Wilhelm Furtwängler
Several complete sets of Beethoven's nine symphonies conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler have been released, three of which are included here: Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 1–7), Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (No. 8), Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele (No. 9), recorded 1948–1954, on EMI/Warner (6:05:28); Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 1–2 and 4–5), Berliner Philharmoniker (Nos. 3 and 6–8), Philharmonia Orchestra (No. 9), recorded 1948–1954, on Andromeda et al. (6:08:25); Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart (No. 1), Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 2, 4 and 7–9), Berliner Philharmoniker (Nos. 3, 5 and 6), recorded 1948–1954, on Memories Reverence (6:06:26). Their totals run from 6:05:28 to 6:08:25. Only one recording of the Second Symphony conducted by Furtwängler is known to survive, and it is therefore included in all three sets. Furthermore, the Andromeda and Memories Reverence sets share the same performances of the Fourth and Sixth Symphonies.
Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 1–7), Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (No. 8), Orchester der Bayreuther Festpiele (No. 9)
| Symphony | Total | vs. average | I. | II. | III. | IV. | V. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | 25:32 | −0:27 shorter | 7:55 | 7:23 | 3:55 | 6:19 | |
| No. 2* | 31:56 | −1:30 shorter | 10:07 | 11:07 | 3:59 | 6:43 | |
| No. 3 | 52:22 | +2:54 longer | 16:10 | 17:21 | 6:36 | 12:15 | |
| No. 4 | 36:02 | +2:12 longer | 10:39 | 11:49 | 6:02 | 7:32 | |
| No. 5 | 35:42 | +2:42 longer | 8:36 | 11:21 | 6:03 | 9:42 | |
| No. 6 | 44:51 | +2:59 longer | 11:56 | 13:28 | 5:59 | 4:08 | 9:20 |
| No. 7 | 38:49 | −0:01 shorter | 12:58 | 10:17 | 8:43 | 6:51 | |
| No. 8 | 25:52 | −0:07 shorter | 7:53 | 4:34 | 5:50 | 7:35 | |
| No. 9 | 1:14:22 | +7:19 longer | 17:51 | 12:00 | 19:32 | 24:59 | |
| Total time | 6:05:28 | ||||||
Cite this
Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Wilhelm Furtwängler, Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 1–7) (1948–1954)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/wilhelm-furtwangler#wilhelm-furtwangler-0, accessed 4 November 2026.
Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 1–2, 4–5), Berliner Philharmoniker (Nos. 3, 6–8), Philharmonia Orchestra (No. 9)
| Symphony | Total | vs. average | I. | II. | III. | IV. | V. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | 25:04 | −0:55 shorter | 7:51 | 7:07 | 3:51 | 6:15 | |
| No. 2* | 32:13 | −1:13 shorter | 10:10 | 11:09 | 4:03 | 6:51 | |
| No. 3 | 54:45 | +5:17 longer | 16:27 | 18:57 | 6:36 | 12:45 | |
| No. 4** | 34:50 | +1:00 longer | 10:31 | 11:35 | 5:37 | 7:07 | |
| No. 5 | 34:29 | +1:29 longer | 8:22 | 11:08 | 6:12 | 8:47 | |
| No. 6*** | 45:08 | +3:16 longer | 11:51 | 13:52 | 6:02 | 4:10 | 9:13 |
| No. 7 | 40:28 | +1:38 longer | 13:29 | 10:53 | 8:44 | 7:22 | |
| No. 8 | 26:03 | +0:04 longer | 8:06 | 4:34 | 5:38 | 7:45 | |
| No. 9 | 1:15:25 | +8:22 longer | 17:53 | 11:58 | 19:49 | 25:45 | |
| Total time | 6:08:25 | ||||||
Cite this
Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Wilhelm Furtwängler, Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 1–2 (1948–1954)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/wilhelm-furtwangler#wilhelm-furtwangler-1, accessed 4 November 2026.
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart (No. 1), Wiener Philharmoniker (Nos. 2, 4, 7–9), Berliner Philharmoniker (Nos. 3, 5, 6)
| Symphony | Total | vs. average | I. | II. | III. | IV. | V. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | 25:51 | −0:08 shorter | 8:03 | 7:17 | 3:56 | 6:35 | |
| No. 2* | 32:08 | −1:18 shorter | 10:10 | 11:12 | 4:03 | 6:43 | |
| No. 3 | 51:51 | +2:23 longer | 15:57 | 17:27 | 6:19 | 12:08 | |
| No. 4** | 35:03 | +1:13 longer | 10:32 | 11:36 | 5:36 | 7:19 | |
| No. 5 | 35:05 | +2:05 longer | 8:45 | 11:19 | 6:00 | 9:01 | |
| No. 6*** | 44:36 | +2:44 longer | 11:43 | 13:42 | 5:58 | 4:08 | 9:05 |
| No. 7 | 39:19 | +0:29 longer | 13:45 | 9:38 | 8:20 | 7:36 | |
| No. 8 | 27:19 | +1:20 longer | 8:46 | 4:44 | 5:53 | 7:56 | |
| No. 9 | 1:15:14 | +8:11 longer | 18:28 | 12:17 | 19:15 | 25:14 | |
| Total time | 6:06:26 | ||||||
Cite this
Magnús Lyngdal Magnússon, “Wilhelm Furtwängler, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart (No. 1) (1948–1954)”, Beethoven.is, https://beethoven.is/sets/wilhelm-furtwangler#wilhelm-furtwangler-2, accessed 4 November 2026.