Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD

Not to beat any dead horses (maybe it's too late for that) but Sergiu Celibidache was a masterful maestro and his zen like tempos have earned him somewhat of a cult like following. I highly recommend the Brahms, all 4 discs are recorded live with the Münchner Philharmoniker on EMI. I find the sonic quality to be superb and the German Requiem is included on one of the sets. I believe that Sergiu Celibidache and the Munich on EMI will be my next choice for Beethoven.

'You can't do anything other than let it happen. You just let it evolve. You don't do anything yourself. All you do is make sure that nothing disturbs this wonderful creation in any way. You are extremely active and at the same time extremely passive. You don't do anything; you just let it evolve.'

Sergiu Celibidache

For records, the mono Toscanini box set on RCA Shaded Dog is still worth digging up now and again.

"The OP was looking for top notch recordings with good performances. For me, the analog DG recordings of the Berliner made in the Jesus Christus Kirche were good, but when they changed the recording venue and went to digital recordings forget it. Not so good. I found von Karajan's recordings made in the 60's very worthwhile, but those that came later were pretty forgetable."

I agree that the 60s cycle is superb, but sound problems plague the later cycles. What bothers me about DG recordings (CDs) is the period from late 70s thru the 80s when the engineers were experimenting with close-miking techniques, plus they did not adapt well to digital in the 80s. Seems like the Philips and Decca engineers were able to get it right.
DG had to correct many of the Karajan recordings.

Lowrider, What happened at DG is hard to understand. DG made terrific recordings then suddenly forgot what music sounded like. The JCK is by all accounts a terrific recording venue. I have a recent recording by Angela Hewitt recorded there and it is very nice. I heard the DG engineers were not happy about being forced to record in the then new Berlin concert hall instead of the JCK. Trying to make the switch to digital at more or less the same time made for a train wreck I guess.

Brownsfan...that's very interesting and may account for the change in sound during that period. I just listened to Karajan 1963 and though lacking the detail of modern recordings, the overall balance is excellent. The later Beethoven and Schumann cycles suffer from a change in their recording technique. Sounds like over-miking and a lack of the venue ambiance. I know Karajan was very displeased and they were remixed and remastered.
And then there was DGs transition to digital...terrible. That's why I can't recommend the later Beethoven cycle as far as having good sonics.
BTW, I still order DG vinyl made in Germany/Holland and it is so well crafted.

This discussion really brings back the memories Lowrider. As a poor student, I cut my teeth on William Steinberg's Pittsburgh Beethoven set. 9 symphonies, $10. Later when I had a little more money I began to accumulate the von Karajan set from the 60's. I will never forget years later, hearing the digital recording of the 7th how terribly disappointed I was.