The Maag Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony should never have been issued. First, he cuts a major part of the 4th movement (a cut that was common in the 1920s and 1930s). There is no reason for such cuts, on record or in concert. So with this cut, the Maag is out of any competition. The performance was recorded, I believe, in performance, and the orchestra is rather sloppy. Maag, a conductor I respect, is very dull in this performance. The sound is okay. The accompanying Nutcracker Suite adds little to this disc. As far as I am concerned the recording is a waste of aluminum and does little to honor the memory of a fine conductor.