This recording takes us halfway back to the premiere of the work. Toscanini was as close to Beethoven as we are now to Toscanini. Amazing, when you think of it.

William Steinberg's recording of Beethoven's Eighth SHOULD have been the reference recording, in my opinion. But instead of using it as a point of comparison, critics always ignored that performance, probably because it was released on a minor label. Back in the day, whenever I recommended Steinberg, people reacted as though I had suggested that they try apple pie with tabasco sauce.

Yes, after all these many years, I can understand why Toscanini's is "The Reference."  Even so, I half expected Szell's to have been the one.

'' ..the most perfect performance of ANY beethoven symphony ever put on disc ..: ( records and recording, november 1969) about beethoven symphony no 7 with toscanini and new york philarmonic....i have this recording on rca victrolia lp......i love this records....!

When I find MY reference recording of the 7th, it's going to be the one that actually does an fff in the coda of the finale instead of just an ff. Trumpets often do that, but for some reason the timpani never does.

The music history teacher at college once was walking down the hall, and he stopped me and said, "You need to listen to the fugue section of the second movement of Beethoven's 7th." I was like, huh? OK. He must have just been listening to it in his office and was really into it, and just had to tell someone about it.

Idea for a series - 10 best recordings by different orchestras?

awesome! I still love listening to Toscanini's Beethoven 7th nypo and my Dad had a complete set of the Beethoven symphonies.  That's how I discovered classical music. I have been grateful ever since.

Considering the recording is almost 90 years old, the sound is wonderful!!

I believe this is the same recording that I own on a 3 disc set of Toscanini performances issued by Pearl.

It is a great performance.  I still have it on vinyl on an RCA "Victrola" LP.

This is like the reference recording of reference recordings for me…Toscanini’s version still explodes like none others.

Thank you for the reference, I believe found it on streaming paired with the 5th, 1933, Naxos...and thank god it does not have the repeat at the first movement. Great performance, I'm sure soon with AI applied to remastering process, the sound of these historical performances may be improved.

I have owned this recording in its RCA Victrola LP incarnation since I was a teenager in the 1970s.  While I have heard many fine performances (some of which you mention David) I still go WOW when I hear it.

I agree that this is the reference for this symphony. I believe it was Walter Legge who called it the greatest recording ever made of anything. Like the Semiramide Overture made around the same time, it's vastly better than his 1951 recordings despite arguably inferior sonics. (Arguably because the 1936 recording gives you more hall perspective than the closely miked later ones.)
I would also choose Toscanini as reference for the NINTH--if it weren't for his 1st mvt. I always feel the music wants to be several minutes more expansive and weightier as well.  Say, around the 15-minute mark, not Toscanini's 13 or less.

Nailed it Dave!!!! Now, waiting with baited breath,  panting expectations,,, for ,,,,, the NINTH !

Completely agree! There is something incisive and poetic about AT's version that withstands the test of time.

The RCA Camden version of this was my first 12 inch LP - a birthday gift when I was eight. It was the record that ignited my love of Beethoven. Still have it - and it sounds great.

I finally figured out why I own four copies of Beethoven's 7th. Each movement required a different conductor.

Update: I own the Toscanini box set, "the complete RCA recordings" and it has this reference recording.😊

Bravo!! And along with the reference recordings for Brahms! you are a marvellous critic. Hari