Maybe I wasn't clear - the Abbado set *is* modern. Modern instruments, modern interpretation, modern recording quality. It has a reduced orchestra like Harnancourt but unlike Harnancourt or any of the other reduced orchestra sets the orchestra feels full and powerful, without sounding shallow (and Harnancourt's Beethoven certainly sounds shallow). It was a revelation for me and Abbado certainly has gotten the best balance when it comes to the divide between the old school full sized orchestra approach and the modern reduced orchestra approach. (I hope you realize that my definition of 'old school' is the Karajan/Furtwangler/Klemperer era of old school).

And if you have a low opinion of HIP sets the Bruggen set is a must have for you, trust me I have a low opinion of many of the HIP sets too. Unlike many of the other hack HIP conductors (who will remain unnamed) Bruggen knows what he is doing; he doesn't follow some of the questionable practices of the HIP crowd, specifically when it comes to tempo.