Furtwangler's 9th on Arkipel.

I have all three. Purchased them based on the reviews. I could only listen to each of them once. A great performance can only go so far in overcoming noise filled recordings. Compared to my SACD recordings of the 9th, the Furtwangler hype now seems to have been much ado about nothing. My favorite 9th is Karl Bohm - Wiener Philharmoniker - Norman - Fassbaender - Domingo - Berry
Very slow and very good.

I think the SACD format is a real advancement, but maybe not 'night and day' over a well done redbook.
How can you not like the choral? That is the 9th!!
BTW, If I could have been at any performance live, I would chose the wartime Berlin concert. But for listening in my living room via CD in 2012, I chose Bohm.
Cheers.

'P.s.: Furtwangler's wartime concert with BPO was performed (grudgingly by Furtwangler) for Nazi officers at the height of the Nazi propaganda machine... (perhaps one of the reason for the tension, ferocity, & restraint?). Don't think you would hv wanted to be there.'

Excellent Point!!! I think the jury is still out on Furtwangler's wartime actions. As it is with other German artists of that era.