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First Performance: Gewandhaus in Leipzig in 1789—at least according to its concert program.

First Performance: There’s no definitive record of a performance in Mozart’s lifetime, but it’s believed to have been performed at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig in 1789, based on concert programs from that year—similar to Symphony No. 40. Some historians suggest it may also have been part of Mozart’s planned "Concerts in the Casino" in Vienna, though this remains uncertain.

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First Performance: he first public performance took place on April 7, 1805, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, conducted by Beethoven himself. An earlier private rehearsal occurred in 1804 at the palace of Prince Lobkowitz, one of its dedicatees. The premiere was met with mixed reactions—its length and complexity startled some, though it soon gained acclaim as a groundbreaking work.

First Performance: The symphony premiered on December 22, 1808, at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, conducted by Beethoven himself. It was part of a marathon concert that also debuted his Symphony No. 6, several movements of his Mass in C, and the Choral Fantasy. The performance was under-rehearsed, the hall was cold, and the audience found the program—over four hours long—exhausting, leading to a lukewarm initial reception. Its genius was recognized later.

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First Performance: Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 was first performed on May 7, 1824, at the Theater am Kärntnertor in Vienna. Although Beethoven was profoundly deaf by this time, he appeared onstage and attempted to conduct alongside the actual conductor, Michael Umlauf, who instructed the orchestra to follow him instead.

At the end of the performance, the audience erupted in applause, but Beethoven couldn’t hear it. One of the soloists had to gently turn him around so he could see the enthusiastic ovation. The premiere was a major success and marked the historic introduction of choral elements in a symphony, making it a groundbreaking moment in music history.

First Performance: Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique premiered on December 5, 1830, at the Paris Conservatoire, conducted by François-Antoine Habeneck. The performance featured an orchestra of 130 musicians. Originally scheduled for May 23, 1830, at the Théâtre des Nouveautés, the premiere was postponed due to the July Revolution. The symphony, notable for its innovative orchestration and autobiographical program, marked a significant moment in French Romantic music.​

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First Performance: Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68, premiered on November 4, 1876, in Karlsruhe, Germany, conducted by Felix Otto Dessoff. Brahms began sketches for the symphony as early as 1854, dedicating over two decades to its completion. The premiere was well-received, solidifying Brahms's reputation as a leading composer of his time.

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First Performance: Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, premiered on October 25, 1885, in Meiningen, Germany, with Brahms himself conducting the Meiningen Court Orchestra. This symphony, his final one, was composed during the summers of 1884 and 1885 in Mürzzuschlag, Austria. The premiere was met with enthusiastic applause, though Brahms had initially feared the work might not appeal widely. Following the successful debut, Brahms and conductor Hans von Bülow led the orchestra on a tour across Germany and the Netherlands to present the symphony. When introduced in Vienna a few months later, the reception was more reserved. Over time, however, the symphony has been recognized as one of Brahms's greatest masterpieces.​

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First Performance: Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World" premiered on December 16, 1893, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The New York Philharmonic, conducted by Anton Seidl, performed the symphony. The premiere was highly anticipated, especially following Dvořák's public statements emphasizing African American and Native American music as foundational for an American national school of music. The performance was a resounding success, with the audience responding enthusiastically, solidifying the symphony's place as one of the most celebrated works in the orchestral repertoire.

First Performance: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, known as the "Pathétique," premiered on October 28, 1893, at the Hall of Nobles in St. Petersburg, with Tchaikovsky himself conducting. The audience responded with moderate applause, reflecting a subdued initial reception. Tragically, Tchaikovsky passed away just nine days later, on November 6, 1893. Subsequent performances, including one conducted by Eduard Nápravník on November 18, 1893, garnered more enthusiastic acclaim, leading to the symphony's recognition as one of Tchaikovsky's masterpieces.​

First Performance: Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 in C minor, known as the "Resurrection Symphony," had its complete premiere on December 13, 1895, in Berlin, conducted by Mahler himself. Earlier that year, on March 4, Mahler presented the first three movements in Berlin. The full performance introduced audiences to Mahler's expansive vision, blending orchestral and choral forces to explore profound themes of life, death, and resurrection. Initial reactions were mixed, with some critics puzzled by the symphony's complexity and scale. Over time, however, it has become celebrated as one of Mahler's most significant and enduring works.

First Performance: Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27, premiered on January 26, 1908, at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, with the composer himself conducting. Following the disastrous reception of his First Symphony in 1897, Rachmaninoff had faced a period of self-doubt and compositional silence. The successful debut of the Second Symphony marked a significant personal and professional triumph, re-establishing his confidence as a symphonist. The work was well-received by both critics and audiences, solidifying Rachmaninoff's reputation and earning him the Glinka Award in 1908.

First Performance: Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor premiered on October 18, 1904, in Cologne, with Mahler himself conducting the Gürzenich Orchestra. Composed during the summers of 1901 and 1902 at Mahler's retreat in Maiernigg, the symphony marked a departure from his earlier works by being purely instrumental, without vocal components. The premiere received a mixed reception; even Mahler's protégé, Bruno Walter, noted that the complex counterpoint was not clearly conveyed. Mahler continued to revise the orchestration in subsequent years to address these concerns.

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First Performance: Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 9 in D major premiered on June 26, 1912, at the Vienna Festival, with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bruno Walter. Mahler, who completed the symphony in 1909, did not live to witness its first performance, having passed away in 1911. The premiere was met with critical acclaim, and the symphony has since been regarded as one of Mahler's most profound and significant works.