Which of Mozart's No.39 & 41 CD should I get?

I agree with Kal, the Linn set is a very good one, plus you get No.40, my favorite of his late symphonies. I believe Mackerras did some earlier recordings of these symphonies with Telarc as well, not sure if they're still in print.

If you like original instruments, or even if you don't, check out John Eliot Gardiner's English Baroque Soloists. Very good interpretations.

Performance wise, I don't think you would be disappointed with Josef Krip's. But it the recording might sound a bit outdated.

Kal...I have several recordings of these old war horses, but your strong endorsement of the Mackerras interests me. I also listened to the brief clips on the web site.
Please elaborate regarding your suggestion.

The earlier Mackerras on Telarc is a good example (to my ear) of a Telarc recording that was less satisfactory. The string sound is (to me) a bit edgy, which is annoying given that the strings are the name of the game. However, Mackerras is a good Mozart conductor, and I just ordered the Linn set myself last week. It should be excellent. And Symphony 40 is a "must-have"--one of the great works in the "canon."

A very nice budget set by is by Saraste on Virgin, which has several other Mozart Symphonies (though not 40). Lesser known conductor, but I liked this set.

George Szell and Bruno Walter were (for me) two of the great Mozart conductors, but their Mozart symphonies seem to be kind of hard to find now. The Walter set of late Mozart symphonies is available from Arkiv Music, but the Szell is only available is a big boxed set. And the recordings are a little bright (though tame-able, if you have tone controls).

If you like the symphonies, the next stop should be the late piano concertos. Many fine recordings...