Ludwig Van Beethoven. Symphonies 1, 2 & 3 With the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan, Beethoven"s First Symphony is marked by its fire and finesse, the Second by its exquisite winds and strings, and the "Eroica" is played with members of the orchestra seated as though performing in an Ancient Greek theatre. Ludwig Van Beethoven. Symphonies 4, 5 & 6 Herbert von Karajan directs the Berlin Philharmonic in an Italianate take of Beethoven"s Fourth Symphony and an assured rendering of the Fifth, while the "Pastoral" Symphony, conceived and directed by Hugo Niebeling in 1967, is a revolutionary mix of styles - Fantasia meets Expressionism meets film noir. Ludwig Van Beethoven. Symphonies 7, 8 & 9 With the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan, Beethoven"s Seventh Symphony resounds with melodic force, the Eighth is a masterful blend of grace and wit, and the Ninth - directed by Karajan himself - is a vital and explicitly...