By 1939, after more than half a century on the podium and more than four decades conducting Beethoven, Toscanini's approach to interpreting the canon could hardly have avoided extensive change and development.

Precisely how he performed the symphonies early in the century is to some degree inevitably a matter of speculation, since no recordings survive from the first half of his career. This fine release can, of course, be judged and throughout the years this 1939 cycle, recorded between October and December, has been described as "legendary".

"a remarkable testament to Toscanini" - Musicweb International

"The greatest Beethoven cycle around" - Classical Source