Beethoven - Symphony 9 [Bohm-Wiener Philharmoniker]I just finished playing this, if you're wondering why the booklet doesn't match the back cover, it's because i amalgamated two discs into one, both Beethoven Ninth's, and both by Bohm / VPO, an earlier analogue one from 1970, and this later one here from 1990, two booklets because they fit into the plastic case, but i discarded the other back insert, and this later digital version is consistently slower, about four minutes longer, but sustained very well, the soloists are those listed on the front of the booklet.
Karl Bohm , was an Austrian Conductor, born in 1894, and he died roughly 9 months after this recording in 1991, these 3D Classics have ingenious geometric designs on the front of the booklet covers, many of the illustrations are by Victor Vasarely, as this one is, entitled 'struck', it's another great series by DG.
This was another 'Sunday walk to Church' disc, and very appropriate too, it was the last two movements that moved me the most, usually it's the slow Adagio that gets me every time, and usually the very last movement is my least favourite, but on this listen, i had a new appreciation for this choral movement, i must admit that the soloists are too much spotlit, as if you're on the front row, and the soloist is only a few feet away, but the orchestra is many feet away, it sounds a false aural perspective, but not too much should be placed on this, it's still an inspiring performance anyway, incidentally this is the first Beethoven Ninth to grace my Blog.
Here's Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the final movement on YouTube.
