Karl Böhm's recording of the
Mozart symphonies with the
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra is among the most respected and beloved sets of this important body of work.
Böhm's set was the first complete recording of the symphonies and it remains a substantial achievement because of the conductor's stature as a Mozartian and because of the enthusiastic and refined playing of the
Berlin Philharmonic. The performances reflect the aesthetic of the mid-20th century: the orchestra is large, with a full, Romantic sound. The sound as recorded by Deutsche Grammophon between 1958 and 1968 is not entirely consistent, but it is never less than adequate and is often excellent.