Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ Symphony: a guide to the best recordings

Richard Osborne
Friday, October 20, 2023

The Sixth is the outlier among Beethoven’s symphonies, rural and rustic where the others are driven and dramatic. Richard Osborne makes a selection of the best versions from a rich recorded history

Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony encourages lovers of Nature to create their own images as they listen (photography: Lebrecht Music Arts/Bridgeman Images)

Register now to continue reading

Thanks for exploring the Gramophone website. Sign up for a free account today to enjoy the following benefits:

Free access to 3 subscriber-only articles per month
Unlimited access to our news, podcasts and awards pages
Free weekly email newsletter

Gramophone Presents Beethoven … again!

Now in its third reprint, our special Beethoven collectors' edition is available once more

Cédric Tiberghien on piano variations by Beethoven … and more

The French pianist launches a new series centred on Beethoven's many sets of theme and variations...

James Ehnes on his string quartet and recording late Beethoven

Gramophone’s current Artist of the Year on adding a new dimension to his outlook on Beethoven

The best Beethoven recordings of 2022: Editor's Choice

Featuring albums by Martha Argerich, Manfred Honeck, Mitsuko Uchida, Jordi Savall and many more

Video - Beethoven's Fifth: interpreting genius

James Jolly and Rob Cowan discuss Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the art of interpretation and how the...

Gramophone Print

Print Edition

From £6.67 / month

Gramophone Digital Club

Digital Edition
Digital Archive
Reviews Database
Full website access

From £8.75 / month

Gramophone Full Club

Print Edition
Digital Edition
Digital Archive
Reviews Database
Full website access

From £11.00 / month

If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.