To me, this is the quintessential RVW symphony cycle that best embodies his spirit musically. What say you?
Symphony No. 1 LPO/Haitink
Symphony No. 2 LSO/Hickox (1913 version)
Symphony No. 3 LSO/Previn
Symphony No. 4 LPO/Boult
Symphony No. 5 LSO/Previn
Symphony No. 6 RLPO/Handley
Symphony No. 7 First and Last movement from LSO/Previn, Landscapes from LPO/Boult, rest of movements from BSO/Bakels
Symphony No. 8 LSO/Previn
Symphony No. 9 LSO/Previn
To me, RVW is more than the music or the notes, there is an individual soul his music transcends.
To me too, and great choices - hope to find time to listen to all of them again. I grew up with the second Boult cycle and Boult remains quintessential, but the two cycles that left the biggest impression are Previn's and Thomson's. For now, my first choices would be like:
Symphony No. 1 LPO/Haitink (not sure, never really came to terms with A Sea Symphony)
Symphony No. 2 LSO/Brabbins (1920 version)
Symphony No. 3 LSO/Previn
Symphony No. 4 NYPh/Bernstein
Symphony No. 5 RPhO/Previn
Symphony No. 6 LSO/Thomson
Symphony No. 7 BSO/Bakels (perhaps Haitink)
Symphony No. 8 LSO/Thomson
Symphony No. 9 LSO/Thomson