well since this forum is usually dead, here's my attempt at livening it up...

what's your favourite symphony? Mozart's 25, 40 or 41? or maybe you prefer Beethoven's 5th and 9th, or are you a fan of Dvorak's 9th? Tchaikovsky? Rachmaninov?

i hope someone will reply...

Beethoven's 5th symphony is by far my favorite. Especially the second half.

Beethoven's 5th without a doubt. I've always liked this piece.

I can't choose! There are so many and I don't even know most of them! In an orchestra that I am in we are playing Schubert's unfinished, which I really enjoy.

There are so many I love, I can't narrow it down to one. So, here are a FEW of my favorites:

Mozart G-minor; Beethoven 3, 3, 6, 7 & 9; Schubert 5, 8, & 9; Brahms 4; Tchaikovsky 6, Rachmaninoff 2 & 3; Stavinsky Symphony in Three movements.

OOPS! I meant to say, Beethoven 3, 5, 6, 7, & 9!

i like so many symphonies, it would take forever to make a list. But if I had to narrow it down to one, it would probably be Tchaikovsky 6th.

I like Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique. It's definitely not traditional sounding like, say Mozart, but I always thought that, not only is the piece a wonderful use of a full orchestra, but that its development from movement to movement was exceptional. It successfully revealed a very real side of the human spirit that is not often sought after, or easily captured, IMO.

Chris W

thankz everyone for replying... well since I asked the question I should give my answer as well... my favourite symphony, of all that I've heard, which is very few actually, is the Dvorak 7th... a stunning show of force yet so full of emotion... I can never get enough of this work...

My vote:

Brahms No.1
Franck Symphony

My ultimate favourite is Beethoven's 3rd. Second favourite is Dvorak's New World

So many great ones. But I suppose if push came to shove, I'd pick Beethoven's 7th. This would be followed very closely by Brahms no 4.

Mahler 2nd and 6th, Beethoven 7th and 9th, and Tchaikovsky 6th

Maybe you should have asked the Question in terms of "" What Symphony would you like to be listening to at the moment of your own
DEATH??""""

Beethoven's 9th......

Very hard NOT to mention Beethovan 5,7,9 and I have heard the Berlioz Sym. Fantastique live and was really thrilled, but I think my favorite is Sibelius #2. Some parts of it give me chills whenever I hear them. I think part of the reason for this is it doesnt get as much "air-time" as some of the more famous pieces (such as the 1812) and so does seem fresher. Wagner seems to be ignored here so far but I MIGHT consider a Walkerie or two in my death bed. :rolleyes:

Bob Van Sickle

you know when I asked this question, I thought that Mozart would keep popping up... but now I realize that I'm not the only one who's not too fond of Mozart's symphonies...

The favorite is impossible to pick,but here are a few of my most often listened to.

Mozart...5,25,29,34,36,40,41.
Beethoven 1,3,5,6,9
Dvorak 9
Mahler 1
Saint Saens 3 (Organ)
Brahms 1,3
Tchaikovsky 4,5,6
Richard Strauss Symphonia Domestica
Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms

Mozart is on the top for a reason.


Steve

Henryk Gorecki Symphony No. 3....possibly the most beautiful, chilling thing i have ever heard in my life. Never has music ( except for rachmaninoff's) touched me so deeply...

Beethoven 9
Tchaikovsky 4
Mozart 40 & 41
Brahms 1 & 3
not in any particular order

Beethoven: 3, 5, 8,9
Schubert: 9
Mahler: 2,3,5
Bruckner: 4,7,8
Mozart:41
Tchaikovsky: 4,5,6
These are some of my favorites, not in any order.

Gorecki Symphony No. 3. Also known as the "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs."

Mahler Resurrection Symphony

Beethoven Ninth Symphony

I'm going to have to give Beethoven the prize here. My favourites are the 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th. Coming in 2nd would be the 2 Mozart Symphonies in minor keys (although I like his piano concertos better). Some of Mendelsohn's symphonies deserve honourable mention including his Scottish symphony. I agree with the fact that Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique is one of the most original works ever written for symphony.

I'd say:

Beethoven: 5, 6, 9
Mahler: 2, 6, 8, 9
Shostakovich: 5, 9
Glass: 3, 5
Prokofiev: 1, 5
Sibelius: 6, 7
Adès: Chamber Symphony, Asyla

Yup the beethoven symphonies are by far my favourite. (each and every one of them).
Also, Dvorak 7 and 9
Mahler 4 and 5
Rach 2 and 3
and although its not a symphony Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture which is one of my favourite non piano pieces of music.

Wow, just saw Dvorak's 7th at Orchestra Hall. It is now in my top five for sure! What a work! I'll also throw in Beethoven 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 as my alltime favorite. And a couple of Haydn's (maybe 88 or 90-something?). And Schubert's fifth. And a couple of Mozarts'. One or two of Brahms' too! And maybe a Sibelius. Wow there are so many. And I didn't know ANY of them until 2 or 3 years ago. Went 33 years thinking of classical music as dull and boring. It was just ignorance, that's all. And I can credit the piano (i.e., a cheap keyboard for Christmas) for expanding my brain to a whole new world of music.

I recently moved from Chicago to New England and I miss orchestra hall! Your post has made me reflect back on two wonderful seasons of the CSO. *sigh*.

Lily

p.s. I adore Beethoven's 9th and the Eroica.

Beethoven's 6th.
And, although it's not a symphony, I love 'Waltz of the Flowers'.

Elgar - No 1 in A flat
Havergal Brian - Nos 3,17,32
Ives - Nos 2 and 4

Beethoven's 7th.

Saint-Saens #3

Stan