Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium)

Donaldson Bell (Performer), Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), George Szell (Conductor), Jane Hobson (Performer), Cleveland Orchestra (Orchestra), Adele Addison (Performer), Richard Lewis (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Donaldson Bell, Jane Hobson, Adele Addison, Richard Lewis
• Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra
• Conductor: George Szell
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (January 12, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000GV4I
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,536 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Unlike the other discs in this series, this one contains a single work of music, complete. Szell's classic performance has remained in the catalogs almost continuously since it was recorded in 1961, for good reasons. While the conductor doesn't quite capture the mystery of the music as well as Wilhelm Furtwängler (who does?), his is a powerful performance with lots of vigor, forward thrust, and, in the slow movement, a generous amount of poetry. The chorus, trained by Robert Shaw, is splendid and seems to sing almost effortlessly. The spotlighting of the soloists in the recording is some detriment, but the performance survives. A thoroughly worthwhile reissue, but you can get the same recording, with the Fidelio Overture as a bonus, on a much cheaper CD (Sony number 46533). --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I don't leave home with out it., October 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium) (Audio CD)

I am a high end audio salesman and I bring this recording to work every day. Highly recomended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite version!, December 5, 2007

By 

Lorna H. Smith (University Place, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium) (Audio CD)

This has been my favorite recording of Beethoven's 9th! I love listening to it as I travel and love sharing it with others. Maybe I shared it too much as my recording is missing and I am buying another one just like it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite performance of the 9th, October 18, 2007

By 

Michael Tillotson "Michael Tillotson" (Kearney, NE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (National Public Radio Milestones Of The Millennium) (Audio CD)

My Dad had Szell's performance of Beethoven's 9th on cassette which I listened to over and over again when I was in my mid teens. Then the cassette was misplaced (or used up) and I purchased some other recordings of the 9th. None of them impressed me nearly as much as Szell's. Then last year I found this CD (with great excitement) and it brings back all the memories. No other performance I have heard gives it the same power and intensity. The third movement is played so beautifully, and the fourth is an outstanding performance by the choir. And just like I when I was a teenager, I still enjoy turning the volume way up for the opening measures... ((( )))