The Sets · K

Otto Klemperer

Otto Klemperer recorded the nine Beethoven symphonies 4 times: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg, RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, WDR Sinfonie Orchester, recorded 1934–1958, on Memories Reverence; Philharmonia Orchestra, recorded 1957–1959, on EMI/Warner (6:20:33); Philharmonia Orchestra, recorded 1960, on Music & Arts (6:00:07); Philharmonia Orchestra, recorded 1970, on BBC (6:36:53). Their totals run from 6:00:07 to 6:36:53.

Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg, RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, WDR Sinfonie Orchester

Memories Reverence · Recorded 1934–1958

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average
No. 1	–
No. 2	–
No. 3	–
No. 4	–
No. 5	–
No. 6	–
No. 7	–
No. 8	–
No. 9	–
Total time	–

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Otto Klemperer, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (1934–1958)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/otto-klemperer#otto-klemperer-0, accessed 4 November 2026.

Cover: Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

Philharmonia OrchestraTop set

EMI/Warner · Recorded 1957–1959

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	29:12	+3:13 longer	9:55	8:53	4:04	6:20
No. 2	37:38	+4:12 longer	13:27	13:08	4:00	7:03
No. 3	53:26	+3:58 longer	16:41	16:54	6:34	13:17
No. 4	35:48	+1:58 longer	12:27	10:01	5:50	7:30
No. 5	39:45	+6:45 longer	8:58	11:14	6:14	13:19
No. 6	45:56	+4:04 longer	13:05	13:22	6:33	3:43	9:13
No. 7	38:47	−0:03 shorter	12:52	9:32	8:22	8:01
No. 8	27:51	+1:52 longer	9:49	4:28	5:16	8:18
No. 9	1:12:10	+5:07 longer	17:03	15:38	15:02	24:27
Total time	6:20:33

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Otto Klemperer, Philharmonia Orchestra (1957–1959)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/otto-klemperer#otto-klemperer-1, accessed 4 November 2026.

Cover: Beethoven: Symphonies – Vienna Festival

Philharmonia Orchestra

Music & Arts · Recorded 1960

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	27:36	+1:37 longer	9:23	8:16	3:51	6:06
No. 2	35:45	+2:19 longer	13:21	11:53	3:47	6:44
No. 3	49:04	−0:24 shorter	15:44	14:49	6:13	12:18
No. 4	34:26	+0:36 longer	11:51	9:46	5:34	7:15
No. 5	35:06	+2:06 longer	8:03	9:53	5:47	11:23
No. 6	42:54	+1:02 longer	13:17	13:25	3:48	3:35	8:49
No. 7	38:18	−0:32 shorter	12:43	9:29	8:08	7:58
No. 8	27:03	+1:04 longer	9:50	4:14	5:00	7:59
No. 9	1:09:55	+2:52 longer	16:36	14:57	14:06	24:16
Total time	6:00:07

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Otto Klemperer, Philharmonia Orchestra (1960)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/otto-klemperer#otto-klemperer-2, accessed 4 November 2026.

Philharmonia Orchestra

BBC · Recorded 1970

Photo: from the editor’s collection

Symphony	Total	vs. average	I.	II.	III.	IV.	V.
No. 1	27:55	+1:56 longer	8:17	8:27	4:25	6:46
No. 2	36:46	+3:20 longer	11:41	13:18	4:18	7:29
No. 3	57:31	+8:03 longer	18:02	17:50	7:13	14:26
No. 4	38:44	+4:54 longer	13:16	10:44	6:37	8:07
No. 5	35:05	+2:05 longer	7:18	11:25	6:14	10:08
No. 6	44:53	+3:01 longer	11:54	14:35	4:01	4:07	10:16
No. 7	43:50	+5:00 longer	14:51	10:45	9:18	8:56
No. 8	31:12	+5:13 longer	11:11	4:35	5:54	9:32
No. 9	1:20:57	+13:54 longer	18:31	17:39	16:59	27:48
Total time	6:36:53

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Cite this

Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Otto Klemperer, Philharmonia Orchestra (1970)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/otto-klemperer#otto-klemperer-3, accessed 4 November 2026.