Prom 18 (27.7.12): Beethoven Cycle – Symphony No. 9, 'Choral'

[Petrushka]

I was in the hall for this and after several years of disappointing or indifferent 9ths this one was up there with VPO/Abbado in 1987 and Chicago SO/Solti in 1996 for sheer memorability. A great evening and fully deserving the huge ovation it received (which went on for longer than the Adagio).

Yes, there were times when it seemed slow yet paced in such a way that the first movement outburst was properly cataclysmic. The singing of the National Youth Chorus was utterly wonderful in the finale. I've attended all the WEDO/Barenboim from the 5th and 6th on and have thoroughly enjoyed them. The two Boulez items that accompanied the 5th and 6th didn't really work but loved Anthemes 2 between the 8th and 7th. It sounded mesmerising in the hall.

[sebrof]

I am afraid I stopped listening. Far too slow, and rather flabby, in my view.

[BBMmk2]

I thought db has done a great job with these symphnies. I certainly liked the way he let the orchestra do their 'own thing', at various points.

NB Thank you to JoihnSkelton

[JohnSkelton]

these dymphnies

Dymphnies, as they are called, are devotees of Saint Dymphna, 'Patron of Victims of Nervous Disorders'.

Not many people know all that, especially as I made up the first bit.

[zola]

Trivial coment time. Does anyone else think that the TV producer for these Barenboim symphonies was besotted with the over emoting Julia Louis-Dreyfus lookalike on clarinet who seemed to almost get as much screen time as the conductor ?

[Hornspieler]

Trivial coment time. Does anyone else think that the TV producer for these Barenboim symphonies was besotted with the over emoting Julia Louis-Dreyfus lookalike on clarinet who seemed to almost get as much screen time as the conductor ?

Maybe the camera operator was being tested out for a permanent appointment. " ... If you can follow that, you've got the job!"

HS

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I felt that in this performance Barenboim was aiming at something the WEDO couldn't quite deliver, until midway through the finale when it finally took off:

http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_prom_review.php?id=10327