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Re: Beethoven: 9 Symphonies Best Box Set

I have been listening a lot lately to the Vienna Philharmonica/Leonard Bernstein set, and find an awful lot to like (it also can be had quite cheaply)
Klemperer remains a big favorite (not to everyone's tastes) and some performances of Gunter Wand are superb (in the same sense as Klemperer, and I guess not as "stodgy" ).
I listen a lot to Schuricht, although my set is on vinyl, and I am not sure there is a CD set available.
Bruno Walter is wonderful for the even numbered symphonies, but I feel he falls on 3,5, and 9. Since many who would buy a box set really want good peformances of these, its hard to recommend him.
Szell is excellent, and one I rate very highly.
I've not forgotten Furtwangler, and have many individual performances that I love, but its not an everyday set for me. I have to be in the right mood.
I haven't heard most of the recent sets and original instrument influenced recordings so I can't comment. I have gotten one of Vanska's latest, which I like, but that is a cycle still in progress. I confess to a major prejudice against Harnoncourt, and if you did get Harnoncourt, get something else as well.
If I was constrained to choose one or two, I would opt for Szell, then Bernstein. I would hate to relinquish some of my other favorites though.


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