Fifteen years after its first release, this still remains incomparable. The playing has wonderful tonal sophistication and Karajan judges tempos to perfection so that the proportions seem quite perfect. The recording, too, is extremely well balanced and has excellent ambience, and the new pressing strikes me as smoother and more refined than my original copy. The current catalogue lists three other versions (Previn and the LSO on HMV SXLP30315, 2/80; Rozhdestvensky and the Moscow Radio Orchestra on HMV SLS844; Lombard and the Strasbourg Philharmonic on Erato/ Conifer NUM 75008) but none of them begins to match this in distinction and stature. Even at full price this would still sweep the board and at its new mid-price level it is a clear first choice.
RL