Most multiple recordings you have?

[Greta]

PefectWagenrite and PSmith08 with all those M2's -

Your 5 to take to a Desert Island (with a CD player)?

I'm in love with Mahler 2nd lately and adore the Rattle CBSO recording and Bernstein '87, but only have about 4 or 5 so far...

[PerfectWagnerite]

PefectWagenrite and PSmith08 with all those M2's -

Your 5 to take to a Desert Island (with a CD player)?

I'm in love with Mahler 2nd lately and adore the Rattle CBSO recording and Bernstein '87, but only have about 4 or 5 so far...

Hmmm, I haven't heard Rattle, although I have his 4th and 10th (the early one) on order.
But I'd probably take Mehta, Klemperer, Bernstein(DG), Gielen, and of course Walter (the most devastingly yet moving and stunning recorded - for its time) M2 I know.

There really aren't any stinkers. The only one that is truly underwhelming is Abbado. Some think his later recording is better but I haven't heard it.

[PSmith08]

PerfectWagnerite and PSmith08 with all those M2's -

Your 5 to take to a Desert Island (with a CD player)?

I'm in love with Mahler 2nd lately and adore the Rattle CBSO recording and Bernstein '87, but only have about 4 or 5 so far...

Hmmm. That's a tough one, but Mehta, Boulez '05 (i.e., the live boot' with the WP), Klemperer '65 (BRSO), Barbirolli '70 (RSOS), and Kaplan '03 (WP) make a pretty compelling DI list, in my book. If I had to go with just one, I would probably take Mehta. It is probably one of the more dramatic and fiery interpretations out there. Thrilling is a good word, and Christa Ludwig in the Urlicht is never a bad thing.

There really aren't any stinkers. The only one that is truly underwhelming is Abbado. Some think his later recording is better but I haven't heard it.

I'm inclined to agree with the "stinkers" bit. There is something about the 2nd that really shines through, thanks to or in spite of the conductor and orchestra, case-by-case, and each recording has something to say. Whether or not I want to hear it is another story.

[jwinter]

So, did Hogwood show Gardiner the door JW?

No, no -- I prefer the Hogwood, but I still like Gardiner as well.  The only Beethoven set that's irritated me enough to sell it was Solti's.  That and Rattle's, which I still have as I can't find anyone to take it off my hands.

And yes George, the Music & Arts set is the one from M&A.    Seriously though, anyone with a strong interest in Beethoven should have that, it's marvelous. 

[George]

No, no -- I prefer the Hogwood, but I still like Gardiner as well.  The only Beethoven set that's irritated me enough to sell it was Solti's.  That and Rattle's, which I still have as I can't find anyone to take it off my hands.

And yes George, the Music & Arts set is the one from M&A.    Seriously though, anyone with a strong interest in Beethoven should have that, it's marvelous. 

They have it on emusic.com, where it can be downloaded for free (new members) or for under $10 (old members.) 

[Mark]

... That and Rattle's, which I still have as I can't find anyone to take it off my hands.

J, if you're happy to mail to the UK, PM me about that Rattle set.

[Joe Barron]

For me, I guess it would be the Ives Symphony No. 4. The number of recordings is limited, but I have them all: Stoky, Serebrier, Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Faberman, Litton, and Karabtchevsky.  That makes seven. I think that's all of them. I'll get any more that some out.

Oh, I also have all the performances of Carter's Night Fantasies, which has been recorded eight times that I'm aware of—surely some kind of record for a postwar piece, atonal or not: Rosen, Jacobs, Oppens, Drury, Choi, Karis, Millet, and Aimard. The Oppens, Drury and Aimard are the best. The Jacobs is the only one that hasn't made it to CD.

For the Beethoven Symphonies, I have only two recordings of each: one set for modern orcehstra (various conductors including Bohm, Abbado, Giulini and Muti), and one set for period orchestra (with Hogwood). I think that's sufficient.

[E d o]

While I don't have them all at hand to count I'm certain it's Mahler. Kubelik's live No.2 should be in my mailbox tomorrow and I'm very much looking forward to it.

