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Step 1
Start with Beethoven’s nine symphonies, which form the core of his musical output. If you can find an affordable, quality boxed set containing all nine symphonies, snap it up. If you’re not able to buy all of them, the Third (“Eroica”), Fifth, Sixth (“Pastoral”), Seventh and Ninth (“Choral”) are essentials.
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Step 2
After the symphonies, the most important of Beethoven’s compositions are probably the thirty-two sonatas for solo piano. If you can't find a boxed set of the complete sonatas, the must-have works include No. 8 in C Minor (“Pathetique”), No. 14 in C-sharp Minor (“Moonlight”), No. 21 in C (“Waldstein”), No. 23 in F Minor (“Appassionata”), No. 29 in B-flat (“Hammerklavier”) and No. 31 in A-flat.
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Step 3
Beethoven also wrote five concertos for piano and orchestra. The two that you shouldn’t be without are No. 3 in C Minor and No. 5 in E-flat, nicknamed the “Emperor.” Some consider "The Emperor" to be the finest piano concerto ever written, and it’s definitely a cornerstone of any Beethoven CD collection.
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Step 4
Beethoven composed sixteen string quartets that revolutionized the genre. If you can acquire all of them, buy at least three: No. 10 in E-flat (“Harp”), No. 13 in B-flat, and No. 14 in C-sharp Minor.
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Step 5
Pick up the three other “must-haves” for any Beethoven enthusiast. The sparkling Violin Concerto in D, the elegant Piano Trio No. 6 in B-flat, (nicknamed the “Archduke” trio) and the powerful, exhilarating “Leonore Overture No. 3.”
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Step 6
Shop for your recordings online, or at a discount bookstore or music store. If you go to a highbrow store that specializes in classical music, you might find a better selection, but you’ll probably pay top dollar.
