The October 2011 issue of Gramophone explores how Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies changed the future of music. Composers including Schumann, Stravinsky, Mahler and Brahms were greatly influenced by Beethoven’s mighty symphonic works, building upon his legacy. So great is the shadow cast by the symphonies, that conductor Riccardo Chailly has only now released his first complete cycle of The Nine. He talks to Philip Clark about his Beethoven opus, recorded with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Elsewhere in the issue, Charlotte Smith argues a defence for that much-ridiculed instrument, the viola, and speaks to the young viola ambassadors doing much to change the instrument’s reputation today. Plus there’s our annual Season Preview, an essential guide to the highlights of the new season in opera houses and concert halls in the UK, Europe and North America.

Interviews in the new issue include with pianist Alice Sara Ott on her latest disc, and mezzo Sarah Connolly on the joys of performing song-cycles in recital. And in this month's Collection Andrew Achenbach explores the recordings of Dvorák’s Fifth and chooses his favourites.

You can listen to excerpts from all the Editor's Choice recordings, including the Reissue of the month, at the Gramophone Player, as well as read the reviews of the month's leading releases, while the magazine itself contains reviews of more than 140 recordings.

And don't forget, you can also now buy Gramophone as a digital magazine - click here to find out more.