Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ancerl - Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D major (1995)

Back in 1966, there were not a whole lot of Mahler Ninths to choose from. There was Bruno Walter's heartwarming performance, Otto Klemperer's heartbreaking performance, Georg Solti's heartrending performance, and only a handful of others. One of these few others was this recording by Karel Ancerl with the Czech Philharmonic and, even with the star-studded competition, it was then and remains now one of the great Ninths. Ancerl was everything a great Czech conductor should be -- dramatic, expressive, and surpassingly lyrical -- which happens to be everything a great Mahler should be. In his Ninth, Ancerl is frighteningly dramatic in the climaxes, unbearably expressive in the developments, and, above all, overwhelmingly lyrical from start to finish. And it is his lyricism that makes Ancerl's Ninth one of the great Ninths because it is his lyricism that makes Ancerl's Ninth one of the most compassionate Ninths. With the sweet and soulful playing of the Czech Philharmonic, Ancerl's Ninth sings and sighs and suffers and soars with a voice that is all but human in its tone and inflection. While Walter, Klemperer, and Solti in their different ways touch the heart of the listener, Ancerl touches the heart of the Ninth. The remastered stereo sound of Supraphon's Gold Edition is fully competitive with the best digital recordings.