Beethoven: Symphony #9 Choral; Sir Simon Rattle/Vienna Philharmonic [Import]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Sir Simon Rattle (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Barbara Bonney (Performer), Thomas Hampson (Performer), Birgit Remmert (Performer), Kurt Streit (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Barbara Bonney, Thomas Hampson, Birgit Remmert, Kurt Streit
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 7, 2003)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B0000BWTK7
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,037 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, Yes, Yes, but then..., October 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony #9 Choral; Sir Simon Rattle/Vienna Philharmonic (Audio CD)

Three movements of insight, intelligence, suspense, beauty, feeling (especially in the beautifully executed adagio, the best since Boehm's 1980 VPO account), the right tempi and the gorgeous Vienna sound. And I already thought, this would be the one I have been waiting for since so long. Warmth, no steely sound like HVK. Finally, the perfect ninth, so I thought... But then, in the fourth movement, tragically, things go astray. No harmony, no passion, too many unccordinated individuals. Just compare to Herreweghe with La Chappelle Royale & Collegium Vocale & Orchestre de Champs Elysee on Harmonia Mundi (also on period instruments), and hear what true drama and exitement is really all about...!
The next time, Sir Simon, with the Berlin Phil, listen to the Herreweghe (or a thrilling Solti with CSO), and transfer that spirit to the best orchestra in the world and let us marvel in the choral finale as well, please, please...!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The good and the bizarre, July 6, 2004

By 

J. Buxton "cantabile" (Waltham, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony #9 Choral; Sir Simon Rattle/Vienna Philharmonic (Audio CD)

I purchased this 9th separately from the rest of Rattle's VPO Beethoven cycle based on many reviews I've read and most reviewers had good things to say about the 9th so I thought I would give it a try. First, let me say this is an excellent recording, the VPO sounds outstanding as they should, the Birmingham chorus is nothing short of remarkable, and the quartet of soloists is very good (if a bit recessed in the recording). Rattle uses the del Mar edition and there is much to enjoy here, especially the wonderful accents in the choral section and several amazingly powerful crescendos throughout. I have one major complaint that keeps this from being my top recommendation and that is the simply bizarre point in the finale toward the very end of the symphony where Rattle almosts silences the chorus for several seconds to let us hear the piccolo part loud and clear. It is not clear why Rattle chooses to do this as it adds nothing to the picture at that point and I feel distracts strongly from the overall sound structure going on at that moment. The piccolo playing fortissimo continues until the end unfortunately and it is a pity this mars an otherwise top choice recording.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great recording -- I actually like the 4th movement. . ., March 31, 2006

By 

Beethoven 4Ever (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony #9 Choral; Sir Simon Rattle/Vienna Philharmonic (Audio CD)

As others have mentioned, this may be the best rendition of the 9th Symphony done with modern recording. The sound quality is excellent, making the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus sound wonderful. I think Sir Simon Rattle's interpretation and presentation of the 9th Symphony is second to none, though, obviously, no conductor would perfectly match everything I would prefer. I find his reading of the 9th most satisfying.

I differ from the other reviewers here in that I actually prefer how he highlighted the piccolo at the end of the piece. I thought it complemented the soprano part and, together with the soprano, chorus, and orchestra, achieved a climax in tone and emotional intensity at the end that is superior to any other recording I have heard - and more satisfying. In any case, I highly recommend this rendition; definitely no one will be disappointed in the purchase.

I might caution that Sir Simon Rattle was not uniformly good on all the other Beethoven Symphonies; no complete set from any conductor is great on all the symphonies. I was particularly disappointed with the 7th, though he did very well on the 1st and some others.