It’s hard to believe that a concert recorded exactly 10 years ago already can lay claim to “legendary” status. In this case, the call is backed by political reasons: recorded live in Prague’s Smetana Hall at the so-called “Velvet Revolution” concert, this Beethoven Ninth performance symbolized the end of the Communist era in Czechoslovakia. Besides, the picture on the front cover shows Czech President Václav Havel hand in hand with conductor Václav Neumann and soprano Gabriela Benacková. “On this recording I can still very much feel the excitement of the moment,” recalls Neumann in his introductory notes. And it’s true that he creates some intense atmosphere in the climax of the first movement (timpani rolls), or in the finale, while the orchestra displays explosive energy in the Scherzo (excellent woodwinds). But there are flaws in this live performance: heavy phrasings–to the point that they sound slow even when they are not; sloppy, unbalanced ensemble playing here and there; and above all a general stiffness that may be explained by the solemnity of the event. Too bad also that the otherwise good sound gets confused as soon as the voices come in. While the chorus sings with a compact and powerful sonority, the vocal quartet lacks precision and beauty of tone, with some ill-tuned solos. Although certainly not a first choice, this strange performance never betrays the music’s expressive aim, a worthy feature on a disc best appreciated for its historic value.
