Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 [Original recording remastered]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Karl Böhm (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra), Jessye Norman (Performer), Plácido Domingo (Performer), Brigitte Fassbaender (Performer), Walter Berry (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jessye Norman, Plácido Domingo, Brigitte Fassbaender, Walter Berry
• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Karl Böhm
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (March 14, 1995)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GN4
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,021 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #4 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Norman, Jessye

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There are two Karl Böhm recordings of Beethoven's Ninth on Deutsche Grammophon, both with the Vienna Philharmonic. This is the later and lesser of the two, recorded just before the great conductor's death. It's terribly slow, and reflects all too well the depredations of old age. The earlier one, available as part of his complete Vienna Beethoven cycle at a "twofer" price, is one of the all time great versions of the symphony. Buy that one. --David Hurwitz

Product Description

CD -Norman/Domingo/Karl Bohm

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the Best Ninth! May 24, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

This is absolutely the best Ninth available: great conducting; great solo vocalists; great orchestral performance; great recorded sound; great cover art (Munch).

As others have noted, this is the "slowest" Ninth around. This is true; but "slow" must not be misunderstood as "dragging." On the contrary, this performance sizzles exactly where it should. And it's not "slow" because Bohm was too old to conduct properly. Actually, this is the finest Ninth realization, because Bohm had a lifetime of experience, and here he really displays his incisive critique: he lets the music breathe: he lets it meditate: he lets brood: he lets it expand unto the cosmos. And this pregnancy of concept gives birth to a realization of rare art.

I'm a von Karajan fan, but this realization makes Karajan sound like he's rushing to be finished as quickly as possible, just to be done and go home: Karajan sounds ridiculously fast. No, Bohm lets the gentle Beethoven breathe, giving him time to philosophize.

This is BRUCKNERIAN Beethoven.

Plus, the disc is at a bargan price: double the satisfaction. Please do yourself (or someone else) a favor: get this disc.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply Moving January 17, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

Though many seem to regard this version of Beethoven's ninth as too slow, I find it very moving and inspirational. Böhm's approach is poetic and lets the listener digest every single note. At the end, it leaves you with a bittersweet sensation of both joy and nostalgy that reminded me that Beethoven was unable to actually hear the grandiosity of his work.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars You hear something new each time... May 20, 2004

By Chen Yuan-Tud

Format:Audio CD

I've owned this recording since it was first released on a 2-LP set in 1981, where each movement occupies one whole side. It was accompanied by a lavish book that included a write-up of Bohm as well as a calendar listing all the important events and recordings of his life. It was noted that Bohm considered Berry, Domingo, Fassbaender and Norman to be the ideal soloists for this work at that time, together with his beloved VPO and the Concert Association Chorus. Later, in 1986, this recording was produced on a double CD set, together with the original LP artwork and essays, coupled with his famous 1971 recording of the "Pastoral", and it was one of the first Beethoven Ninths in DGG's CD catalogue then. The current remastered single CD on the "Masters" series has better sound, and is preferable, although all the original sleevenotes have been deleted.

Although I own about 20 different recordings of the Ninth, I regard this as one of the most important. True, the tempi are slow, but Bohm does not falter; neither is he sluggish. In spite of the slow tempi, the concentration and playing of the VPO, chorus and soloists are faultless, and there is a wonderful sense of a "live" occasion which one seldom perceive from studio recordings. It is as if everyone knew that this would be Bohm's last recording and that he would be dead within months. Most of the other reviewers here who had been positive about this recording have listed its outstanding merits, which I shall not repeat. Confirmation that Bohm had a clear vision of the work, and knew what he was doing, came from no less than Placido Domingo himself. In his autobiography, Domingo noted that, in the alla turcica section of the 4th movement which features the tenor voice, Bohm set the "ideal tempo, unlike other conductors" (Domingo's own words). It was also during this recording that Bohm presented Domingo with his own autographed copy of the score, and Domingo would later regret that he didn't have the chance to collaborate with Bohm in any operatic work. That this recording is excellent is also evident from the Penguin Guide, which has consistently given it 3 stars (out of 3) in every edition since 1981 in spite of renewed competition from many other recordings since that time.

In summary, this is not a performance of the Ninth that you can listen to as and when you like (or as background music !!). It commands your every attention. You should only listen to this on a day when you feel like listening to a performance of the Ninth, and you have about 90 minutes to spare where you are 100% certain that you'll not be disturbed. You'll be amply rewarded, and each listening brings forth fresh revelations about the work. As some reviewers have noted elewhere, once you have experienced the wisdom of Bohm in his music-making, be it Beethoven, Mozart or Strauss, you'll find it hard to listen to other so-called superstar conductors. As the author of the original sleevenote essay noted, "the very essence has been grasped".