Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral" (Penguin Classics)
Solti was a fine Beethoven conductor indeed, and those expecting the volatility that often characterized his interpretations of other composers will be surprised. Solti's Ninth is firmly rooted in the German romantic tradition, with broad tempos and a solid, bass-oriented tonal picture. This 1972 Ninth is to be preferred to hislater version, with its even slower tempos and less vibrant recording. Here, the first movement is spacious but cogent; the scherzo beautifully articulated at speeds that avoid the race-track ambience of some historically informed performances; the final choral movement beautifully sung and appropriately uplifting. The slow movement's ripeness may be a bit much--spirituality, not Solti's strong suit, is a necessary component of such a spacious tempo. But the performance stands up well; recommendable for its interpretive integrity and lofty level of execution.--Dan Davis