Beethoven, Van L.: Symphony No. 9, "Choral"

Though seemingly traditional in style—the orchestra is large, and plays on modern instruments—Osmo Vänskä’s Beethoven Nine nonetheless sent shockwaves through the recording world when it was released in 2006. Not since Toscanini had such a rhythmically muscular approach to the Ninth been heard, and the state-of-the-art sound enabled the stunning dynamic range of the Minnesota Orchestra’s playing to be properly appreciated. For all the tensile athleticism, however, the “Adagio molto” shows no shortage of eloquence and poetry. The choral finale is predictably exciting, but Vänskä also distils a sense of dignity and patient aspiration which is no less inspiring.