COMPOSERS: Beethoven
LABELS: EMI Studio Plus
WORKS: Symphony No. 9 in D minor; Overture to Fidelio
PERFORMER: Kiri Te Kanawa, Julia Hamari, Stuart Burrows, Robert Holl; LSO & Chorus/Eugen Jochum
CATALOGUE NO: CDC 7 64633 2 ADD (1977/1978
Jochum exercises a firm grip on the architecture of the symphony and the chorus sings with commitment, but there are many instances of shaky ensemble (just listen to the scuffle in the first movement at around 11'57"). The soloists are variable. Robert Holl’s first entry (‘O Freunde’) is shamefully out of tune, and at one point Stuart Burrows virtually disappears behind the chorus. The overture is altogether better, but all in all this is a disappointing release. Wadham Sutton
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor; Overture to Fidelio
Jochum exercises a firm grip on the architecture of the symphony and the chorus sings with commitment, but there are many instances of shaky ensemble (just listen to the scuffle in the first movement at around 11'57"). The soloists are variable. Robert Holl’s first entry (‘O Freunde’) is shamefully out of tune, and at one point Stuart Burrows virtually disappears behind the chorus. The overture is altogether better, but all in all this is a disappointing release. Wadham Sutton
Our rating
2
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:35 pm