Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

Gwyneth Jones (Artist), René Kollo (Artist), Kurt Moll (Artist), Hanna Schwarz (Artist), Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Vienna State Opera Choir Concert Association (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Vienna State Opera Choir Concert Association
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records / DG
• ASIN: B000001G4U
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,617 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Jones, Gwyneth

Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Allegro ma non troppo

2. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Molto vivace

3. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Adagio molto e cantabile

4. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Presto - Allegro assai

5. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Recitative - Allegro assai

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bernstein's best Beethoven, July 25, 2000

By 

Robert Macedo-Alves (Madeira, Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Audio CD)

I always held Bernstein as the best conductor of american composers (his recordings of music by Aaron Copland is better than Copland's recordings). However, his Beethoven used to lack intensity and 'pathos'. But this ninth is different. The performance is excellent - and we can feel the spontaneity of the 'live recording' effect. The Vienna Philarmonic sound is completely sumptuous and overwhelming, especially at the climax of the last movement. This is the Best Beethoven recording ever made by Bernstein. His recording with the NYP is not as intense.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's ALIVE!!!!, October 10, 2000

By 

A. Del Rosario (Carolina, PR Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Audio CD)

I am no music expert, but the kind of passion that Bernstein draws here from the Vienna PO and from his singers, in particular Gwyneth Jones, does not depend on expertise for recognition. In addition, the recording is very good.

If I were to recommend one of the versions I know of this work to a classical music neophyte, this is the one I would choose.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beethoven 9 done right, April 17, 2009

By 

Robert S. Eisenberg (Chicago, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Audio CD)

I have been listening to The Ninth since 1955, when I heard von Karajan perform it in Carnegie Hall: I was raised on "Lenny" Bernstein as the conductor of 'my' New York Philharmoic. B Living in Chicago and listening to the Chicago Symphony taught me what perfect playing (and singing) was all about so I had given up expecting perfection, or even reasonably accurate singing in The Ninth, after hearing innumerable recordings and performances. I had avoided listening to this recording, because of my adolescent experience with the young Bernstein, who was so often unbalanced.

But here the mature (even dying) Bernstein has it right.

Everything is very very good. Indeed, perfection (of the standards of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) is achieved except for the clarinet (who is slightly sharp) and the intonation of the bass (who is nonetheless more than adequate).

Listen and see if you agree.

Bob Eisenberg

Chicago