Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies : EMI Classics

Here's a welcome box of all Bruckner's numbered symphonies led by a distinguished specialist renowned during his lifetime for his identification with the composer. Neatly laid out with each symphony on a disc of its own (no annoying midsymphony changeovers) and in top-quality late-1970s sound, this is an irresistible bargain for such superb performances. Jochum's Bruckner was spontaneous-sounding, with generally swift tempos tempered by flexible rhythms and slow movements that squeeze all the juice from this heartfelt music. The Dresden orchestra is a marvelous instrument for these works, with a beefy, warm sound and brass players that can whip up the excitement in the grand climaxes. Individual conductors, whether vintage greats like Furtwängler or more recent Brucknerians such as Wand on RCA and Tintner on Naxos, may equal or better Jochum in individual works, but taken as a complete traversal of these massive scores, Jochum's is second to none. --Dan Davis - $40.89

Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos : EMI Classics

Otto Klemperer's Beethoven is one of the towering achievements in the history of recordings. By today's standards, these performances are hopelessly old-fashioned: dark, heavy, and frequently very slow. But they are also the grandest, most unsentimental, most purposeful versions in the catalog. In addition, the relatively slow tempos (only in the fast movements--the slow ones are pretty swift) and forward wind balance permit more detail to be heard than in most original-instrument performances. At budget price and with the entire piano concerto cycle thrown in for good measure, this is greatness incarnate. --David Hurwitz - $43.19

The Complete Symphonies : Brilliant Classics

A great concept: a selection of 226 symphonies on 100 CD's. The symphony is the core of the classical repertoire. So why not collect the symphonic output of the top composers in one box?

All of the major symphonies are included, such as the complete series by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Nielsen and Shostakovich. Also symphonic works by Clementi (complete), Schubert (complete), Mendelssohn, Schumann (complete), Dvorák, Liszt, Saint-Saëns, Rimsky-Korsakov (complete) and Borodin (complete).

Excellent performers including the Hanover Band, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, the London Symphony Orchestra and more. - $127.74

Symphony (25) Favorites : Vox (Classical)

- $1.72

Dvorák: The Symphonies [Box Set] : Decca

For decades, there were only three complete collections of Dvorák's symphonies: this one; Rowicki's with the same orchestra; and Kubelik's with the Berlin Philharmonic. Kertész offers the most rustic, gutsy interpretations of all. Famous for his dislike of rehearsals, he allows the London Symphony to make a much rougher sound than his colleagues tolerate, and though not the last word in polish, the results have a spontaneous charm that's pretty hard to resist. More to the point, Dvorák's early symphonies (Nos. 1 to 5) remain sadly neglected, and each one of them is full of gorgeous tunes cloaked in mellifluous orchestration. At budget price, this set now costs less than it did on LP in the 1960s. How can you do better than that? --David Hurwitz - $23.49

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies no 4, 5, & 6 / Karajan, Berlin PO : Deutsche Grammophon

This moderately priced package gives you the best of Herbert von Karajan's Tchaikovsky performances, and when he was "on" with this composer, he was very impressive indeed. These are exceptionally well played, exciting, even noble versions of the composer's three most popular symphonies, and although Karajan recorded each of them four or five times, this least expensive edition is still the one to get. --David Hurwitz - $9.56

Haydn: Complete Symphonies (33 CD Box Set) : Brilliant Classics

- $101.11

Ludwig van Beethoven: 9 Symphonien : Deutsche Grammophon 1963 / 2007

By general consensus, Herbert von Karajan's first (1963) Beethoven cycle for Deutsche Grammophon is the best of the four (!) that he recorded. The Berlin Philharmonic was in top form, and they had not yet made an artistic fetish out of the bland smoothness that typified the conductor's later recordings of this music (and just about everything else). Karajan's squeaky clean, emotionally cool Beethoven will always be something of an acquired taste, but this set makes the best possible case for it. --David Hurwitz - $21.43

Ludwig van Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies - Arturo Toscanini / NBC Symphony Orchestra : RCA

- $14.88

Vaughan Williams: The Nine Symphonies [Box Set] : RCA

- $19.98