[osoucy]

I know this has been covered, but I've not been able to find any definitive answer to my question.

There have been a lot of discussion about the complete symphonies box set, but not that much on the 9th symphony itself.

So, which record is the best? Best performance? best sound quality?

Please include a link to amazon to avoid any confusion.

Thank you

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Thank you guys for all your replies, but I get just more confused about what to choose lol.

Nonetheless, I realized that when I wrote about this symphony, I had something in mind. I uploaded a sample of what I want and I hope that someone will be able to tell me which version it is.

http://soury.ca/Ode_to_Joy.mp3

If anyone knows which version it is, please let me know.
I would also be interested in something similar (same kind of choral).

Thank you again

 

[K2Grey]

Recordings are a matter of subjective taste. Well, there is usually good consensus on what has the best sound quality, but performances are a matter of subjective taste too.

I like the version of the 9th on the Gunter Wand/NDRSO box set. There is also an individual CD with it by the aforementioned people, although I'm not sure if its the exact same as the one on the box set. I would check and include a link but amazon is down right now.

I believe the sound quality is very good and I much prefer the recording as a whole to the 1951 Furtwangler and 1963 Karajan recordings.

 

[Doc Sarvis]

A big question to be sure, and one about whch you are likely to hear many opinions, but fun nevertheless.

My current faves (no particular order):

Furtwangler 1942 (terrible sonics, though)
Karajan BPO (70s version)
Karajan VPO (1963 version)
Leinsdorf BSO
Leibowitz
Zinman
Szell
Gardiner
Barenboim

...many other great ones out there.

And now for something completely different: Tiboris, performing the Mahler reorchestrated version. Lots of fun, if ethically questionable. Sounds like Beethoven on steroids!

 

[DarkAngel]

There is a long very informative thread here on B9 with many great suggestions, from that thread my picks:

My top 5 after long search:
Karajan/BPO/DG Galleria 1977 (not the remaster, original Galleria release)
Munch/BSO/Great Conductors 20th Century 1958 (2CD set)
Bernstein/VPO/DG Panorama 1980 (2CD set with Missa Solemnis)
Klemperer/Testament 1957 (live stereo)
Leinsdorf/BSO/RCA Victrola (budget price)

Beethoven 9th Thread

 

[granodemostasa]

I have the Karajan-1977-Berlin Phil recording; it's a great performance- my concern, though, is that it sounds somewhat flat (image speaking;imho)

 

[osoucy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2Grey Recordings are a matter of subjective taste. Well, there is usually good consensus on what has the best sound quality, but performances are a matter of subjective taste too. I like the version of the 9th on the Gunter Wand/NDRSO box set. There is also an individual CD with it by the aforementioned people, although I'm not sure if its the exact same as the one on the box set. I would check and include a link but amazon is down right now. I believe the sound quality is very good and I much prefer the recording as a whole to the 1951 Furtwangler and 1963 Karajan recordings.

Is it this one?
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000...A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB

 

[SoundsGood]

There are so many recordings of the Ninth out there, it can be difficult to choose, and you're going to have many, many recommendations pouring in. You basically have three areas to consider: older, historical recordings, modern day sound and orchestras, and HIP (historically informed performance) recordings.

Out of the first group, the older historical recordings, say pre-1955, these are mono recordings and sound quality can be questionable. But, there are some real gems out there. These include recordings by Furtwangler. One from 1942 in Berlin with the Berlin Philharmonic, one from 1951 with the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra at the reopening of Bayreuth and one from 1954 with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. The 1942 performance is quite terrifying, being from Berlin during the war. Sounds is quite subpar, but not unlistenable. The 1951 performance is his celebrated recording. You may also want to check out recordings by Toscanini and Felix Weingartner.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...?album_id=8595
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...?album_id=1125
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000003O7E/sr=1-29/qid=1156189852/ref=sr_1_29/102-5884507-5375302?ie=UTF8&s=music]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...e=UTF8&s=music
(seems to be currently unavailable)

