Beethoven : Symphony No. 9, Op. 125 "Choral"

Beethoven has been part of Daniel Barenboim’s musical life since boyhood, and his relationship with the venerable Staatskapelle Berlin (the orchestra of Berlin’s State Opera) dates back to 1992. This recording of the Ninth was made early in the new millennium, in 2000, but in many ways it looks back, not forward. It connects with a tradition that thrived earlier in the 20th Century thanks to broad tempi, full orchestral textures, and an emphasis on the imposing. However, it’s strongly argued, superbly played, and, when the soloists join, magnificently sung.