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The 1962-62 recording cycle of Karajan’s Beethoven were probably the best among few others that Karajan undertook. The 62’s cycles are Ok but nothing extraordinary. There were many-many other more interesting attempts by the different conductors to play different Beethoven’s symphonies.

It is interesting with Beethoven symphonies: the industry tries to package them into 9-symphonies bundles but I think it is a mistake. I do not know any of the 9-symphonies packages where all of the symphonies would be interesting-enough to justify a bulk-purchase. It always possible to find here and there a symphony that would stay above of anything else and most likely it will be within different contactors and perhaps within the different eras. However, and contradicting what I’ve said, if one would force me to live juts with one single 9-symphonies package then I would probably go for Rene Leibowitz version with Royal Philharmonic marvelously released by RAC for “Readers Digest”. All 9 Leibowitz’s symphonies are very far from best performances (probably with the exception of the Second Symphony). They all sound very “light” and not necessary as in-depth as some others conductors (no wonder that the Second was wonderful in there), almost up to the point of being like pop-music, but still I feel that it was reasonably combined cycle where all symphonies maintained a certain level, BTW very far form the worst level.

Rgs,
The caT

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