LvB 9th Walter/NYPO 1949 - 53 puzzle

After listening to Walter's LvB 7th I pulled out his LvB 9th. Not the stereo version with the Col SO - it's a poor 9th and obviously a rare off day for BW. I refused to buy it and got the above one instead

I played this NYPO recording (Sony Masterworks Heritage) from '49 which has the finale recorded in '53. I'm puzzled as to why the last movement had to wait four years to join its three older siblings. Was there a finale recorded in '49 that they discarded or is there another reason for this?

Despite this, it really is an excellent 9th.

Cheers

Yes. The 1953 finale wasn't offered until 1958 or so on ML 5200. The original finale on SL 156 had soloists Irma Gonzalez, Elena Nikolaidi, Raoul Jobin and Mack Harrell. I believe the issue was sonics, but I've never heard the earlier finale to judge for myself.

The 1953 Finale was first issued as part of SL-186 (coupled with the 8th). It was issued in 45 RPM format on A 1067 (per W.E.R.M.).. Interesting that into the mid 1950s Columbia was issuing sets in 45 RPM format.

John

As per E. Nikolaidi's testament Walter re-recorded the finale because he was not satisfied with the tenor part.

Is this Columbia recording available anywhere? I had this performance on lp as my first Beethoven Ninth. Unfortunately in my young and callow years I gave it away in preference for the stereo remake. I heard excerpts from it on the radio recently and I was surprised how fast the tempi were in this performance versus the remake.

The disc I have I got second hand in a small store in Sydney about 4 - 5 years ago. It still has the old CBS logo so it's probably oop by now.

Cheers