I have a dozen or so recordings of the 9th, and each has their merits. For not merely symbolic reasons, Furtwangler's re-opening of Bayreuth 1951 is really hard to beat (it is a superb performance, I would put it in top 10 recorded, ez).
The poem by Schiller is astounding on its own. Nice work by this ensemble.
Put me down as one of those people that a good 9th can bring to tears easily. Make that my epitaph.
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