Your Ultimate favorite

[schweitzeralan]

Recently I was discussing with a musical aficionado if there were such a thing as a one particular favorite work or composers for listeners.My friend stated that if one were stranded or isolated, let;s say on an island and were offered one only CD or whatever source, which would it possibly be? I did provide a response, although I conjectured it would possibly generate few responses from forum experts. Curious, I thought.

[Bulldog]

Bach's complete WTC.  What's yours?

[Sergeant Rock]

One work, or one CD? Bulldog chose work (the complete WTC would take at least four three CDs) so I'll do likewise:



Sarge

[Scarpia]

If I have to pick one set of works, it might as well be this:

[Franco]

If a series of works is acceptable, mine would be the 32 Beethoven Piano Sonatas.

[Octo_Russ]

Here's mine



However if i only have one disc to listen to, i'm sure i'll get sick of it!  defeats the object really.

[Mirror Image]

This is just impossible for me to answer right now. Let me come back when I've had a few shots of Vodka.

[Drasko]

[Bulldog]

One work, or one CD? Bulldog chose work (the complete WTC would take at least four CDs) so I'll do likewise:



Sarge

Gould's WTC fits on three cds (at least the set I bought).

Since we seem to be picking a favorite recording, here's mine:

[hornteacher]

Mackerras' recordings of the Beethoven Symphonies with the RLO.

[Lethevich]

Wagner's Ring too. There are dozens of things I like more, but this more than anything stands up to repeat-listening - not just length-wise, but the through-composition, finding motifs as they change across whole operas. Big fun :3

[MN Dave]

That is a good choice, good as any.

[springrite]

This is just impossible for me to answer right now. Let me come back when I've had a few shots of Vodka.

Why not just admit that Vodka is your ultimate favorite.


How do I choose among Rite of Spring, Mahler 9 and Goldberg Variation...

OK, I will pick one at random --- Goldberg Variation!

[greg]

Why not just admit that Vodka is your ultimate favorite.


How do I choose among Rite of Spring, Mahler 9 and Goldberg Variation...

OK, I will pick one at random --- Goldberg Variation!

You have great taste, Paul!!!  hehe
(my favorite used to be the Rite of Spring for a while, and the Goldberg Variations I'm just starting to get familiar with, though I recognize their greatness)

I actually thought Don's favorite was the Goldberg Variations.

Oh, well... of course, my favorite is Mahler 9. Now the 3 people on this forum who didn't know already know. 

[not edward]

For a single disc, I'll take disc two (opp 90, 109-111) of this set:

.

[Teresa]

Easy this SACD which has been my current favorite for two years since first released, it was written in 2003.  I would not want to live without it.

[Sergeant Rock]

Gould's WTC fits on three cds (at least the set I bought).

My Gould WTC comes on four CDs but I just checked the timings: between 51 and 54 minutes per disc. So yeah, easily fits on three.

Sarge

[Keemun]

If I am limited to one work it would be Bruckner's 8th Symphony (Boulez/VPO).  If I can have a set of works I would choose the complete symphony cycles of either Bruckner or Mahler.  (I have a broad definition of "set of works.")    I don't know which recording I would choose for one of the symphony cycles.

[Bulldog]

I actually thought Don's favorite was the Goldberg Variations.

That's because I have more recordings of the Goldbergs than the WTC which is simply a result of more Goldbergs being recorded over the years.

[Brahmsian]

So difficult to chose my ultimate favorite, but this is probably it.