Here’s your basic, no-nonsense Ninth. Kurt Masur’s moderate tempos and generally-accepted standards of phrasing and orchestral balance (the strings predominate) place this reading squarely in the middle ground of Beethovenian interpretation. Masur certainly knows this music inside and out, but he sounds more professional than inspired as he leads the storied Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra in a performance that exudes a strong sense of tradition but little excitement or sense of occasion. The powerful first movement has the requisite dynamic contrast to render the drama effectively, but just so. The same goes for the scherzo (with its gingerly played timpani strokes) and adagio, which cruises along smoothly. The finale constitutes this performance’s bright spot, with stirring solo work (especially Bernd Weikl’s ringing baritone) and fulsome and fervent singing by the Gewandhaus Radio Chorus.
So overall this registers as an average, solidly serviceable performance. But like the prim and proper lad pursuing the popular girl, Masur’s reading doesn’t stand a chance against “bad boy” Szell’s brilliant and incisive rendition (also available at budget price), not to mention those by Wand and Bernstein. The original Philips recording sounds bright and clear but is noticeably lacking in warmth.
