Ranking Beethoven’s nine symphonies is a bold (and slightly dangerous) game.
After all, every one of these works is a masterpiece in its own right. But based on a mix of musical impact, historical importance, and good old-fashioned listening pleasure, we've stuck our necks out and ranked these titanic works from 9 to 1.
Best Beethoven symphony: great works
9. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 (1799-1800)
Beethoven’s First is a confident debut, firmly rooted in the Classical tradition of Haydn and Mozart, with cheeky harmonic surprises that hinted at the boundary-pushing to come. It’s bright, punchy, and full of promise.
We've put it here simply because, compared to his later works, it feels more like a foundation than a fully formed Beethoven symphony. Still, it’s a joy to listen to and showcases the young composer’s unmistakable personality.
Best recording: Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Riccardo Chailly Decca 478 3493
8. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36 (1801-02)
The Second is bigger, bolder, and more adventurous than the First, packed with humour, rhythmic vitality, and sudden dynamic shifts. Written while Beethoven was grappling with the onset of deafness, it’s surprisingly full of life.
The slow movement is tender and expressive, and the finale is a whirlwind. But it’s still Beethoven in Classical mode—brilliant, but not yet the mould-breaker we see in later symphonies.
Best recording: Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra/Stanislaw Skrowaczewski OEHMS OC522
9. Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60 (1806)
Often seen as the 'forgotten middle child' between the heroic Third and the stormy Fifth, the Fourth Symphony is full of wit, elegance, and charm. While it lacks the dramatic punch of Beethoven’s more famous symphonies, it’s still a beautifully constructed work with a delightful slow introduction and a bubbling sense of energy.
Haydnesque in tone, the Fourth is Beethoven at his most playful—just perhaps not at his most revolutionary.
Best recording: Academy of St Martin in the Fields/Joshua Bell Sony Classical 88765448812
6. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 (1812)
Beethoven famously called this “my little Symphony in F,” and it’s easy to see why—the Eighth is compact, light-hearted, and full of musical jokes (including a cheeky metronome-inspired second movement). It’s a quirky, affectionate throwback to Classical form, written between the giant Seventh and Ninth symphonies.
While it may lack the emotional depth of the others, its inventiveness and joy make it a sleeper favourite for many musicians.
Best recording: Vienna Philharmonic/Claudio Abbado Australian Eloquence ELQ4805952
Best Beethoven symphony: indispensable works
5. Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 'Pastoral' (1807-08)
The 'Pastoral' Symphony is Beethoven’s love letter to nature. Rather than a traditional narrative, it presents a series of vivid scenes—from the gentle countryside to a wild thunderstorm and a joyful shepherd’s song. It’s one of his most programmatic works, with each movement evoking a specific mood or image.
The music feels organic and flowing, less about conflict and more about contentment. That said, the Pastoral is not without drama—the storm movement is thrilling, and its resolution is genuinely uplifting. Some listeners find it less intense than Beethoven’s weightier symphonies, but its serenity and warmth offer a welcome contrast. It's deeply human, earthy, and full of quiet wonder.
Best recording: London Classical Players/Roger Norrington Virgin 083 4232
4. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 (1811-12)
Famously called 'the apotheosis of the dance' by Wagner, the Seventh is all rhythm and drive. From the unstoppable momentum of the outer movements to the soulful, haunting Allegretto, it’s one of Beethoven’s most emotionally diverse symphonies. The pulse is relentless, the energy infectious.
This is Beethoven the showman, the dramatist, the rhythmic innovator. The second movement alone has taken on a life of its own in concert halls and films. Some say the Seventh is all motion with less intellectual depth, but it’s hard to argue with a symphony that makes you want to leap out of your seat while still feeling deeply profound.
Best recording: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig/Riccardo Chailly Decca 478 3496
3. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1804-08)
Ba-ba-ba-BAH! Possibly the most famous opening in all of classical music. The Fifth is the archetype of Beethovenian struggle—darkness to light, chaos to triumph. From that iconic motif, Beethoven builds a tightly woven, thrilling journey packed with dramatic tension, rhythmic innovation, and structural brilliance.
The transition from the mysterious third movement to the blazing C major finale is pure musical theatre. It’s bold, concise, and emotionally direct. While familiarity may dull its impact for seasoned listeners, its power remains undimmed. This is Beethoven as the hero, staring fate in the eye—and winning. It’s impossible not to admire the Fifth's unquenchable ambition and fearless execution.
Best recording: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlos Kleiber Deutsche Grammophon 447 4002
2. Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica' (1803-04)
The 'Eroica' changed everything. It broke symphonic boundaries in length, scale, and emotional depth. Originally dedicated to Napoleon (until Beethoven furiously scratched his name off the score), it’s often seen as the birth of Romanticism in music.
From the bold, brassy opening to the heart-wrenching funeral march and the exuberant finale, the 'Eroica' is a vast, dramatic, deeply human work. The second movement alone is a meditation on loss and heroism, while the Scherzo simply explodes with life.
Beethoven didn’t just push the symphony forward—he redefined what music could do, what it could say. If the Fifth is the ultimate symphonic narrative, the Eroica is the ultimate symphonic statement. It’s bold, flawed, revolutionary—and utterly magnificent.
Best recording: Münchner Philharmoniker/Rudolf Kempe EMI 636 5552
Best Beethoven symphony: in a class of its own
1. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral' (1822-24)
Beethoven’s Ninth is not just a symphony—it’s a manifesto.
With its epic scale, philosophical depth, and that blazing 'Ode to Joy', it stands as one of the most ambitious and iconic works in Western music. The first three movements alone could form a masterwork: the stormy, expansive opening; the frenetic Scherzo; the lyrical, searching Adagio.
But it’s the final movement that truly changed music history. Beethoven brings in vocal soloists and a full chorus—not as a gimmick, but to deliver a powerful message of unity and brotherhood. Quoting and transforming his own 'Ode to Joy' theme, he creates a musical journey from darkness to transcendence.
What makes all this even more remarkable is that Beethoven was completely deaf when he composed this music. The Ninth is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit through sound—audacious, joyful, and timeless. It’s not just Beethoven’s greatest symphony—it’s one of humanity’s greatest artistic achievements.
Best recording: Juntunen, Karnéus, Norman, Davies; Minnesota Chorale & Orchestra/Osmo Vänskä BIS BIS-1616
All pics: Getty Images