[Bogey]

They have it on emusic.com, where it can be downloaded for free (new members) or for under $10 (old members.) 

jwinter lead me to this water trough George and I am still drinking....great stuff.  But for you, I would say buy the cd as you will want the liner notes on this one.

[George]

jwinter lead me to this water trough George and I am still drinking....great stuff.  But for you, I would say buy the cd as you will want the liner notes on this one.

Just bought it today. 

I found it for $34.99 new and couldn't say no. 

[Greta]

I really enjoy reading the lists and recommendations for those that have so many of one work! I'll have to do the same.

Do you find though, that even if you have a lot of one, or maybe especially if you do, then it makes the ones you don't have and hear good things about even more tempting... 

[Mark]

Do you find though, that even if you have a lot of one, or maybe especially if you do, then it makes the ones you don't have and hear good things about even more tempting... 

Always, yes. I suppose you have to assess how important it is to you to own X number of interpretations of any one or more works. It's well known around here that my weaknesses include Rachmaninov's All-night Vigil, Saint-Saens' Third Symphony, all the Beethoven symphonies, Grieg's Piano Concerto and Sibelius' Violin Concerto. I consider these works as important to me, so when I hear of new recordings, my interest in these is immediately piqued. Whether or not I subsequently buy any new CDs of these works will depend largely on how much I want them as opposed to exploring other, less frequently visited corners of the classical music globe, as I am often wont to do.

[The Mad Hatter]

I now have two recordings of several Brandenburg Concertos, Bach's Preludes and Fugues, Bach's Goldberg Variations, Shostakovich's Preludes and Fugues, Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, several of his symphonies (I have more multiples than I thought...), Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, Mahler's fifth symphony, The Rite of Spring, Rachmaninoff's third piano concerto, several Shostakovich symphonies, and Verklarte Nacht because you can't get a Schoenberg CD that doesn't contain it.

I don't have more than two of anything, because I can't really afford it, generally...

[PerfectWagnerite]

Just bought it today. 

I found it for $34.99 new and couldn't say no. 

I can't take Beethoven in bad sound anymore. I am sorry. As plentiful as there are of great great Beethoven cycles out there I don't have to live with horrible sound 0:)

[Mark]

I can't take Beethoven in bad sound anymore. I am sorry. As plentiful as there are of great great Beethoven cycles out there I don't have to live with horrible sound 0:)

Have to say that I'm inclined to agree ... even if that does mean I'm missing out on some terrific historic interpretations.

[Bogey]

I can't take Beethoven in bad sound anymore. I am sorry. As plentiful as there are of great great Beethoven cycles out there I don't have to live with horrible sound 0:)

Have to say that I'm inclined to agree ... even if that does mean I'm missing out on some terrific historic interpretations.

In my perfect recording collection world, I would own my favorite performance on modern instruments, my favorite HIP performance (when applicable), and my favorite historical performance (when applicable).  However, like me, my recording collection is far from perfect....and that pursuit of perfection is a large part of my enjoyment.

[Drasko]

It's well known around here that my weaknesses include Rachmaninov's All-night Vigil,

Do you have Tenebrae/Nigel Short on Signum. If do how is it?

[Haffner]

For which work do you have the most multiple recordings and how many are they?

Mozart Jupiter 5 releases
Beethoven Late String Quartets 5
The Ring 3 (I'll get there, Sarge!)
Beethoven and Mozart Piano Sonatas (3)
Haydn String Quartets I've got at least two releases of every quartet as far back as op.9.
La Traviata 3
Marriage of Figaro 3

[Mark]

Do you have Tenebrae/Nigel Short on Signum. If do how is it?

Not yet. It's among the next three on my hitlist (which will bring my total number of recordings to 16). I sampled it online, but the samples weren't of a high enough quality to form any kind of opinion.

[Drasko]

Not yet. It's among the next three on my hitlist (which will bring my total number of recordings to 16). I sampled it online, but the samples weren't of a high enough quality to form any kind of opinion.

eclassical.com has high quality samples, and let me know of your impressions when you do get it.