The Sets · K

Herbert von Karajan

Herbert von Karajan recorded the nine Beethoven symphonies 6 times: Philharmonia Orchestra, recorded 1953–1955, on EMI/Warner (5:35:10); Berliner Philharmoniker, recorded 1961–1962, on Deutsche Grammophon (5:29:50); Berliner Philharmoniker, recorded 1966, on King International Inc. (5:22:54); Berliner Philharmoniker, recorded 1975–1977, on Deutsche Grammophon (5:24:46); Berliner Philharmoniker, recorded 1977, on Tokyo/FM (5:24:35); Berliner Philharmoniker, recorded 1982–1984, on Deutsche Grammophon (5:27:53). Their totals run from 5:22:54 to 5:35:10.

Philharmonia Orchestra

EMI/Warner · Recorded 1953–1955

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	23:11	−2:48 shorter	7:32	6:15	3:45	5:39
No. 2	31:37	−1:49 shorter	10:47	10:36	3:43	6:31
No. 3	48:32	−0:56 shorter	14:34	16:26	5:47	11:45
No. 4	34:04	+0:14 longer	10:59	11:15	6:01	5:49
No. 5	30:49	−2:11 shorter	7:19	9:44	4:58	8:48
No. 6	37:29	−4:23 shorter	9:22	12:11	3:02	3:33	9:21
No. 7	37:37	−1:13 shorter	12:45	9:09	8:43	7:00
No. 8	26:22	+0:23 longer	9:04	3:55	5:49	7:34
No. 9	1:05:29	−1:34 shorter	15:08	10:09	16:06	24:06
Total time	5:35:10

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Herbert von Karajan, Philharmonia Orchestra (1953–1955)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/herbert-von-karajan#herbert-von-karajan-0, accessed 4 November 2026.

Berliner Philharmoniker

Deutsche Grammophon · Recorded 1961–1962

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	24:37	−1:22 shorter	9:30	5:50	3:36	5:41
No. 2	30:58	−2:28 shorter	10:16	10:33	3:51	6:18
No. 3	49:53	+0:25 longer	14:44	17:05	5:44	12:20
No. 4	30:49	−3:01 shorter	9:49	9:55	5:42	5:23
No. 5	31:07	−1:53 shorter	7:14	10:01	4:55	8:57
No. 6	35:42	−6:10 shorter	8:57	11:32	3:02	3:25	8:46
No. 7	33:44	−5:06 shorter	11:23	7:57	7:48	6:36
No. 8	26:12	+0:13 longer	9:17	3:54	5:54	7:07
No. 9	1:06:48	−0:15 shorter	15:27	10:58	16:25	23:58
Total time	5:29:50

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker (1961–1962)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/herbert-von-karajan#herbert-von-karajan-1, accessed 4 November 2026.

Cover: Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies

Berliner Philharmoniker

King International Inc. · Recorded 1966

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	23:15	−2:44 shorter	7:30	6:04	3:52	5:49
No. 2	30:59	−2:27 shorter	10:23	10:25	3:53	6:18
No. 3	49:29	+0:01 longer	14:20	16:41	6:16	12:12
No. 4	31:21	−2:29 shorter	10:09	9:53	5:49	5:30
No. 5	29:39	−3:21 shorter	7:04	9:30	4:39	8:26
No. 6	34:44	−7:08 shorter	8:39	11:01	3:06	3:13	8:45
No. 7	32:57	−5:53 shorter	11:02	8:12	7:19	6:24
No. 8	25:49	−0:10 shorter	8:48	3:59	5:58	7:04
No. 9	1:04:41	−2:22 shorter	14:34	9:49	16:06	24:12
Total time	5:22:54

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker (1966)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/herbert-von-karajan#herbert-von-karajan-2, accessed 4 November 2026.

Berliner PhilharmonikerTop set

Deutsche Grammophon · Recorded 1975–1977

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	22:51	−3:08 shorter	7:45	6:04	3:35	5:27
No. 2	30:06	−3:20 shorter	10:17	9:57	3:41	6:11
No. 3	47:41	−1:47 shorter	13:28	16:27	6:10	11:36
No. 4	31:55	−1:55 shorter	10:27	9:59	5:52	5:37
No. 5	29:52	−3:08 shorter	7:08	9:28	4:37	8:39
No. 6	38:10	−3:42 shorter	9:04	11:22	5:40	3:30	8:34
No. 7	33:05	−5:45 shorter	11:25	7:57	7:18	6:25
No. 8	24:28	−1:31 shorter	8:53	3:48	5:16	6:31
No. 9	1:06:38	−0:25 shorter	15:21	10:04	16:50	24:23
Total time	5:24:46

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker (1975–1977)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/herbert-von-karajan#herbert-von-karajan-3, accessed 4 November 2026.

Berliner Philharmoniker

Tokyo/FM · Recorded 1977

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	23:40	−2:19 shorter	7:49	6:11	3:55	5:45
No. 2	30:32	−2:54 shorter	10:12	10:04	3:47	6:29
No. 3	48:05	−1:23 shorter	14:00	15:58	6:02	12:05
No. 4	31:18	−2:32 shorter	10:05	9:23	5:40	6:10
No. 5	31:12	−1:48 shorter	7:15	9:36	4:43	9:38
No. 6	34:46	−7:06 shorter	8:48	10:34	3:07	3:19	8:58
No. 7	33:25	−5:25 shorter	11:10	7:59	7:11	7:05
No. 8	25:27	−0:32 shorter	8:53	3:58	5:30	7:06
No. 9	1:06:10	−0:53 shorter	15:00	9:50	16:18	25:02
Total time	5:24:35

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker (1977)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/herbert-von-karajan#herbert-von-karajan-4, accessed 4 November 2026.

Cover: Beethoven: 9 Symphonies, Ouvertüren

Berliner Philharmoniker

Deutsche Grammophon · Recorded 1982–1984

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	26:24	+0:25 longer	10:11	6:24	3:56	5:53
No. 2	31:15	−2:11 shorter	10:32	10:20	3:55	6:28
No. 3	48:44	−0:44 shorter	14:10	16:07	6:09	12:18
No. 4	31:36	−2:14 shorter	10:17	9:38	5:57	5:44
No. 5	30:01	−2:59 shorter	7:18	9:14	4:48	8:41
No. 6	34:19	−7:33 shorter	9:04	10:19	3:08	3:23	8:25
No. 7	33:02	−5:48 shorter	11:19	7:45	7:30	6:28
No. 8	26:18	+0:19 longer	9:01	4:05	6:01	7:11
No. 9	1:06:14	−0:49 shorter	15:34	10:26	15:54	24:20
Total time	5:27:53

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker (1982–1984)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/herbert-von-karajan#herbert-von-karajan-5, accessed 4 November 2026.