Please don't totally disregard BPO/Cluytens. Very well played, good late 1950s stereo recordings, mainstream performances. And super value, around £10 for the set. One I keep coming back to!
Hi Tom
This set was also enthusiastically reviewed on these pages by my esteemed colleague, John Quinn: https://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2016/May/Beethoven_sys_BPHR160091.htm
Personally, I do not rate it as highly as either of you and feel that if you want to hear the BPO performing Beethoven's symphonies with a nod towards HiP practices, then the Abbado live set with this orchestra has many of the same virtues and more electricity than on offer in the Rattle set. However, if we all liked the same thing the world would be a very boring place, so ....
Just a quick post to enthusiastically recommend Simon Rattle’s Beethoven symphony cycle with the BPO on their own label.
I have been listening to Beethoven symphonies for over 50 years and in that time have acquired many cycles as well as numerous individual discs but in this BPO collection I am hearing inner voices I have not noticed before which do not jump out as mannerisms but blend seamlessly into the texture.
Part of this may be due to the sound quality which is exemplary but I think a large part is due to the insightful conducting.
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