Nothing not to like about this setby Third_Squire

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November 15, 2009: For $5 a disc, this is a really cheap way to get into Beethoven's symphonies. But the performances are also outstanding. Toscanini overall isn't my favorite Beethoven conductor, but he's very good and all of his interpretations are certainly worth knowing. The major symphonies, 3, 5, 7, and 9, are all very well-performed here, if a bit brisk. But then again it's refreshing to see what the 9th, for instance, sounds like closer to the tempi Beethoven wanted. I think in general, I prefer the romantic, glacial approach to some of these symphonies that people like Furtwangler take, but this is a refreshing change and hits the spot sometimes.

I think some of the minor symphonies, especially 4 and 8, sound amazing on this set. Toscanini's approach seems just right for those pieces, and he seems to capture the humor in them without making them sound trivial.

The sound quality is very good mono overall. These recordings were all done from 1949-1953 or so with NBC, and compared to other recordings I have from that time period, these sound better or just as good.

In all, there is nothing not to like about this set. The price is great, the performances are outstanding, the sound is very good for the time, and the short essays included are very informative and worthwhile. This should be in the library of everyone who enjoys classical music.