And speaking of the 1st movt. climax, is there more drunken, crazier singing/orchestral accompaniment out there???
For me, this is one of the highlights of DLVDE and I cannot tolerate any recording that's underpowered at this spot. It really has to 'BURST' out, all the way.
Drunken, crazy, out of wit and out of control just like you're in a state of opium. I mean, toxic! 
.
John,
Aye! HEAR HEAR, it is the only way to have the ape in the moonlight scene.
In this, I love the William Steinberg-Led Boston SO in a 2 Jan 1970 broadcast w/Jon Vickers (& Maureen Forrester!!!), and a Karajan/Berliners with Ludwig and Kollo from the 1972 Aug 8 Salzburg festival date comes in second. Herbie is heard eschewing the all-glitter sheen for some real bite from the strings there.
Weird choices for me, but the performances deliver; actually Steinberg's capacity to elicit an engrossing performance from a roomful of musicians is underreported.
Guillermo
