US TARIFFS UPDATE | August 2025 | No impact expected on your Presto orders | Read full details
Beethoven - Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
The Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 is a symphony in four movements composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1812. Beethoven fondly referred to it as "my little Symphony in F", distinguishing it from his Sixth Symphony, a longer work also in F.
The Eighth Symphony is generally light-hearted, though not lightweight, and in many places cheerfully loud, with many accented notes. Various passages in the symphony are heard by some listeners to be musical jokes. As with various other Beethoven works such as the Opus 27 piano sonatas and the later Ninth Symphony, the symphony deviates from Classical tradition in making the last movement the weightiest of the four.
Read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._8_(Beethoven)
-
Special offer. Beethoven Révolution Vol. II
RecommendedSymphonies 6 to 9
Sara Gouzy (soprano), Salome Fischer (alto), Mingjie Lei (tenor), Manuel Walser (baritone), Le Concert des Nations, La Capella Nacional de Catalunya, Jordi Savall
The performances were evolved over a series of ‘academies’ interrogating every aspect of the score. His interpretive decisions nonetheless feel organic rather than didactic…the finale of the... — More…
Awards:
-
Gramophone Magazine, February 2022, Recording of the Month
-
Gramophone Awards, 2022, Finalist - Orchestral
-
International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Nominated - Symphonic Music
-
Building a Library, December 2022, Also Recommended - Beethoven 9
-
-
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies
RecommendedDanish National Concert Choir, Danish Chamber Orchestra, Ádám Fischer
I find these performances utterly fascinating, though it would be next to impossible to offer a comprehensive catalogue of the various colourful twists and turns that characterise Fischer’s... — More…
Awards:
-
Presto Recording of the Week, 19th July 2019
-
Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2019
-
Building a Library, January 2020, Recommended Recording
-
International Classical Music Awards, 2020, Winner - Symphonic Music
-
International Classical Music Awards, 2020, Winner - Recording of the Year
-
Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Nominee - Conductor of the Year
-
Opus Klassik Awards, 2020, Winner - Orchestral (19th-century music)
-
-
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9
RecommendedTwyla Robinson (soprano), Karen Cargill (mezzo soprano), John Mac Master (tenor) & Gerald Finley (bass), Gordan Nikolitch (violin), Tim Hugh (cello) & Lars Vogt (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, Bernard Haitink
a blazing performance of the Seventh Symphony that reaches a superbly disciplined and frenzied conclusion — More…
Awards:
-
Presto Favourites, Recommended Recording
-
-
Beethoven - Complete Symphonies
RecommendedCharlotte Margiono (soprano), Birgit Remmert (alto), Ridolf Schasching (tenor), Robert Holl (bass)
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Arnold Schoenberg Choir, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Brimful of intrepid character and interpretative incident, this is surely one of the most stimulating Beethoven symphony cycles of recent times. As Harnoncourt himself states in the booklet:... — More…
Awards:
-
Gramophone Magazine, 100 Greatest Recordings
-
Building a Library, July 2005, Budget Choice
-
Gramophone Awards, 1992, Recording of the Year
-
Building a Library, January 2020, Also Recommended
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
-
Nézet-Séguin’s conducting is efficient and often quite exciting, and the CO of Europe plays splendidly. Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 7, and 8 come off the best in this set, and I can recommend these... — More…
Awards:
-
Record Review, 16th July 2022, Record of the Week
-
International Classical Music Awards, 2023, Nominated - Symphonic Music
-
Opus Klassik Awards, 2023, Nominated - Conductor of the Year
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
-
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9
RecommendedAnnette Dasch (soprano), Eva Vogel (mezzo), Christian Elsner (tenor), Dimitry Ivashchenko (bass)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sir Simon Rattle
These performances are intensely alive and immensely invigorating. — More…
Awards:
-
Presto Recording of the Week, 13th May 2016
-
BBC Music Magazine, July 2016, Disc of the month
-
Diapason d’Or de l’Année, 2016, Winner - Musique Symphonique
-
Presto Recordings of the Year, Finalist 2016
-
-
Beethoven: The Symphonies
and reflections
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mariss Jansons
Jansons adopts...an approach which takes into consideration the historically informed approach of the last 30 years, but is still aware of what performances were like in the great German tradition...If... — More…
Awards:
-
Gramophone Magazine, December 2013, Disc of the Month
-
Gramophone Awards, 2014, Shortlisted - Orchestral
-
-
Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies
Simona Šaturová (soprano), Mihoko Fujimura (alto), Christian Elsner (tenor) & Christian Gerhaher (baritone)
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, MDR Rundfunkchor, GewandhausChor & GewandhausKinderchor, Herbert Blomstedt
Blomstedt’s Beethoven seems ‘right’: tempi are never too fast or too slow, but never staid, and phrasing is alive with rhythmic energy and cumulative momentum. His Leipzig players give their... — More…
Awards:
-
International Classical Music Awards, 2018, Winner - Best Collection
Purchase product
5 CDs
$60.25 -
-
Special offer. Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies
RecommendedKammerakademie Potsdam, Maria Bengtsson (soprano), Corinna Scheurle (mezzo-soprano), Dimitry Ivashchenko (bass), Mauro Peter (tenor), Collegium Vocale 1704
Kammerakademie Potsdam, Antonello Manacorda
with exemplary recorded sound, Manacorda and his players vividly convey the sheer physicality of Beethoven’s sound world. I also hear countless details in these familiar scores that I’d barely... — More…
Awards:
-
Building A Library, October 2024, Recommended Recording (Symphony No. 4)
-
-
Beethoven: Symphonies, Overtures & Piano Concertos
RecommendedMelvyn Tan (piano)
London Classical Players, Roger Norrington
Awards:
-
Gramophone Awards, 1987, Winner - Period performance
-
Building a Library, January 2020, Also Recommended
-
Building a Library, December 2022, Also Recommended - Beethoven 9
-
Building A Library, October 2023, Recommended Period Instrument Recording
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -