Mahler's Symphony No. 9 conducted by Bernstein. This is a 2-CD set. Please forgive any minor scratches or stains on the case and booklet. Among the many Mahler albums, this Symphony No. 9 by Bernstein and the Berlin Philharmonic is said to have the most intense presence. It is also an award-winning album, having received the Record Academy Award. 【A Once-in-a-Lifetime Encounter】 Perhaps due to his strained relationship with Karajan, or perhaps due to strong management decisions, Bernstein conducted the Berlin Philharmonic only once in his lifetime (for two days), which was exactly 30 years ago. The performance, which featured Mahler's 9th Symphony, has become a legend. Fortunately, RIAS recorded the performance in stereo, so it hasn't become a complete "phantom." 【Vienna Philharmonic vs. Berlin Philharmonic】 Eight years before this Berlin Philharmonic performance, Bernstein led the Vienna Philharmonic into the Philharmonie Berlin and performed the same Mahler's 9th Symphony. Watching the video recorded by UNITEL, the performance with the Vienna Philharmonic is similar to that of the Berlin Philharmonic in terms of duration and interpretation concept. However, due to the differences in the orchestra's character and sound, the Berlin Philharmonic version is remarkably different in many ways, which is noteworthy. While the Vienna Philharmonic is supple and even exudes a certain lightness, with a sense of unity as an ensemble, the Berlin Philharmonic here is rough and rugged, with an unrestrained quality as if possessed, creating a unique atmosphere. The Berlin Philharmonic's performance, which conveys the eruption of passion everywhere and shows a dramatic tendency with a somewhat terrifying, heavy sound, is very different from their later performances with Karajan, which clearly shows that those characteristics are rooted in Bernstein's musicality.