Ludwig Van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 - "Choral"

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 - "Choral"
Classical - Live Recording - 25 December 1989
326 MB | RAR | Separate tracks FLAC (No CUE) | Scans | RS.com

For its uniqueness, this is perhaps the most heartfelt rendition of the great Choral Symphony. It was extended and altered to celebrate the reunification of East with West, not just in Berlin, Germany as a whole, but the whole of Europe. The text was altered from Ode to Joy to Ode to Freedom. LB has taken all but the second movement at a leisurely pace compared to many of his contemporaries' performances, but by bringing together instrumentalists from the world's greatest ensembles, the passion and the musical genius of Beethoven come across in every phrase. This is a live recording, so the odd cough is heard, but most notable is the late LB stamping his foot on the podium at the start of each movement, and also during many of the more frantic and energetic passages. This is not the most perfect in terms of technicalities but for a real sense of joy - which is what it is all about, this version can not be bettered. This should be bought as an historic addition to anyone's record library.

Tracks:

1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso 18:05

2. Molto vivace 10:45

3. Adagio molto e cantabile 20:15

4. Presto - Allegro assai 28:58

June Anderson, soprano

Sarah Walker, mezzo-soprano

Klaus König, tenor

Jan-Hendrik Rootering, bass

Bavarian Radio Chorus

Members of the Berlin Radio Chorus (GDR)

Dresden Philharmonic Children's Chorus

Chorus Master: Wolfgang Seeliger

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra

and members of the following orchestras:

Dresden Staatskapelle

Orchestra of the Kirov Theatre, Leningrad

London Symphony Orchestra

New York Philharmonic

Orchestre de Paris

Conducted by LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Download: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3