Favorite Three Recordings of your Favorite Ensemble

[LKB]

I think it's fair to say that many or most of us have a particular ensemble whom we have come to value above all others.

So, what are the three recordings you treasure above all else, by your favorite orchestra/trio/ chorus/early music group etc.?

[david johnson]

Chicago Symphony Orchestra:
1. Respighi, Pines of Rome (Reiner)
2. Rossini, overtures (Reiner)
3. Bruckner, Sym 9 (Giulini)

[ritter]

Bayreuth Festival:

- Tristan und Isolde, Herbert von Karajan (1952)


- Der Ring des Nibelungen, Clemens Krauss (1953)


- Parsifal, Pierre Boulez (1970)

(This is the cover of the original LP release)

Ensemble Intercontemporain:

- Boulez, Pli selon pli (Christine Schäfer/ Pierre Boulez)


- Elliott Carter, Oboe Concerto and other works (Heinz Holliger, Pierre Boulez)


Luigi Dallapiccola, Canti di prigionia and other works (Hans Zender)

[Brian]

Deliberately defying the instructions:

Favorite Three Live Performances of My Favorite Ensemble to See Live

- Haydn quartet Op 76/2, Britten Three Divertimenti, Haas Quartet No. 2 "From the Monkey Mountains" - Pavel Haas Quartet, Rice University, Houston, TX, fall 2009
- Ravel and Debussy quartets - Pavel Haas Quartet, BBC Radio 3 lunchtime concert, LSO St. Luke's, London, fall 2011
- Schubert string quintet D. 956 - Pavel Haas Quartet with Danjulo Ishizaka, Wigmore Hall, London, spring 2012

[Todd]

- Schubert string quintet D. 956 - Pavel Haas Quartet with Danjulo Ishizaka, Wigmore Hall, London, spring 2012

Not fair.  Not fair.

[Brian]

Not fair.  Not fair.

That was the first time I'd ever heard the piece at all. Absolutely a top three all time concert memory.

[Mirror Image]

The Wiener Philharmoniker have remained one of favorite orchestras and here are three favorite recordings with them:



Double bonus:

[Lisztianwagner]

Berliner Philharmoniker, but it gave me a very hard time to choose between this and the Wiener Philharmoniker:

- Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen (Karajan)
- Beethoven, Symphonies ('63 DG Cycle, Karajan)
- Strauss, Eine Alpensinfonie (Karajan)

[LKB]

Thanks MI. 

[LKB]

Berliner Philharmoniker, but it gave me a very hard time to choose between this and the Wiener Philharmoniker:

- Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen (Karajan)
- Beethoven, Symphonies ('63 DG Cycle, Karajan)
- Strauss, Eine Alpensinfonie (Karajan)

For several years beginning in high school, l was only interested in the BPO with von Karajan. So, l can relate. Thanks!

[Sergeant Rock]

The Cleveland Orchestra

Mahler Symphony No. 6 (Szell)
Haydn Late Symphonies (Szell)
Mozart Original Jacket Collection (Szell)






Sarge

[Mirror Image]

Thanks MI. 

My pleasure. Are we allowed to pick more than one favorite ensemble for this thread? If yes, I've got several other favorites to add.

[LKB]

My pleasure. Are we allowed to pick more than one favorite ensemble for this thread? If yes, I've got several other favorites to add.

Tell you what... let's stay with one " ultimate favorite " for this thread, and I'll start a new thread for multiple favorites. 

[Biffo]

When I first saw this thread, and before I read the OP, I thought it would be about chamber music. I did some thinking and realised that my three favourite chamber albums were from three different ensembles viz.

Beethoven - String Quartet No 15 in A minor - Quartetto Italiano
Schubert - String Quartet in D minor, D810, Death and the Maiden - Alban Berg Quartett
Brahms - Clarinet Quintet - Melos Ensemble

Just seen the post about a new thread but don't want to lose this


I have quite a few albums from each of the three but choosing one ensemble would mean, like Don Giovanni, being unfaithful to the others.

When I read the OP and saw that it included orchestras as well I found the task impossible.

[LKB]

New thread just went up. 

[staxomega]

I think it will be too easy to just list something like Végh Quartet and make all three of them Beethoven String Quartets. Or St. Petersburg Quartet and list all of the best of Shostakovich's String Quartets.

So I'll go a bit off the beaten path, Apartment House:

Feldman Piano and String Quartet (not my favorite performance, but still superb)
Cage Seven
Linda Catlin Smith Among the Tarnished Stars