Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Daniel Barenboim, West Eastern Divan Orchestra :: Live in Berlin - Daniel Barenboim / West-Eastern Divan Orchestra: Beethoven Symphony No. 9 "Choral"

Wonderful performance

Sze Cheung Wai Eric | Hong Kong | 05/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I owned quite a number of beethoven symphonies cycle, including Gardiner, early Karajan, David Zinman, Christopher Hogwood, Solti and Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt. I was also very obscessed with the Ninth and I bought and compared many different recordigs of it, including Abbado's on Sony Classical, the historical Furtwangler's, Fricsay's and among others.



This recording, when compared with others, was conducted with a slower tempo. Yet the sound was clear and beatiful. The singing part in the finale was particulary impressive.



I have not much idea about this West Eastern Divan Orchestra, but it certainly did a great job here. I'm not a professional musician. As a Beethovenian I like this recording and would recommend others to add this piece in their Ninth library."

The Ninth that has me mesmerized

Roger D. | Nevada,USA | 04/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have listened to Beethoven's Ninth many times over the years. This recording had me stuck in my chair,"mesmirized",like listening to this music for the first time. Barenboim and his Divan Orchestra played their hearts out and the soloists and choir are spectacular. This rendition is Beethoven,as it is meant to sound,glorious. The sound and engineering is one of the best. If you want a "live" recording this is the one to choose.Barenboim has created a ninth that is heads above the Haitink live version(mediocre) and one of the best IMHO."