Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 'Choral'

“Karajan live, his Vienna forces on top form, goes for lean, lithe Beethoven.” Gramophone Magazine, October 2008

"The Concertgebouw plays as if possessed, the chorus sings in the same manner, and one listens to this performance feeling the impact of great music being performed with the deepest of emotional and intellectual conviction…There is an intensity here that is missing from his studio recording of the Ninth". Fanfare

“Haitink has not slackened with age. Quite the opposite: he has taken on board the swifter speeds of the period instrument movement and some of its more invigorating sounds, too... The concluding Symphony No 9 that followed was simply tremendous. Haitink has managed to reinvigorate his Beethoven without losing any of his old authority or depth. The opening movement rose to Olympian climaxes of awesome power. The slow movement plumbed depths of emotion while keeping the melody flowing … The LSO itself played for Haitink at the peak of its powers. To have such warmth of sound combined with clarity at every layer up and down the orchestra was a remarkable achievement" Financial Times