Len Fehskens wrote:

>No, you are hearing a recording in your home.  Most of us who have
>actually heard a live performance of the 9th (as I have been fortunate to,
>many times) would assert there is a tangible difference, no matter how good
>the recording or the playback equipment/environment.

But, len, which is 'best'.  They are both different and both have their
place.  I prefer listening to recordings as I can choose where and when and
how I listen to it without a load of other bodies getting obtrusive one way
or another.  I have never yet found a concert hall that sounds remotely as
good as a good recording.

Marian