehudi Menuhin (Violin), Hephzibah Menuhin (Piano)℗ 1949 - Beethoven • Symphony No. 7 in A major op. 92 • IV. Allegro con brioSymphony No. 7 in A major op. 92
IV. Allegro con brioCharles Munch, Boston Symphony Orchestra℗ 1950 - Beethoven • Sonata for Piano No. 27 in E minor op. 90 • II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragenSonata for Piano No. 27 in E minor op. 90
II. Nicht zu geschwind und sehr singbar vorgetragenSolomon Cutner (Piano)1951, London, Studio No. 3, Abbey Road - Beethoven • Sonata for Piano No. 32 in C minor op. 111 • II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabileSonata for Piano No. 32 in C minor op. 111
II. Arietta. Adagio molto semplice e cantabileClara Haskil (Piano)April 1953 - Beethoven • Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 55 “Eroica” • I. Allegro con brioSymphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 55
I. Allegro con brioFritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony OrchestraDecember 1954, Chicago - Beethoven • Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major op. 47 “Kreutzer” • III. Finale. PrestoSonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 in A major op. 47
III. Finale. PrestoMischa Elman (Violin), Joseph Seiger (Piano)1957 - Beethoven • Ich liebe dich so wie du mich (Zärtliche Liebe) WoO 123 • Ich liebe dich so wie du michIch liebe dich so wie du mich (Zärtliche Liebe) WoO 123
Ich liebe dich so wie du michElisabeth Grümmer (Soprano), Hans Altmann (Piano)1956, München, Bayerischer Rundfunk - Beethoven • Sonata for Violoncello and Piano No. 4 in C major op. 102/1 • I. Andante – Allegro vivaceSonata for Violoncello and Piano No. 4 in C major op. 102/1
I. Andante – Allegro vivaceGregor Piatigorsky (Violoncello), Arthur Rubinstein (Piano)1957 - Beethoven • Die Weihe des Hauses (The Consecration of the House), Overture op. 124 (Hess 118) • Maestoso e sostenuto – Allegro con brioDie Weihe des Hauses (The Consecration of the House), Overture op. 124 (Hess 118)
Maestoso e sostenuto – Allegro con brioJascha Horenstein, Pro Musica Orchester Wien1958 - Beethoven • Rondo a capriccio for Piano in G major op. 129 “Rage Over a Lost Penny” • (No tempo indication)Rondo a capriccio for Piano in G major op. 129
(No tempo indication)Maria Bergmann (Piano)July 1959, Baden-Baden, Hans-Rosbaud-Studio Baden-Baden - Beethoven • Sonata for Piano No. 7 in D major op. 10/3 • II. Largo e mestoSonata for Piano No. 7 in D major op. 10/3
II. Largo e mestoMartha Argerich (Piano)1960 - Beethoven • String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor op. 131 • VII. AllegroString Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor op. 131
VII. AllegroJuilliard String Quartet
Robert Mann (Violin), Isidore Cohen (Violin), Raphael Hillyer (Viola), Claus Adam (Violoncello)℗ 1962 - Beethoven • Symphony No. 8 in F major op. 93 • I. Allegro vivace e con brioSymphony No. 8 in F major op. 93
I. Allegro vivace e con brioHerbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker℗ 1963 - Beethoven • Sonata for Piano No. 5 in C minor op. 10/1 • II. Adagio moltoSonata for Piano No. 5 in C minor op. 10/1
II. Adagio moltoMaria Grinberg (Piano)1964, Moscow - Beethoven • Resignation WoO 149 • Lisch aus, mein Licht!Resignation WoO 149
Lisch aus, mein Licht!Fritz Wunderlich (Tenor), Hubert Giesen (Piano)May 1965 - Beethoven • King Stephen op. 117: Overture • Andante con moto – PrestoKing Stephen op. 117: Overture
Andante con moto – PrestoLeonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic℗ 1966 - Beethoven • Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major op. 61 • I. Allegro ma non troppoConcerto for Violin and Orchestra in D major op. 61
I. Allegro ma non troppoChristian Ferras (Violin), Herbert von Karajan
Berliner Philharmoniker℗ 1967 - Beethoven • Leonore Overture No. 1 op. 138 • Andante con moto – Allegro con brioLeonore Overture No. 1 op. 138
Andante con moto – Allegro con brioGeorge Szell, The Cleveland Orchestra℗ 1968 - Beethoven • Drei Gesänge op. 83 • 1. Wonne der WehmutDrei Gesänge op. 83
1. Wonne der WehmutIrmgard Seefried (Soprano), Erik Werba (Piano)May 1969, Wien, Osterreichirschen Rundfunks - Beethoven • Symphony No. 8 in F major op. 93 • IV. Allegro vivaceSymphony No. 8 in F major op. 93
IV. Allegro vivaceLeonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic℗ 1970