"Whose" Beethoven do you like?

DG/Karajan (1962)at mid price a good choice, to complete Karajan survey get his 1977 9th, his best ever with very exciting final. DG/Klieber 5&7 is a must have, legendary performances that are remastered at mid price, no brainer. Gardner and Harnoncourt are good but at full price not the best bargain, Gardner is best peroid instrument performance set if you must have one. Arte Nova/Zinnman is the new contender, exciting performamces that are well recorded at super budget price, some consider this set the best at any price. RCA/Wand and EMI/MacKerras are very good, well recorded and at budget price. BTW I purchase the Zinnman series online for $24, unbelievable bargain, and probably the best all around set to begin with.....you can never have just one!

To supplement your complete CD set purchases, besides DG/Kleiber 5&7, do not hesitate to get Sony/Walter 4&6 mid price with SBM remastering, 6th is a legendary performance and recording is excellent as are many of the SBM remasters. Also the remastered EMI/Klemperer stereo 3rd from 1961 should be in any collection, even though many may not embrace Klemperer's style, this is legendary performance, Sam

Some people may like DG/Karajan 1977 set better than 1962 set, avoid the digital set from the 1980s which has poor recording and weaker performances. The 77 set at mid price is not the bargain the budget price 62 set is, but the performances are generally faster more vibrant, and the recording quality is excellent, and the 1977 9th symphony is Karajan's crowning acheivement of all his Beethoven recordings, the final having a power and fury not usually associated with Karajan.