Beethoven: Symphonies No. 2 in D Major Op. 36 & No. 5 in C Minor Op. 67 (Essential Classics)

George Szell's Beethoven performances are classics of their kind: taught, lean, and perfectly balanced. Music lovers often regret that Arturo Toscanini's recordings all sound so lousy, but the truth is that with Szell on hand, you're not missing anything. Not only is his orchestra better than any Toscanini had to work with, he combines the same respect for the score with an even more impressive grasp of musical architecture. Greatness, folks. --David Hurwitz