Szell's Cleveland Orchestra Beethoven Box: Still a Bargain@80USD? - Page 3

Decide to revive this rather than starting a new one. I have been looking for Szell's Beethoven cycle for over a year now, and they all sell at a ripping price of 300 USD for the SACD hybrid (with overtures), and 85 USD for the normal CD (with piano concertos), used.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000683I8C/ref=wl_it_dp/002-0918350-2474444?ie=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Nine-Symphonies-Box-Set/dp/B0002CHK6I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_npd?ie=UTF8&coliid=I5RZD4Z9RRAKJ&colid=FY38SE7A0WW6

You folks know any place that sell these at a more reasonable price, or even remaster high res digital versions of those? I hope Sony do some remaster and reissue them.  Looking forward to get these. Been listening to Karajan Abbado, Vänskä, Zubin Mehta or Bernstein a bit too long.

I don't, however have you heard this one?  Just got it and about to start listening this week.

There sure has been a lot of great Beethoven coming out lately. I haven't heard the Chailly yet. It's getting mixed reviews: Gramophone loved it, BBC Music not so much. The recent Krivine set on Naive is absolutely thrilling. I can't believe I'm saying it, but it's probably the best set of the 9 that I have. It's just flawless. Not a bad one in the bunch. I really like the recent Paavo Jarvi set on RCA quite a bit, too. Great sound, thrilling conducting and playing.

Szell: despite the Cleveland Orchestra, I just don't find that set so compelling. Maybe it's too hard driven? It's not my favorite. Of the same vintage, I find Cluytens infinitely more enjoyable -- and easier to get!  I've collected so many Beethoven sets, but I swear, if I could only keep one - Krivine - I would be a happy man.

The chailly is light and fast, the ninth took me 3 or 4 listens to even begin to wrap my head around how quickly he moves through it.  I am enjoying it.

I would say Karajan is still my best favorite for Beethoven cycle, after listening to about 4-5 different conductors. The structure, coherent, dynamic, power and drive are strong points of this cycle. I have never heard of a better 9th, but that's just me, and everyone looks for their own "Beethoven cycle".

For someone who look for a "colorful" / "detail"/ "sonic quality" / "speed" , this is probably NOT your set. Sonic wise it's very good for it's age, especially the latest release in hybrid SACD. It lost out a little clarity on low register (extremely little), but that doesn't bother me.

http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-Gundula-Janowitz/dp/B0000C03AH/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322989521&sr=8-1

I would say DG did a good job by making this a regular release, rather than limited editions like Sony's Original Jacket collections. (Like Szell's cycle)