This set of recordings has always b

This set of recordings has always been one of my great treasures, a Dutch-only release which I found at a record store across from the Concertgebouw, almost 20 years ago, after a wonderful performance there. Although I have always liked a number of the recordings in Haitink's first studio recorded set, particularly 1, 6, 7 and 9, they just don't compare to these--especially 2, 3, 5, 7 and particularly the extraordinary 9th. The Dutch radio sound was always very fine, better than the 60's studio recordings. When I saw the Universal Japan reissue, I had to try it, and good as the Dutch set was, this is noticeably finer--cleaner, clearer, better balanced. This should be a must-have set for any Mahler collector, and is, at least to me, superior to any other Haitink recorded performances, including the live ones from Chicago and the Bavarian Radio. The original notes were interesting; those with this set are in Japanese, and therefore, unfortunately, less interesting unless you can read them. But that is a tiny nit in a priceless reissue. The original Dutch set was very hard to get your hands on; grab this even finer import before it disappears also.