This excellent series of recordings, emanating from Arte Nova with the Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich under David Zinman, continues with a riveting version of the 4th Symphony (coupled with the Eroica) which has just been broadcast complete on BBC R3 this morning. This has, I think, to be heard. Notwithstanding the exhilarating conducting, the excellent playing and recorded sound (beautiful soaring and bubbling woodwinds it is as if the varnish has been stripped away - and what enormous fun the percussion section seem to be having (side drum, timps and bass drum all crystal clear). Thrilling and great fun. Have the other symphonies issued so far all been as good as this? And at budget price! Here is something to be added, at once, to the 'must get' list (but one shouldn't forget, and certainly never discard, the very different and more traditional Klemperer Philharmonia performance - still an essential part of any Beethoven symphony collection). The same programme also selected Serge Baudo's performance (on EMI) of "L'apres-midi" as the best version in "Building a Record Library". A fine performance but the programme completely omitted any mention of the 1954 Cantelli performance (Testament)! People are funny - or is everyone getting younger? John G. Deacon Home page: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/j.deacon PIPEDOWN - Campaign Against Piped Music http://www.btinternet.com/~pipedown