Bernstein: Schubert – Symphony no.9 Great in C Major D 944 (FLAC)

Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
Composer: Franz Schubert
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Size: 280 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

This recording of Schubert’s Symphony 9 in C Major, “The Great” is actually the Deutsche Grammophon (DG) recording by the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam (Netherlands), NOT the New York Philharmonic recording, available from Sony Classical, an earlier recording. Bernstein’s Concertgebouw recording was made in 1987, and is in digital sound. It is very fine digital sound: warm, atmospheric, and rich in every register. Some DG recordings, especially those of Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic made in the 1980s tend to have weak bass frequencies, but this recording does not. Actually, in the words of one reviewer in “American Record Guide”, “This recording has it all,” and having listened to it, I can say, “It does.”

The performance is every bit as fine as the recording. Bernstein chose sensible tempos when this was recorded, and the Allegros really sizzle with life and forward motion when needed. II is not overly slow or profound, and IV does not have the exposition repeat with Georg Solti takes in his Decca recording with the Vienna Philharmonic.

This disc lasts only 50 minutes, but is well worth the investment. There are other fine Schubert 9ths if you aren’t a Bernstein fan: Walter/Columbia (Odyssey), Bohm/Berlin (DG), and Solti/Vienna (Decca), but this one is very good. I bought it recently, and am very happy I did. Recommended.    —Alan Majeska

01. Sym No.9 in C, D 944: The Great: 1. Andante-Allegro Ma Non Troppo
02. Sym No.9 in C, D 944: The Great: 2. Andante Con Moto
03. Sym No.9 in C, D 944: The Great: 3. Scherzo. Allegro Vivace/ Trio
04. Sym No.9 in C, D 944: The Great 4. Finale. Allegro Vivace

This is Bernstein’s Schubert 9 from the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, NOT New York

This recording of Schubert’s Symphony 9 in C Major, “The Great” is actually the Deutsche Grammophon (DG) recording by the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam (Netherlands), NOT the New York Philharmonic recording, available from Sony Classical, an earlier recording. Bernstein’s Concertgebouw recording was made in 1987, and is in digital sound. It is very fine digital sound: warm, atmospheric, and rich in every register. Some DG recordings, especially those of Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic made in the 1980s tend to have weak bass frequencies, but this recording does not. Actually, in the words of one reviewer in “American Record Guide”, “This recording has it all,” and having listened to it, I can say, “It does.”

The performance is every bit as fine as the recording. Bernstein chose sensible tempos when this was recorded, and the Allegros really sizzle with life and forward motion when needed. II is not overly slow or profound, and IV does not have the exposition repeat with Georg Solti takes in his Decca recording with the Vienna Philharmonic.

This disc lasts only 50 minutes, but is well worth the investment. There are other fine Schubert 9ths if you aren’t a Bernstein fan: Walter/Columbia (Odyssey), Bohm/Berlin (DG), and Solti/Vienna (Decca), but this one is very good. I bought it recently, and am very happy I did. Recommended.