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Music CD - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
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Music CD: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
List Price: $11.98
Our Price: $7.35
Your Save: $ 4.63 ( 39% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Tracks:
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1. Ouverture 'Coriolan', Op.62: Ouverture
2. Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
3. Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 2. Molto vivace
4. Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 3. Adagio molto e cantabile
5. Symphony No.9 In D Minor: 4. Presto
6. Symphony No.9 In D Minor: Presto - 'O Freunde, nicht diese Tone!' - Allegro assai - (Final Chorus From Schiller's 'Ode To Joy')
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0028944740127
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: 1996-01-23
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: One great interpretation for a classic masterpiece.
Comment: Despite the relative old record, the sound is excelent.
The sound engineers have one outstanding job done here,
the recording is clear and vivid.
The interpretation granted by Karajan and the Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra needs no coments, simply excelent.
This record is one of my best purchases, and i recoment it.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: 9th Symphony
Comment: My CD just arrived. The shipping was fast, I am happy with it. The recording quallity is very good. However, Karajan appears to lead the orchestra in a quite cold manner. It is very precise, too precise. The symphony does not sound lively, there is no emotion in it.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beethoven: Symphony No 9, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Comment: The Symphony No.9 of Beethoven is one of great works of classic music. The interpretation is excellent on the part of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Beethoven's Ninth
Comment: Karajan is, of course, one of the premier symphony conductors of the last 50 years. He does not disappoint with this recording of what some consider the pinnacle of the world of symphonies. Every movement is masterful and inspiring.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Terrible overture, okay symphony.
Comment: I do not wish to discredit Herbert von Karajan, who is simply one of the most versatile and talented conductors the world has ever seen. His Mahler and Sibelius possess a charm that I just cannot resist, though this does not mean I do not prefer other conductors. However, it must be noted that Karajan himself always felt as if he would never fill Furtwangler's shoes, and he simply does not. Most people criticize Karajan's readings of anything to be shallow and "string-laden," and while some of the allegations are unjust, in this case they are definitely true.
The overture is almost a grotesque caricature of what Furtwangler, Mengelberg, or even David Zinman can do with it. the brass players strain to the extent that they almost squeal, and the Berlin players would definitely not do so unless ordered by the maestro to give the tutti an "oomph!" Fluctuations of dynamics and tempi are grossly exaggerated and clearly not well thought-out. This is certainly one of Karajan's worst outings, and actually it is my experience with this performance a few years back that compelled me to abandon Karajan's Beethoven.
While the 9th symphony fares a bit better, there are nonetheless hallmarks of Karajan's art that may prove to be slightly annoying to some listeners (such as me)
The first movement will surprise you with what seems to be a superficial treatment of Beethoven's score. The opening tremolos are fine. The crashing chords that follow, not so. They are not given the position they require to exhibit a certain degree of inevitability or naturalness. This impression is retained throughout the entire performance, and peaks during the last movement. Compare Karajan's last five minutes with Klemperer, Fricsay, or Furtwangler. The tempi are not merely badly judged - they do not seem to be judged at all!
If I sound harsh it is only because better, greater performances litter the market. Take anything by Wilhelm Furtwangler, Otto Klemperer, Erich Kleiber, Arturo Toscanini, Ferenc Fricsay, Sergiu Celibidache, Rafael Kubelik, Charles Mackerras, David Zinman, and even John Gardiner. True, a recording of this quality does not deserved to be condemned to the ranks of obscure, pathetic performances. It just doesn't have what it takes to be great. Three stars for a performance that deserves neither two nor four.
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Editorial Reviews:
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This performance is also available on Deutsche Grammophon in an earlier, mid-price incarnation, but this version is clearly the one to own, since the remastered sound is a definite improvement over previous issues. Herbert von Karajan always did a good job with this symphony, and his performances are quite consistent, even down to the very backward-balance of the chorus. By general consensus, though, this is the best of them. --David Hurwitz
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