Yes, Sawallisch's Beethoven is generally dull, but his Pastorale is a gem of a performance: a strong first movement with nicely present horns, a perfectly-timed (13 and a bit) Scene by the Brook with beautiful oboe playing, strong rhythms in the Dance, and a powerful Storm. A true diamond in the dust.

wherever Schumann symphonies are concerned, the name Sawallisch naturally comes to mind.

It is true and rather special that the RCO didn’t had a good hand recording Beethoven or also the Schumann symphonies under Haitink & Chailly. Happily I could find in the French part of the booklet the reason why the two Sarah Chang cds with Sawallisch are not included. After all they were originally issued in Europe as EMI releases. In my order of this box the prints of the covers looked like they run out of ink….😂 .

Could they sell us the box without the Beethoven and Brahms discs if we're willing to pay a few shekels MORE? 🤔

There’s a reason I don’t get performer boxes. I miss the solo stuff, but I’m really an orchestral works person.