"The performance of Elgar's oratorio that John Barbirolli conducted in Rome in November 1957 was briefly available on LP, and acquired a place in history as the only surviving record of the great Jon Vickers in the title role. Now out of copyright and available for the first time on CD, it's a fascinating document, although the shortcomings are considerable. Vickers doesn't disappoint, singing with an intensity and a care for the sound and sense of every word that are well nigh ideal...The orchestra and chorus do their best, which isn't quite good enough; it's Vickers who makes this a must-have." - Andrew Clements, The Guardian, London

• An all-Beethoven double-disc set of Herbert von Karajan conducting the first and last symphonies with the New York Philharmonic in late 1958. • The bonus performance of the Beethoven Fifth, with the Vienna Philharmonic, sees its first-ever release. • Leontyne Price heads a stellar quartet of singers for the Beethoven Ninth.