Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Spoken Word, Otto Klemperer :: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

A "live" Klemperer gem

L. Johan Modée | Earth | 08/17/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We are not short of Beethoven no. 9 recordings under Otto Klemperer's baton. In all, there are at least eight Klemperer performances of the ninth on official CDs or on bootleg. One in studio - from his legendary cycle for EMI (Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos). Several other from concert performances, e.g., the Testament edition of the concert preceeding the studio recording, with identical soloists (Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral"). Both of these are first-rate interpretations; indeed, I would say that they must be seen as the first choices for this symphony, closely followed by those great ninths that we have from Ferenc Fricsay (Beethoven: Symphonie No. 9; Overture "Egmont"), Wilhelm Furtwängler (Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Hybrid SACD)), and Peter Maag (Beethoven: Symphony No. 9).



The present recording incarnates a concert performance in Cologne 1958 - the year after he recorded his classic recording for EMI, with Philharmonia (1957). (As far as I known, this is the first official edition of the Cologne reading. The label - Medici Masters - is from the the same company that publish BBC Legends.) Now we have German forces: Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra (Köln RSO). Soloists are similar as in the EMI recording: Stader, Hoffman, Kmentt and Hotter - in my view a better team than in the EMI recording.



In terms of performance, the orchestra plays very well and the soloists are simply superb. The interpretation is not identical to the EMI/Testament-Philharmonia editions: Klemperer's tempi are more flexible here; evidently he's more relaxed or inspired by the moment. The typical feature in Klemperer's interpretations is evident: clear contributions from every department are important for him - forte means always forte and nothing else (the obvious contrast is the well-mixed smoothies we have from von Karajan).



Even if I cherish Klemperer's 1957 studio ninth and its live counterpart with Philharmonia, this is perhaps a greater interpretation and performance: the soloists are slightly better, and Klemperer's interpretation has more drive in Cologne. Great intensity and superb structural clarity.



Sound is mono, but it's good as such. A fine edition, with an informative booklet note. A short rehearsal of the performance is given as a fill-up, with the choir and a singing Klemperer at the piano. The applause is edited out, the audience is well-behaving.



In sum: essential. Warmly recommended!"