Beethoven: Symphony No. 9; Claudio Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Claudio Abbado recorded two Beethoven Ninths within a very short space of time, one in Vienna, and one with the Berlin Philharmonic. It's this kind of useless duplication that is killing the classical record business, particularly as neither performance offers any particular insights or revelations. There was a time when a performance of this symphony was a major event. Now it's routine, and so is this recording. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Leonore III, Op.72a: Adagio - Allegro - VPO/Claudio Abbado
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: 1. Allegro Moderato
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: 2. Andante Con Moto
Con No.4 in G, Op.58: 3. Rondo. Vivace
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 1. Allegro Con Brio - VPO/Carlos Kleiber
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 2. Andante Con Moto - VPO/Carlos Kleiber
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 3. Allegro - VPO/Carlos Kleiber
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 4. Allegro - VPO/Carlos Kleiber

Tracks:

Pno Son No.21 in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': 1. Allegro Con Brio
Pno Son No.21 in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': 2. Intro. Adagio Molto - Attacca:
Pno Son No.21 in C, Op.53 'Waldstein': 3. Rondo. Allegretto Moderato - Prestissimo
Pno Son No.17 in d, Op.31 No.2 'The Tempest': 1. Largo - Allegro
Pno Son No.17 in d, Op.31 No.2 'The Tempest': 2. Adagio
Pno Son No.17 in d, Op.31 No.2 'The Tempest': 3. Allegretto
Str Qt in C, Op.59 No.3 'Razumovsky': 1. Intro. Andante Con Moto - Allegro Vivace - Emerson Str Qt
Str Qt in C, Op.59 No.3 'Razumovsky': 2. Andante Con Moto Quasi Allegretto - Emerson Str Qt
Str Qt in C, Op.59 No.3 'Razumovsky': 3. Menuetto. Grazioso - Attacca: - Emerson Str Qt
Str Qt in C, Op.59 No.3 'Razumovsky': 4. Allegro Molto - Emerson Str Qt

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9; Claudio Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Average customer rating:

I disagree with the Amazon reviewer
Good performance nonetheless...

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9; Claudio Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 7 & 8
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6; Fantasia
Symphony 3/Symphonie No. 3/Eroica

ASIN: B000001G80
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Sym no.9 in d, op.125: 1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
Sym no.9 in d, op.125: 2. Molto Vivace
Sym no.9 in d, op.125: 3. Adagio molto e cantabile
Sym no.9 in d, op.125: 4. Presto

Amazon.com

Claudio Abbado recorded two Beethoven Ninths within a very short space of time, one in Vienna, and one with the Berlin Philharmonic. It's this kind of useless duplication that is killing the classical record business, particularly as neither performance offers any particular insights or revelations. There was a time when a performance of this symphony was a major event. Now it's routine, and so is this recording. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

I disagree with the Amazon reviewer.......2005-09-17

This is a performance full of passion and affection. It also has a virtue many super-charged recordings miss - the optimistic warmth (=Abbado's specialty). This aspect is less highlighted in his Berlin recording for Sony. The balance between different instruments is sometimes ideal and sometimes interesting. Strings are lush and bright. Woodwinds are warm but accentuated when required. The timpani, a vital instrument in this symphony, is punchy but never obtrusive. Choir is magnificent AND well-recorded, which is a rare case. Male soloists are super.
And yes, it's also a fairly traditional, old school approach, which is more spacious and grand-scale than the recent period instrument recordings or their likes (Harnoncourt, Gardiner, Zinman, Abbado's recent Berlin cycle for DG, Rattle, etc).
If you are on a quest of finding a shockingly fresh approach to the 9th, look somewhere else. If you are looking for a powerful yet heartfelt performance of 9th with top-notch male soloists and a choir, you will be VERY happy with this recording. The live recording is clear yet warm with plenty of ambience.

Good performance nonetheless..........2005-05-27

Abbado is certainly one of the "ideal" Beethovenian conductors since Karajan, and has done Beethoven pretty frequently, including three recorded performances of Beethoven's timeless Ninth Symphony.

Of the three recordings he did, this is the first one (Vienna Philharmonic DG) he did, ... and the least impressive. It's a good performance nonetheless, the tempi and the singers and all, but a bit lacks the intensity and clarity in the two recordings (Berlin Philharmonic Sony and Berlin Philharmonic DG) the Maestro would do even better.

I highly recommend the Sony recording. That one should be a legend!

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