Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor (Choral)

COMPOSERS: Beethoven
LABELS: Naxos
WORKS: Symphony No. 9 in D minor (Choral)
PERFORMER: Hasmik Papian (soprano), Ruxandra Donose (mezzo), Manfred Fink (tenor), Claudio Otelli (bass); Nicolaus Esterházy Sinfonia & Chorus/Béla Drahos
CATALOGUE NO: 8.553478

As I have written before about this excellent series, if you are starting to collect Beethoven symphonies, you have several factors to consider. If you want the music on period instruments, I would suggest Gardiner’s incandescent set. If you want to have them with famous or historic names, and money is not a problem, you have Toscanini, Furtwängler, Karajan, and Wand from which to choose. But if you are a new collector without a great deal of money, this Ninth is an attractive proposition – a lean, well-directed performance with soloists of good quality (without being stars) and a recording, as before in the Naxos series, clear, well-balanced and unfussy. The booklet provides sensible notes in three languages but there are no photos of the soloists or other participants. I consider that Naxos is doing classical music a great service in providing these excellent recordings at budget price. HC Robbins Landon