In 1955 and at the peak of his postwar powers, Karl Böhm recorded Beethoven's “Missa Solemnis” with the Berlin Philharmonic with an all-star cast of soloists. While there are many great performances of this work by other conductors, this one needs to be heard by anyone who loves this piece. Böhm's pacing is perfect, the choir sounds wonderful, and the soloists; soprano Maria Stader, contralto Marianna Radev, tenor Anton Dermota and bass Josef Greindl sing with great character and passion. The digital remastering of this recording keeps the clarity and brings the performers a little closer to the listener. In every way that matters, this is a great “Missa Solemnis”.