The World's Greatest Symphonies

This is quite a bargain, as nearly all these recordings are decent, a few are outstanding.Disc 1: Beethoven Symphony No. 3, New York Stadium SO, Leonard Bernstein (1953).An exciting performance in good mono sound. The Marcia Funebre 2nd movement is very slow, but deeply felt.Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4, Berlin PO, Sergiu Celibidache (1953).A decent performance with conventional tempi, apart from a rather stately third movement. Acceptable mono sound.Disc 2: Dvorak Symphony No. 9, Chicago SO, Rafael Kubelik (1951).Very fine performance in excellent mono sound.Beethoven Symphony No. 6, Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan (1953).Many dislike Karajan's way with the Pastoral, but I enjoyed this. Good mono sound.Disc 3: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Orchestre Lamoureux, Igor Markevitch (1961).This is a classic recording, a tad idiosyncratic but exciting. The stereo sound is good.Prokofiev Symphony No. 1, NBC SO, Arturo Toscanini (1951). Very good performance in acceptable mono.Disc 4: Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6, Leningrad PO, Yevgeny Mravinsky (1956). This is another outstanding performance, arguably better than his stereo remake. Very good mono sound.Haydn Symphony No. 103, Royal PO, Thomas Beecham (1959). This is a delightful performance in decent stereo sound.Disc 5: Mozart Symphony No. 41, Berlin PO, Karl Bohm (1962). Good, solid performance from a dependable conductor in good stereo sound.Mozart Symphony No. 38, London Symphony, Georg Solti (1951). A fine, well played performance in good mono sound.Schubert Symphony No. 8, Berlin PO, Wilhelm Furtwangler (1952). A dramatic performance from a legendary conductor. Adequate mono sound.Disc 6: Schumann Symphony No. 1, Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell (1958). A legendary orchestra and conductor produce splendid Schumann in good stereo sound.Saint Saens Symphony No. 3, Paris Conservatoire, Andre Cluytens (1955). Quite exciting performance rather muted by the mono sound.Disc 7: Mahler Symphony No. 1, Bavarian State Orchestra, Bruno Walter (1950). Disappointing. Scrappy playing and dim mono sound.Hindemith, Symphony "Mathis der Maler", Berlin PO, Paul Hindemith (1958). The composer conducts an authoritative account in decent sound.Disc 8: Brahms Symphony No. 1, NDR SO, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (1967). A good live performance from a fine conductor and orchestra in reasonable sound.Schumann Symphony No. 3, Bamberg SO, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1975). A fair performance from an unexpected source. Good stereo.Disc 9: Bruckner Symphony No. 4, Cologne RSO, Otto Klemperer (1954). Enjoyed this live performance, Klemperer keeps the symphony moving. Mono sound is still quite vivid.Disc 10: Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Vienna PO, Erich Kleiber (1956). A good performance in very good mono sound.

Excellent selection , no duds .