Whats on your turntable tonight?

Beethoven 
Piano Concerto No. 5 in Eb Major
Vladimir Ashkenazy
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra 
Sir Georg Solti
Decca 1981/1973

Wow.  This is worth the whole thing.  

I've been going through a Beethoven Symphony box I didn't realize I had, the 1963 von Karajan cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic.  Last few nights I've listened to symphonies 1-5 and 7; tonight it's symphony 6 and perhaps 8.  I can see why many feel that this cycle is among the top performances of the works.

@spiritofradio 

Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 5 in Eb Major
Vladimir Ashkenazy
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Sir Georg Solti

As a member of the Berlin Philharmonic/Digital Concert Hall, I watched them live yesterday perform the ‘Emporer’ concerto. Paavo Jarvi conducted, Igor Levit, piano.

A wonderfully done performance of that concerto.

I checked, and of all the Solti I have, don’t have him conducting that piece.

@rcprince 

I've been going through a Beethoven Symphony box I didn't realize I had, the 1963 von Karajan cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic. Last few nights I've listened to symphonies 1-5 and 7; tonight it's symphony 6 and perhaps 8. I can see why many feel that this cycle is among the top performances of the works.

I have that cycle on vinyl too, (and two others on vinyl). Karajan’s 63 cycle is almost unanimously thought to be his best Beethoven cycle. It is a very nice set, but I do have a soft spot for my Szell cycle with the Cleveland Orchestra. And also have one with Bohm and the Wiener Philharmoniker. That also has a charm of its own.

The only cycle I have on CD is more modern by Paavo Jarvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Although very good, I think I prefer the three sets on vinyl above.