Karajan and Beethoven

I am currently listening to the Karajan 100 Anniversary Box set 2008 of the complete Beethoven Symphonies - all none of them plus a few overtures. These were recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London in the late fifties before Karajan moved to drill the Berlin Phil into the powerhouse it became.

The 5 CD box set is all mono recordings but gloriously restored and sounding great. So a youngish Karajan flexing his muscles here. Slight rough edges but is even better for it than the smooth gloss he achieved in Berlin.

I also have the recordings he di in the eighties on DG.





I also have this wondeful version of them by Herbert Blomstedt with the Staatskapelle Dresden.




But do not take my word for it, check this out from an expert -

Random Reviews No. 29 (Beethoven Cycles by Karajan, Klemperer, Dorati)

Watch on YouTube

I must admit the Klemperor cycle does sound very tempting.