If anyone is considering this set, I can say that the sound is transformed from the previous Toshiba EMI Japanese issues of a decade or so ago. If you are a Klemperer afficianado don't hesitate! Now if only Tower would remaster his Haydn symphonies to the same standard ...

Could you elaborate on that a bit, please? I am a Klemperer aficionado and own the previous EMI Japan SACDs of these.

I found some of the original Toshiba / EMI Japan Klemperer issues to be very thin sounding - I would put the Schumann cycle and a couple of the 4 Haydn symphony discs into this category. These now have a much more "full" sound - a much improved low frequency response and much more presence in the orchestra generally. A much more consistent sound across the 4 symphonies - Walter Legge produced no.4, originally coupled on LP with Mendelssohn's 4 - but the rest were recorded some years later. I must say that since owning the original issues - which I did not keep - I have changed my amplifier and SACD player (but not the speakers), so I can't discount the possibility that that is playing a part, but the difference to my ears is too great to be just down to that.

Thank you. Just to be sure: by the "original Toshiba/EMI Japan" releases you mean the SACDs, not their remastered CDs (which to be sure I think came earlier)? I'm not too crazy about all of them, either, but they all are a big improvement over the CDs no matter what.

Anyhow, I just ordered the Schumann & Schubert sets, will see how they sound. Thanks for the tip - I kind of missed those.

Yes I did mean the SACD's, so I'll be interested to hear what you think. A couple of other things - if you haven't heard the recent Warners SACD reissues of Klemperer's studio and live Beethoven 9's or their SACD set of the Barenboim / Klemperer Beethoven concertos I urge you to do so especially as they are much more reasonably priced being European issues. Also, Tower have recently reissued as a SACD his final Beethoven 7. I haven't heard and haven't ordered this remembering it was savaged by the critics at the time (however so was his Bruckner 8 which - especially the slow movement - I have always treasured).

Thank you! I already ordered a copy and am really looking forward to its arrival.

All those other recordings that you meantion I already have. The first two are gorgeous, really special (I have that live 9th on Testament as well), and I also have always liked this rather eccentrically slow LvB7 of his – but I haven't had an opportunity to listen to the SACD of it yet. I think I'm like you: I also much enjoy his Bruckner 8. Both are quite something, truly an experience. And the sonics were very good on that late LvB7 redbook already, so they must be quite extraordinary now.

How right you were, Breydon Music. It’s not a minor difference. Everything is now (in the Tower remaster) so much more open, transparent, delicate, and defined, and the music really sings. So beautiful.

Thanks again for pointing this out. I was rather skeptical and almost hopped over, but luckily was persuaded otherwise, kind of out of curiosity.

Interesting how there are still improvements that can be effected, and not so incredibly subtle, either.

Thank you for taking the trouble to write, I am so pleased that this set has brought you pleasure too. I have ordered the Beethoven 7 from Japan so hopefully will have the same happy experience! Now, Tower, how about revisiting Klemperer's Haydn?!

The Haydn would be great, re-done, but meanwhile I'm also still (for many years already!) awaiting for his Fidelio as well as his Tchaikovsky last three, which to my knowledge have never been mastered to DSD by anyone (and released as an SACD). (I'm not holding my breath for his remaining two Mozart operas, quite realistically.)