Your favourite choral symphony

[Lilas Pastia]

I'm a sucker for the VW and Rachmaninov ones

[not edward]

Of these, the Beethoven and Shostakovich. None ranks in my favourite three by the composer in question (though they might well both rank in the favourite five, if I ever compiled one).

My brain is telling me there must be other good choices, but none is coming forward. (Sibelius' Kullervo and Schnittke's (only marginally choral) 4th both fall some way short.)

[Josquin des Prez]

What about Wagner? 

[Steve]

Sorry, I had to be honest.

Beethoven's 9th it is. 

[BachQ]

LvB 9
Havergal Brian 1
Mahler 2

[Bonehelm]

Hard choice.

Beethoven's 9th and Mahler's 2nd are equally great - among the finest symphonies ever written. They have similarities too...such as the way the choir is introduced in the final movements...and the stormy, tragic opening of both works...both are about struggle in the beginning, then end in a triumphant, victorious manner...

[hornteacher]

Sorry, I had to be honest.

Beethoven's 9th it is. 

Yep, ditto.

[Danny]

LVB 9
Shosty 13th.

[mahlertitan]

don't like choral symphonies.

[Steve]

don't like choral symphonies.

Not even Mahler's 2nd?

[springrite]

I want to know the person who voted Mendelssohn 2. It is a good work, but I doubt even Mendelssohn's own mother would vote it the greatest choral symphony ever.

[mahlertitan]

Not even Mahler's 2nd?

it's okay, i have a strong preference for purely instrumental music.

[Steve]

it's okay, i have a strong preference for purely instrumental music.

So, it's not just the choral symphonies, but all vocal music? Does that rule out Opera?

[mahlertitan]

So, it's not just the choral symphonies, but all vocal music? Does that rule out Opera?

yes, i am not that into operas or vocal music.

However, i have heard all the great works, like mozart, verdi, rossini, schubert's songs, and song cycles..etc, i'm just don' like voice in music, that's all.

[Papy Oli]

Mahler 2 .... had to be 

[val]

Beethoven 9th.

But The Bells are very beautiful. Regarding Mahler's 2nd, the Choral part is, to me, the less intersting.

[Symphonien]

Mahler 2.

[Novi]

Another Mahler 2 vote . Oh my, when the mezzo starts singing in Ulricht ... that's so achingly beautiful.

I like LvB 9 but prefer the first 3 movements, so I don't suppose that counts in this particular poll, does it?

Mahler 8 isn't a favourite, but sometimes - just sometimes - I really like the bloatedness, the over-the-topness, the sheer excess, of it. Too much of it, you OD though.

[Hector]

LvB 9
Havergal Brian 1
Mahler 2

Brilliant!

Berlioz' Romeo et Juliette!

[karlhenning]

Had to be honest, too.  If I had to choose just one of those, for me, it has to be the Shostakovich Opus 113