Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'

"The key to Jansons's reading is its clarity and understated intensity, the stripping away of all extraneous gesture and, in the finale, of any hint of easy triumphalism...The finale is indeed impressive. Words are clear and pitches secure in which a sense of joy that is at best provisional strongly etched." (Gramophone)

"Jansons yet again demonstrates the deep intellect behind his conducting approach, and like many of his BR Klassik recordings to date, the result is a distinctive and deeply felt reading that presents one of the most well-known works in the repertoire in a surprising new light."
(MusicWeb Feb 2011)

Hollow pathos is not his thing. From an artist like Mariss Jansons Friedrich Schiller's Ode: "An die Freude" must receive a far deeper significance, which also fully encompasses the doubt and profound hope embodied in this text. And thus, in Jansons's recording of the Ninth Symphony, the choral finale does not degenerate to mere superficial orgy of jubilation, but rather becomes a delicately balanced, wisely developed drama. On October 27, 2007, the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks played Beethoven's Ninth in the presence of the Pope in the Vatican. The recording of this memorable concert is now being released in the highest audiophile recording quality as a multi-channel SACD (hybrid)

Beethoven's Ninth with a solo ensemble of international star singers.

Up-to-date, audiophile recording from 2007 in high-resolution SACD format.

Mariss Jansons with one of the most significant symphonic works in the classic repertoire.