What is your favorite recording of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony? Here is a list of the recordings I presently have:

• Wand / North German Radio Orchestra and Choir
• Vanska / Minnesota Orchestra
• Haitink, London Symphony Orchestra
• Karajan / Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (1963)
• Furtwangler / Bayreuth Orchestra and Choir

As for my favorite, I am leaning toward the Wand/NGRO recording.

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Harnoncourt/Chamber Orchestra of Europe - Teldec Label

I own only one and have heard not more than two. From the two, I'd have to say the Fricsay-Berliner Philharmoniker, which is the one I have, the other being Gardiner and The Romantic and Revolutionary Orchestra. It also features some of the most famous vocalists of the time, including the likes Fischer-Diskeau and Seefried. Having said that, I think the final movement lacks a bit of "oomph." For instance, (I feel) the percussion in the tenor+choir-part (right before the famous chorus) lacks some energy. Does someone know what the instruments are during that part? Maybe I'm just used the more "brash" versions of recent times, but apart from that, it's a wonderful recording.

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Regards,
Navneeth

I've only heard about two or three. I've always thought that Karajan's 1963 recording was considered the best in history.

I'll go with Klemperer's 1958 recorded performance. I can't claim to like all Klemperer's renditions because his tendency to slow tempi sometimes palled (like in the 5th) but in these big works, the 9th and the Masses, he excelled in my view.

me too, and that is the reason why i bought that recording.

And I thought Furtwangler's 1941(?) was the greatest. Seriously, I have read in many places that it is the best, even with the old recording technology.

I have the three major single-volume review texts in the English language, and one of them says that Berlin/Karajan 1962-63 "set the standard for a generation," so if you're one of those people who put it at the top of your list, you obviously have some very influential company. I totally agree that the recording is a "keeper."

That being said, experienced readers already know that I put Furtwangler/Bayreuth at the head of my list

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The hardest knife ill us'd doth lose his edge. Shakespeare- Sonnet 95

Most definately the recording with the Orchestra Revolutionaire- I think with this symphony, timing is absolutely essential and this is the only recording I've heard where the variations in tempo feel right. Someone smashed my copy of it up at school though (presumably they thought it would be funny) and I've never been able to get hold of it on its own since as it was part of a box set

Agreed, that's great. Also Harnoncourt/COE on Warner Bros

I also like Riccardo Muti's 9th with the Philadelphia on EMI Records, because I feel it provides me with the most "middle ground" version I think I've heard, a yardstick by which I can compare other interpretations!

Sorry to hear that...
...and here's the good news.
http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symp...3572217&sr=8-1

Fully agree

Yay that rocks so much! Thanks opus!

Anyone recommend abbabo 92 with the BPO???

I'm thinking of adding it to my collection of ninth's

If you want an excruciatingly slow version, I'd heartily recommend the version by Bohm. I don't yet know the other details, but I just listened to this recording on the radio...man, was it SLOOW! I got to hear the symphony from the middle of the second movement, and judging by the tempo, I knew that the chances that this was Bohm conducting was pretty high. I was right. It's like you are driving fast (playing the symphony in your head at the tempo you're used to) and you hit smack into the slow moving traffic in front (listening to the actually recording).

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Regards,
Navneeth