Daniel Barenboim, Otto Klemperer - Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos (2000)

Because Beethoven's symphonies have been played many different ways, from conventional modern versions with full-scale symphony orchestras to historically informed performances on period instruments, listeners should try several sets to get a clear idea of what suits them. Of the mainstream style of interpreting Beethoven, Otto Klemperer's approach is one of the most widely admired, and his EMI recordings of the nine symphonies have become legendary, representing the serious, rigorous, and clear-eyed treatment that he generally brought to classical music, but especially to these masterpieces. One must respect these performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra, even if one might at the same time note that Klemperer's tempos in the Allegros are often held back to a Moderato, and his beats in the slow movements are sometimes a little faster than expected; furthermore, his expressions might seem too reverent, at times severe, and perhaps old-fashioned by today's preferences for a lighter touch. Yet these recordings are required listening for serious students, and there are reasons aplenty to listen to them for their clarity of details, formal balance, steady rhythmic flow, and profoundly personal expressions. Filled out with Daniel Barenboim's youthful recordings of the five piano concertos, the Choral Fantasy, the Grosse Fuge, and a handful of overtures, this set is a worthwhile investment, and even if its historical significance overrides other considerations, the value of having so much musical content in such an affordable package should not be overlooked. While EMI's sound is extraordinary for the middle decades of the 20th century, the set includes mono and stereo recordings in digital mastering.