Your Top 50 Favorite Classical Recordings Of All-Time

Started by Mirror Image, June 18, 2022, 08:05:49 PM

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Mirror Image

The title is pretty self-explanatory. I'm going to have to think about this one...

LKB

Quote from: Mirror Image on June 18, 2022, 08:05:49 PM
The title is pretty self-explanatory. I'm going to have to think about this one...

Well, I'll make a start with some l know will always remain in my collection. This list is in no particular order, with a format of composer/ work/ artists/ label:

Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht/ Schubert String Quintet in C Major,  Hollywood String Quartet et. al., Testament

Schubert & Schumann Lieder, Elly Ameling et. al., Harmonia Mundi

Beethoven  Late String Quartets, Quartetto Italiano, Philips

Beethoven, Missa Solemnis, choir and soloists with the RCO, Bernstein, Deutsche Grammophon

Beethoven, Symphonies, AAM, Hogwood, l'Oiseau-Lyre

Beethoven/Brahms Lieder, Fischer-Dieskau/ Demus, Deutsche Grammophon

Brahms, Choral works, Monteverdi Choir et. al., Gardiner, Philips

Brahms, Ein Deutsches Requiem
, Janowitz/Waechter, BPO, von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon

Brahms, Cello Sonatas, du Pre/Barenboim, EMI

Brahms/ Tchaikovsky Violin Concertos, Heifetz with Reiner and CSO, RCA SACD

Brahms, Symphoniy no. 3, BPO, von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon SACD 1964

Brahms, Symphony No. 4, VPO, Carlos Kleiber, Deutsche Grammophon

Dowland, First - Fourth Books of Songs, Consort of Musicke, Rooley, l'Oiseau-Lyre

The King's Singers Concert Collection, EMI

Josquin Des Prez chansons and motets, The King's Singers, RCA

Mahler Symphony no. 9, BPO/ von Karajan live, Deutsche Grammophon digital

Elgar Cello Concerto and Sea Pictures, LSO, du Pre / Baker & Barbirolli, EMI

Mahler, Kindertotenlieder and Lieder eines fahrenden gesellen, Baker and Hallé Orchestra, Barbirolli,  EMI

Mahler, Symphony No. 4, Mathis with the BPO, von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon

Mahler, Symphony No. 6, BPO, von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon

Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde, Ludwig/Kollo with the BPO, von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon

Mahler, Symphony No. 2, Auger/Baker with the CBSO, Rattle, EMI

Mahler, Symphony No. 7, RCO, Haitink, Philips studio digital ca.1983

Mahler, Symphony No. 8, CSO, Solti, Decca

Mahler, Symphony No. 3, Baker with the LSO, Tilson Thomas, CBS/Sony

Mahler, Lieder, Baker/Parsons, Hyperion

Bruckner, Symphony No. 4, VPO, Böhm, Decca

Bruckner, Symphony No. 5, BPO, von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon

Bruckner, Symphony No. 5, VPO, Haitink, Philips

Bruckner, Symphony No. 6, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Klemperer, EMI

Bruckner, Symphony No. 7, BPO, von Karajan, Deutsche Grammophon

Bruckner, Symphony No. 8 etc., RCO, Haitink, Philips studio digital

Bruckner, Symphony No. 9, RCO, Haitink, Philips studio digital

Bruckner, Mass in D Minor/Motets, soloists and the Monteverdi Choir with the VPO, Gardiner, Deutsche Grammophon

Bach, Partitas and Sonatas for solo violin, Grummiaux, Philips

Bach, Cello Suites, Fournier, DG Archive

Bach, Mass in B Minor, soloists with the Chorus and Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Marriner, Philips

Bach, Brandenburg Concerti, ECO, Leppard, Philips

Bach, Brandenburg Concerti, The English Concert, Pinnock, DG Archive

Vaughan Williams, Butterworth etc. Songs, Shirley-Quirk et. al., Heritage

Vaughan Williams Boult recordings, EMI SACD remastered ( Actually pending but I'll be taking them to the grave with me, so there.  :D )

Vaughan Williams, Hodie, soloists with the Bach Choir, LSO, Willcocks, EMI

Tchaikovsky, Overture 1812 etc., MSO, Dorati, Mercury Stereo ( My introduction to classical music in 1967. Thanks, Dad. )

Tchaikovsky, Symphonies 4-6, RCO, Haitink, Philips

Tchaikovsky, Manfred, RCO, Haitink, Philips

Rachmaninoff, Symphony No. 1, RCO, Ashkenazy, Decca

Rachmaninoff, All Night Vigil, USSR Russian Chorus, Sveshnikov, Melodiya

Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, RCO, Haitink, Decca

Shostakovich, Symphony No. 11, RCO, Haitink, Decca

Shostakovich, Symphony No. 13, Rintzler with RCO, Haitink, Decca

Ok, l think that's 50. If I'm wrong please pretend that I'm not, 'cause I'm done.  :D
Mit Flügeln, die ich mir errungen...

david johnson

Lt. Kije, Pines of Rome, Pictures at an Exhibition, Scherezade - Reiner/CSO
Russian Easter Overture - Ansermet/OSR, Barenboim/CSO
Mahler 1 -Leinsdorf/BSO
Mahler 2 - Klemperer/Philharmonia
Mahler 3 - Levine/CSO
Shostakovich 7 - Bernstein/CSO
Shostakovich 4 - Ormandy/Philly
Shostakovich 5 - