This is the third in a very irregular series discussing recordings of famous works that you enjoy listening to. The first 2 were Schubert's 9th Symphony and Mendelssohn's 3rd. As before, I don't wish to make this a competition over "the best..." or "the greatest...". It is simply recordings that you enjoy, and if you feel like it, a brief explanation why you enjoy it.
Beethoven completed the 9th symphony in d minor in 1824, and it premiered May 7, 1824 in Vienna. Right from the start it was controversial, since it was unique and difficult to understand, and contained such novel and unprecedented conceptions as a chorus in the final movement. And the opening itself, an open chord with only a first and fifth (I-V) which refused to establish tonality, was disorienting for the audience accustomed to hearing good solid comfortable chords right from the start. But this very thing, Beethoven's conception of chaos, even today grabs us right by the throat and says "listen to me!!!".
I admit freely that, IMO, this is the greatest piece of music in the Western Canon. You don't have to agree, I don't mind. Just sayin'.

I have listened to it every Sunday morning since October 1995. Sort of a ritual you might say, which cleanses my mind and damn well makes me happy. Everyone has a work that they rely on for beauty and sanity in their lives, that's why we listen to this music. This is mine.

You probably mostly know that I have no taste for historical recordings, and in fact my favorites are mainly on period instruments. We can divide available recordings into 3 categories:
A - Traditional, big band, post-Romantic
B - Period instruments
C - Modern instruments, influenced by the "HIP" movement
I will attempt to divide mine up like that, since there is no other logical way to do it that I know of.
Group A (Traditional)
Furtwängler - March 1942
Furtwängler - Lucerne 1954
von Karajan - Philharmonia Orchestra
von Karajan - Berliner Philharmoniker (1962)
Jochum - Symphony & Chorus de Bayerischen Rundfunks (1952)
Jochum - London SO
Jochum - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (1968)
Böhm - Wiener Philharmoniker (1970)
Böhm - Wiener Philharmoniker (1982)
Bernstein - Wiener Philharmoniker (1982)
Blomstedt - Staatskapelle Dresden
Dohnányi - Cleveland Orchestra
Fricsay - Berliner Philharmoniker
Haitink - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Kempe - Munich PO
Klemperer - Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (1956)
Kletzki - Czech PO (1968)
Masur - Leipzeig Gewandhaus Orchestra
Mehta - NYPO
Schmidt-Isserstedt - Wiener Philharmoniker
Solti - Chicago SO
Wand - NDR Symphony Orchestra
Zander - Boston Philharmonic
Group B (period instruments)
Gardiner - Orchestré Revolutionaire et Romantique
Goodman - Hanover Band
Herreweghe - Orchestre Des Champs Élysées
Hogwood - Academy of Ancient Music
Immerseel - Anima Eterna
Norrington - London Classical Players
Spering - Das Neue Orchestra
Group C (Modern - HIP influenced)
Harnoncourt - Chamber Orchestra of Europe
MacKerras - Royal Liverpool
Vanska - Minnesota Symphony
Hickox - Northern Sinfonia
Zinman - Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra
It is very likely that I have a few more hanging around that I can't put my finger on right now. But anyway, I can always catch them up. I am not going to list these in any particular order for the moment, I am only going to say up front that every one of these recordings has its merits and drawbacks. I suppose the ratio between them is what makes one or another a favorite at any given time.

So, kindly feel free to discuss, add your own. My only requirement is that if you don't happen to like this piece of music, keep it to yourself. I (we) don't really care if you don't, so start a thread of your own saying how it is overrated if that's what you think. I'll join that one, too.


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Listening to:
Immerseel, Jos van; Anima Eterna - Op 067 Symphony #5 in c 4th mvmt - Allegro