Few conductors of Klaus Tennstedt's generation demonstrated such complete mastery of the Classical and Romantic repertoire from Beethoven to Mahler and Strauss, coupled with an intensity in live performance that was palpable.

He was among the finest German conductors to emerge after the Second World War and was in constant demand with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic.

In Doremi's 6th volume of live performances conducted by Klaus Tennstedt are three symphonies by Beethoven: numbers 6 and 9 with the Minnesota Orchestra (1989 and 1982), and number 8 with the Boston Symphony (1975).