# Suggest a set of Beethoven symphonies

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 23, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494 "2011-04-23T19:56:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494/1 "2011-04-23T19:56:40Z")

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I’ve owned the [Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players](http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-Overtures-Classical-Norrington/dp/B00005A9O0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1303588179&sr=1-1) set of Beethoven symphonies on CD for over 10 years. I love it, but I’d like to buy another set or two. I also own a CD of Carlos Kleiber conducting the Vienna Philharmonic for the 5th and and historic recording of Furtwangler conducting the 5th/7th.

So, where should I start looking? I’ll probably be buying the actual CDs rather than downloading unless the price difference is substantial.

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**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494/2 "2011-04-23T20:55:38Z")

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I _love_ the Toscanini set, with the NBC Symphony Orchestra. He often goes at break-neck speed for the fast movements, and I think they’re stunning. Vibrant. Magical.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494/3 "2011-04-23T21:14:11Z")

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Bruno Walter, if you can find it. And I absolutely love the 9th Symphony conducted by Leopold Stokowski.

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**Author:** ![cain7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2acd7d/32.png) [@cain7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cain7)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494/4 "2011-04-23T21:28:47Z")

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Check out the Deutsche Grammaphon site if you’re looking for specific works. I find that they generally have the best combination of composition, recording quality and performance.

Personally, I love the Kleiber 5th and 7th but also appreciate some of the piano pieces by Lang Lang and Helene Grimaud.

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494/5 "2011-04-24T11:25:15Z")

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Nothing can beat the Szell/Cleveland recordings.

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**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-set-of-beethoven-symphonies/579494/6 "2011-04-24T13:11:23Z")

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I’ve heard a lot of complete cycles, and my favorite remains the 1963 Karajan set.