Symphonies nos. 5 & 6 cover

Symphonies nos. 5 & 6

Herbert von Karajan · 1988

67 min · 9 tracks · classical music

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
93 /100
Summit
Higher than 100% of albums we've rated

The symphonies’ tightly shaped transitions and contrasting arcs sustain repeat listening; this is a strong, polished interpretation, though its identity rests more on the scores t…

What we noticed

  • The Fifth’s four movements run straight into one another at the scherzo-to-finale transition, where a quiet low-register buildup opens into the brass-led finale.
  • The Pastoral uses five movements; its abrupt storm scene gives way to a slower, hymn-like final movement rather than ending at the storm’s climax.
  • The two symphonies occupy separate blocks in the running order, so the album resets its scale and mood between the Fifth’s dramatic arc and the Sixth’s scene-based progression.
Composition 25% of the score
10/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
9/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: I. Allegro con brio 7:18
  • 2 Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: II. Andante con moto 10:04
  • 3 Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: III. Allegro 4:53
  • 4 Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: IV. Allegro 9:05
  • 5 Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: I. Angenehme, heitere Empfindungen, welche bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande im Menschen erwachen: Allegro ma non troppo 9:01
  • 6 Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: II. Szene am Bach: Andante molto moto 11:34
  • 7 Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: III. Lustiges Zasammensein der Landleute: Allegro 3:01
  • 8 Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: IV. Gewitter - Sturm: Allegro 3:24
  • 9 Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: V. Hirtengesang. Wohltätige, mit Dank an die Gottheit verbundene Gefühle nach dem Sturm: Allegretto 8:52

What to play next

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Reference: MusicBrainz