Symphony No, 9, : Mackerras / Age of Enlightenment Orchestra, Roocroft, F.Janes, Ainsley, N.Davies (1994)

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

Amanda Roocroft, soprano
Fiona Janes, mezzo-soprano
John Mark Ainsley, tenor
Neal Davies, baritone
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment & The New Company
Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor

Recorded Edinburgh Festival 1994

Beethoven's euphoric Symphony No.9, like his symphony No.5, is one of those pieces of classical music which transcends the barrier between musical genres - one of the few pieces of the classical canon in the popular consciousness. Few can fail to be uplifted and caught up in the joyous 'Ode to Joy' finale. For this performance, recorded live at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1994, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment were joined by the renowned conductor and long-time collaborator, Sir Charles Mackerras, a partnership between him and the OAE that lasted almost a quarter of a century.

This is Signum's second release with the OAE, following a release of Monteverdi's Vespers (SIGCD237) earlier 2011.