Symphony no. 1 in C minor, op. 68
The Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68, is a symphony written by Johannes Brahms. Brahms spent at least fourteen years completing this work, whose sketches date from 1854. Brahms himself declared that the symphony, from sketches to finishing touches, took 21 years, from 1855 to 1876. The premiere of this symphony, conducted by the composer's friend Felix Otto Dessoff, occurred on 4 November 1876, in Karlsruhe, then in the Grand Duchy of Baden. A typical performance lasts roughly between 45 and 50 minutes.
Movements
- Un poco sostenuto – Allegro
- Andante sostenuto
- Un poco allegretto e grazioso
- Adagio – Allegro non troppo, ma con brio
Recommended recordings
- Berliner Philharmoniker · Herbert von Karajan YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
- Philharmonia Orchestra · Otto Klemperer YouTubeSpotify (subscription)
Most recent recordings
- Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68: II. Andante sostenuto — Johannes Brahms, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Kent Nagano (2026) Spotify
- Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 — Johannes Brahms, Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra (2026) Spotify
- Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 — Johannes Brahms, Berliner Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko (2025) Spotify
New releases via Spotify — surfaced automatically, not editorial picks.