Mozart: Late Symphonies  [Nos. 29, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38- 41] (Karajan Collection)
Herbert von Karajan's Mozart has always been the subject of a certain amount of controversy. While no one would deny these performances are immaculately played, they also boast a healthy dose of that surface slickness that many listeners find quite off-putting. Mozart's music is so pretty that it's very easy to be seduced by sheer beauty of sound, and for some listeners that may be enough. If you want a deeper view, though, these aren't the performances to buy. Try Karl Böhm with this same orchestra and label.--David Hurwitz