Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral"

After reading various reviews on this site (and others) of this and other recordings of Beethoven's 9th, I decided to select this one, and I'm glad I did. It is an excellent "all-around" recording of one of the greatest classical works of all time. From the quality of the sound/recording (vocal and orchestral), to the nearly flawless execution by the performers, to the interpretation of the work by the conductor -- this is truly great from an overall perspective. There are many terrific recordings of the 9th (I also own Karajan/Berlin and Furtwangler/Bayreuth Festival, and have heard a number of others, such as Bernstein at the Berlin Wall), but this one stands out as one of the finest. For a wonderful survey of the various recordings available, check out this informative article by Carl Nelson on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/PIMO74V323TZ.

I have coveted a copy of Beethoven's 9th for years now. I used to own a copy of the vinyl version of this symphony, which I haven't been able to find any where. It has a picture sleeve replica of "Apotheosis of a Saint". That picture simply expressed the ineffable joy Beethoven brought with this, possibly the most celebrated of all symphonies. While I dream of my near-native conductor, the late, great Sir Georg Solti with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and his rendition, I cannot complain about buying this scandalously cheap download version found here.

I am no musicologist, so if you're looking for the finer highlights of the merits of this particular recording, please look to some truly fine reviews by the other Amazon-ites. However, let me say that I am completely satisfied. This indelible work follows me in the car and even the fourth movement has been replanted in my brain, heart, and soul via MP3 player.

As a layman, I enjoyed Music Appreciation in my last semester of college. Although suffering from senioritis, I chose it for enrichment rather than out of mere exhaustion. I did my final project on this work. I found some aspects fascinating. Again, these facts may be embarrassingly rudimentary for some, so bear with me:

1.) Surely a genius, Beethoven composed the last (half?) of his symphonies, including this one, while stone deaf. (A fact to savor!)

2.) Innovating convention, Beethoven shocked critics by adding the ethereal chorus to his fabulous fourth movement. Panned by the aforementioned critics, the audiences were quite enthralled. More of a people's composer perhaps than Tchaikovsky and his well-meaning, but poorly dedicated "1812 Overture," (another celestial masterpiece), Beethoven truly deliver's a rapturous reading of Schiller's sublime poem, "Ode to Joy". If memory serves me correctly, Beethoven also switched the second and third movements where the second was traditionally subdued and the third more upbeat and/or frenetic. Foreshadowing teasingly goes through the middle two movements in fits and starts.

Another reviewer has flagged that this may not be the recording you think it is. This version was done on November 30, 1950 by Jansung Kakhidze, a Georgian conductor, but as I grow red in the face, I think that means Georgia of the former Soviet Union, rather than here in the States. Either way, I am discerning enough to hear differences between recordings, and yet I find this (allegedly H.igh D.efinition) work to be more than a satisfactory treatment. For those of you in "the cheaper seats" of the symphony hall, there's no excuse for not buying a truly coveted peasant's experience of a great and enriching piece of music.

(*I named my review after the exclamation drawn from Alex, Anthony Burgess's villain protagonist in his acclaimed novel 'A Clockwork Orange' also celebrated in Stanley Kubrick's innovative movie of the same title. The point being, even when life is degraded to the basest level, true decency and transcendence through music can be sustaining.)

A note for the people interested in buying the MP3 download, most of the reviews are linked from the [Beethoven: Symphonie No. 9; Overture "Egmont" (Audio CD)] and not for this specific download. This download is an interpretation from Jansug Kakhidze, a Georgian conductor (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S2A2X0/ref=dm_dp_adp_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1201114048&sr=1-10), not from the exceptional interpretations mentioned in some of the reviews. The price is amazingly low anyway, so it might be worth for someone looking for a deal. Regards.

The Amazon reviewer should have taken a breath or two and maybe he could have done some side by side comparisons before he started singing "How Great Thou Art." This 9th, though it is very good, is over hyped by the Amazon reviewer. The Egmont is done just peachy as well. But the 9th IS NOT the best I have heard. And since I have not heard them all, (has anyone? there must be at least a few dozen "great" Beethoven 9ths floating around) there are probably several that top my favorites that I just have not heard.

My two favorite 9ths (especially the choral finale) are by Solti and by Solti (Chicago Symphony). Each time I listen to one of these I think "surely, no one can top this." Then I listen to the other and think "Only Solti can top Solti!" But, if I listen to Karajan BPO c. 1977 (this is my favorite Beethoven symphony cycle) I think, "surely no one can top this 9th." The same goes for Leinsdorf Boston Symphony (Domingo as soloist) 9th. All four of these performances give me the WOW!!! effect while this Fricsay 9th only gives me a Wow!

If we just restrict the Beethoven category to best early Stereo 9ths, (1955 to 1964), this 9th has some serious competition from the likes of Klemperer, Bernstein, and Leibowitz just to name a few. It does top Karajan BPO c. 1963 (not so great choral finale). I was able to get past all of the "king of the hill" reveiws and actually enjoy the performance and Beethoven's splendid music.

I know 7 performances of this piece but this one is the best one i ever heard. Fricsay's version is very clean and attractive even if the third part is longer than usual. In the performance there's no dark parts. All soloists are very good singers and they made their job wonderful. Who wants to listen and understand this great piece i recommend this cd without paying attention at the cost. 25.99.