Beethoven: Symphony No. 3  in E-flat Major, Op. 55- Eroica / No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (Essential Classics)
As time goes on, George Szell's performances seem only to gain in  strength. Famed during his lifetime as a disciplinarian who raised the Cleveland  Orchestra to an international standard, his Beethoven performances perfectly  balance Classical poise with Romantic urgency and emotion. TheEroicais  a particularly difficult symphony to conduct, owing to its length and the fact  that Beethoven's orchestration often seems too small for such explosive music.  With Szell, problems of balance and emphasis simply do not exist. He finds an  ideal tempo for each movement (the famous "Funeral March" is particularly  impressive) while allowing each climax its natural place in the symphonic  argument. The taut, impulsive performance of the Eighth makes an excellent  bonus. A great performance.--David Hurwitz