Netherlands Radio Chamber Orchestra, Ton Koopman - Schubert Symphonies 5 & 8 Overture "Diezaberharfe" (1997)

Koopman puts his own special stamp on these evergreens. The 5th is one of the best on record - bright and bouncy with tempi and inner detail that seem just right. The Unfinished, if not as darkly brooding as the magnificent Sinopoli version, is still weighty and dramatic. The sound quality is very good but not outstanding - the strings are just a little harsh on the loud passages.