Carlos Kleiber - Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 (2010)
these symphonies are excerpts from another Best of 2010 release, the 12-CD box set Carlos Kleiber: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon.
you may already have these 2 symphonies, but the difference here is Kleiber, quite possibly the greatest conductor to ever walk the planet - a genius and recluse who turned down nearly every prestigious post in musicdom, didn't own a phone, and never did an interview. he rarely gigged (unless he wanted a tricked out Audi A8), and recorded even less than that. so this box set is quite a treat, featuring symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and full operas by Strauss II (Die Fledermaus), Verdi (La Traviata), Wagner (Tristan), and Weber (Der Freischutz). these are all definitive performances, perhaps the best on record, and the whole 12-CD set can be had for a steal at USD$35. if you like this sort of thing, it's an essential purchase.
Kleiber's Beethoven 5 & 7
buy the box set from Amazon
buy the DVD from Amazon or watch the madman at work on YouTube
This album fucking kicks ass! This music is Grade A stuff.