The second group is by far the largest. There are dozens of recordings from which to choose. My favorites include Barenboim/Berlin Staatskapelle (currently only available in the box set), Bernstein/VPO, Wand/NDRSO, and Ferenc Fricsay/BPO. I put the Fricsay in this group, recorded in 1958, because it is in stereo and does sound quite fine.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product//2564618902.htm
(much cheaper to buy the set here rather than in the US, and well worth it)
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...?album_id=3460
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...?album_id=4647
(yes, it is the same performance from his complete set)
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...87&name_role=3

I'm afraid I can't be of much help for the HIP recordings, as I really dislike this approach, using period instruments and supposedly being "authentic" in their approach and interpretation of Beethoven. Some are more listenable to me than others, but overall, I can't really listen to them. A few recordings people seem to enjoy: Gardiner/OReR (though I haven't any reason why, I despise it), Roger Norrington/Stuttgart Radio Symphony (have not heard it, but anything must be better than the travesty that was his first recording with the London Classical Players), and Herreweghe/Champs Elysees Orchestra (have not heard it, though it does seem to pique my interest a little bit).

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...?album_id=1655
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...album_id=78592
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...83&name_role=3

You can find these recordings at Amazon too, as well as more reviews, but Archivmusic has a vastly superior search function, so it was easier for me to look around there.

 

[K2Grey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by osoucy Is it this one? http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000...A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB

That should be it. It has the same conductor, the same orchestra, and the same singers as the box set version.

 

[osoucy]

Thank you guys for all your replies, but I get just more confused about what to choose lol.

Nonetheless, I realized that when I wrote about this symphony, I had something in mind. I uploaded a sample of what I want and I hope that someone will be able to tell me which version it is.

http://soury.ca/Ode_to_Joy.mp3

If anyone knows which version it is, please let me know.
I would also be interested in something similar (same kind of choral).

Thank you again

 

[adhoc]

osoucy,

That's Karajan's 1962 recording of the 9th, available remastered on DGG Originals. Here's a link.

I have double-checked and matched it for tempo and chorus 'sound'. It's a fantastic version of the 9th and the remastering really helps this time (I have the original non-remastered version also). It's my favourite out of the 3 (or 4, depending on how you want to look at it) versions of the 9th I own (Bernstein 1980, Karajan 1977, Karajan 1962 x2).

 

[Ruggerio79]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adhoc osoucy, That's Karajan's 1962 recording of the 9th, available remastered on DGG Originals. Here's a link. I have double-checked and matched it for tempo and chorus 'sound'. It's a fantastic version of the 9th and the remastering really helps this time (I have the original non-remastered version also). It's my favourite out of the 3 (or 4, depending on how you want to look at it) versions of the 9th I own (Bernstein 1980, Karajan 1977, Karajan 1962 x2).

i second this recommendation..have heard more than 20 recordings..this is still the best...especially the 3rd movement

 

[Aman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruggerio79 i second this recommendation..have heard more than 20 recordings..this is still the best...especially the 3rd movement

This matches my comments exactly. I picked this one up a couple of months ago and now my Philadelphia Orchestra + Mormon Tabernacle recording from the 70s is basically unlistenable.

 

[Tyson]

Szell with the Cleveland Orchestra is the best performance for me. Good recorded sound quality but not great.

 

[K2Grey]

I have that exact Karajan 1963 CD. To me, it is unlistenable after Wand's version

Keep in mind though that personal tastes are personal tastes so please don't immediately run out to buy the Wand CD and get disappointed, or start up a battle of wills about who is more acknowledgable about music.

 

[adhoc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by K2Grey I have that exact Karajan 1963 CD. To me, it is unlistenable after Wand's version Keep in mind though that personal tastes are personal tastes so please don't immediately run out to buy the Wand CD and get disappointed, or start up a battle of wills about who is more acknowledgable about music.

How true - music is in my opinion, one of the 'ultimate' subjective tastes.