Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 ~ Celibidache [Import]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Sergiu Celibidache (Conductor), Münich Philharmonic Orchestrsa (Orchestra), Helen Donath (Performer), Doris Soffel (Performer), Siegfried Jerusalem (Performer), Peter Lika (Performer), Philharmonic Choir of Münich (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Helen Donath, Doris Soffel, Siegfried Jerusalem, Peter Lika, Philharmonic Choir of Münich
• Orchestra: Münich Philharmonic Orchestrsa
• Conductor: Sergiu Celibidache
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (November 5, 2002)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B00000JQI5
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #316,265 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: Applause

2. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso

3. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: II. Molto vivace

4. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: III. Adagio molto e cantabile

5. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: IV. Presto

6. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: 'O Freunde, nicht diese Tone!' - Allegro assai (Final chorus from Schiller's 'Ode To Joy')

7. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125: Applause

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You haven't heard anything until you heard this one!!!, May 26, 2005

By 

Janos Gardonyi "jgarch2002" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

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

The late Sergiu Celibidache was probably the greatest and least known conductor to the public due to his general aversion to recordings. Fortunately EMI brought out quite a number of them that attest to his greatness. This is surely one of the best.
Starting with the purely symphonic 1st movement, masterfully controlled, through the rather measured Scherzo of incredible rhytmic precision to the beatific Adagio, rarely shaped so beautifully, we arrive at the 4th movement that bursts out into a miracle.
Words fail me to describe the experience... Four top level soloists sing their heart out. Helen Donath is a heavenly soprano. Siegfried Jerusalem a strong, precise tenor in the march episode.Peter Lika, basso, one of the best ever recorded.
The Munchen Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir are both stunning, excellently balanced and very well recorded.
But full credit must go to the Conductor who creates absolute heaven, an electrically charged reading in this beautifully detailed performance of high exaltation.
Celibidache likes slower tempi, but he is a firm believer in what he is doing and the results prove him right.
Highly recommended. Go, get it while the supplies last.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Two masterful movements, two eccentric ones, July 8, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

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

If you are a new listener to Celibidache and have heard of his eccentrically slow tempos, two movements in this live Beethoven Ninth form Munich will confirm your worst fears. The Scherzo, which Beethoven marks Presto, is taken as a none-too-fast Andante and therefore becomes a complete distortion of the composer's intentions. The same is true for the finale, which isn't uniformly slow but has far too many stretches where Beethoven's sense of triumphant joy is lost. celi wasn't a slack conductor, and even at slow tempos he makes a cogent argument, it just happens to be very off base.

However, the first movement and Adagio. both at 18 min. are within normal tempo range (surprisingly, Solti is just as slow in the first movement and even slower in the Adagio). When the veil of Celi's too-slow tempos is removed, what we find is a real maestro, capable of drama, pacing, and tension, all hallmarks of great Beethoven conducting. I wouldn't say, however, that he is inspired in these two movements; the overal tone is traditional middle-European in the same league as Karl Bohm.

EMI's sonics are fine, but the miking of the Munich chorus is a bit murky, and Beethoven's fiendish vocal writing undoes Siegfried Jerusalem on his climactic high note.

Taken as a whole, this is certainly a worthy addition to the Celibidache legacy, but the entire performance is too idiosyncratic to make the best impression.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great Beethoven Ninth, July 27, 2005

By 

adrian ivan (Medias, SB Romania) - See all my reviews

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

Be prepaired to hear a very special Beethoven 9.Yes, slow, but this only help music breathe.Throw away preconceptions an listen with your mind open. You'll find something that is very hard to find in other places. Warmly recomended.
PS: This rendition is the only one from the ones that I have listened respectful to Beethoven's precise indication regarding tempo in Scherzo.