Beethoven Symphonies - best perf + sonics on CD

Loydelee, I just picked up the Gardiner Beethoven cycle. I haven't even been able to look at the discs yet to see if they're playable but I will give it a try once this cat finds a chair. Yes, surprisingly there wasn't a lot on offer when I checked to see which recommended recordings of the Missa Solemnis were still in print. I like the recording engineers at Harmonia Mundi so that recommendation jumped out at me when I saw it. The Solemnis is a monumental work but it would seem as if the record labels have shied away from it for some reason. I have a nice recording of Mozart's Missa Solemnis but that won't help any. Same text I would assume.

Wow! That was quick! I really look forward to your thoughts on it! I nearly bought it myself, but in truth would love to hear your impressions first. I already have 3 full cycles...only wish to get Gardiner if really good and also really different.

Lots of approvals for Gardiner, but I think for ME, the sound and the performance is not good. The 3,5,9, sysmphonies are the worst for me, but the others are better.

Thanks, Stingreen...what Beethoven symphonies are your favorite?

Sorry, a lot of things going on. Surprisingly, I found a Konica II rangefinder in excellent condition as someone was throwing it out. But anyway, I listened to Gardiner conducting the Beethoven 5th and have to say that either the hall and/or the miking is the culprit for criticisms surrounding this recording. It reminds me of when I saw Wozzeck at Avery Fisher Hall; the tympani heads sounded as if they were made out of paper and the woodwinds over powered the strings. From what I could tell with the Gardiner 5th, the brass was shrill and often overpowering, the oboes and bassoons could hardly be heard at all and the strings fluctuated between being dynamically balanced or washed out and behind the curtain. Staccato in the strings was for the most part unintelligible. What is most odd was the opening 4 note motive and that entire phrase by comparison to when it's repeated further along in the exposition. Why on earth is the introduction of that phrase softer with less emphasis than when it's played again later? I don't have the score on hand but the introduction should make a definite statement. The second movement was played and recorded beautifully. Any comments?