Instruct: Classify Amazon reviews into positive or negative sentiment
Query: Straight forward reading with average sound

Although the 1999 Penguin guide likes this performance, I cannot agree entirely. It has its great moments and overall the playing and singing are very good. Ben Heppner stands out well among the soloists. But the interpretation doesn't really bring any new insights, and in a market of dozens of Ninths it is merely average. I was also somewhat disappointed with the sound which seemed a bit recessed and definitely not up to the standards I have come to expect from Berlin. I had trouble hearing some of the detail. If you are searching for a Ninth you may want to check out Charles Mackerras/Royal Liverpool Philharmonic on EMI, Gunter Wand on RCA, either of Bernstein's readings on DG, or Sinopoli's recent Dresden recording on DG.