Complete your collection of Beethoven's Ninths!
Patrick W. Crabtree | Lucasville, OH USA | 06/16/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Like many classical music enthusiasts, I have accumulated multiple copies of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor "Choral", op. 125. For the uninitiated, it's a work that one just cannot get enough of -- it was also Beethoven's Magnum opus.
This is a lengthy symphony in four movements, the fourth featuring a large choral element. Most folks have heard segments of this great work, particularly the opening of the second movement, (as we have the opening of Beethoven's Fifth, probably the most popular symphony ever written), often played as background music to films or even evening news programs. In this rendition, the work lasts 70:17. This brings me to a chief point in regard to this particular recording.
I did not harbor any high expectations when I purchased this CD at a variety discount store for one dollar. I had never before heard of Conductor Evgeny Vovkushansky nor had I ever previously listened to any renderings of the St. Petersburg Festival Orchestra. I was in for a pleasant surprise!
The chief feature of Vovkushansky's paradigm of the 9th is the meter he has chosen to initiate -- his conveyance of this master work is just slightly slower than what you'll hear elsewhere and, while I had to let this idea grow on me a bit, I really enjoy hearing it now.
As for the vocals we get to hear the St. Petersburg Festival Studio Choir under the direction of Artistic Director, Georgy Mundin; Soprano, Naira Nachatova; Alto, Natalia Volkova; Tenor, Timur Tsariov, and; Bass, Gennady Assov. All of these folks have presented a sterling performance in this instance.
The CD was issued by Madacy Entertainment Group (Canada) in 1998 and their technicians did a terrific job on capturing both the sound and the ambiance of the symphony on this DDD recording. As a discount CD, it lacks detailed liner notes, which is my only complaint, but since it only cost me a buck brand new, I can hardly whine about that!
Mt highest recommendation."