Sinfonie Nr. 9 D-moll Op. 125 (Mit Schlußchor Über Schillers Ode »An Die Freude«) / Sinfonie Nr. 2 D-dur Op. 36

Released in 1988 by the East German state-owned label ETERNA, this two-LP set features a recording of Beethoven’s Ninth and Second Symphonies performed by the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig under the direction of Kurt Masur. This production emerged during the twilight years of the German Democratic Republic, a period when the Gewandhausorchester, under Masur’s long-standing leadership, maintained a reputation as one of the most prestigious orchestras in the Eastern Bloc, known for its deep connection to the Austro-German symphonic tradition.

The recording reflects the aesthetic approach of Kurt Masur, who was celebrated for his disciplined, classically oriented interpretations of Beethoven that avoided excessive romantic ornamentation. By including the vocal soloists—Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Annelies Burmeister, and Theo Adam—alongside the combined forces of the Leipzig and Berlin radio choirs, ETERNA sought to capture the grandeur of the Ninth Symphony's finale. The release served as a significant cultural document of the GDR’s classical music output, packaged in the standard, utilitarian sleeve design characteristic of ETERNA’s late-era classical catalog.