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The audio quality of this release is simply stunning. I am listening on my Sony MDR-Z7 headphones, which are renowned for their deep bass production. The depth of this recording is spine tingling. The bass, cello, drums, and vocals (on the vocal symphonies) are rich, deep and resonant. The highs are also detailed and crisp.
As far as the artistic interpretations, I can only compare them to the few recordings I have - and they compare favorably. Tempii are brisk, melodic lines are steady and easy to follow. I found myself engrossed in many of these symphonies, especially the more "patriotic" among them.
The box itself is well done - not luxurious by any means, but solid, with a good booklet, and good sleeves for each disc.
This is a stellar classical release and gets my highest recommendation. It is priced very well and really delivers sonically. You can't go wrong with it.
UPDATE: This is apparently out of print, which means that aftermarket prices have gone up for this. You should shop around for something lower than a c-note if you're looking for the CDs. Downloads can be found on higher-res sites that offer classical music (they rhyme with Shmaitch-Dee Schmacks and Schmresto Schlassical), but they end up costing a pretty penny when broken up into individual purchases.
I wish Sony Classical would serve its fans by either keeping releases like this in print, or by offering a reasonably priced download for the whole package.
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