Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9, Piano Concertos Nos. 4 & 5, Missa solemnis...

This boxset includes the Beethoven recordings made with the Philharmonia Orchestra between 1951 and 1958: the complete symphonies (with the Nos. 8 and 9 in stereo), his most highly regarded cycle, as well as three overtures, some arias with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, the Piano Concertos Nos. 4 and 5 with Swiss pianist Walter Gieseking, and finally the Missa solemnis.

“Karajan’s 1953 recording of the Seventh Symphony truly is one of the finest performances of the Symphony ever put on disc ... his 1954 Pastoral is indeed miraculous.” “What gave Karajan his enormous authority, his special appeal to layman and serious critic alike? Partly the orchestra which, under Walter Legge, he had helped to forge. For the Philharmonia was a virtuoso orchestra, almost as perfect an ensemble as Toscanini’s NBC orchestra ... but more humane of utterance and individually more distinctive. To this was added the astonishing vividness and beauty of the Columbia recordings, supervised by Walter Legge.” Gramophone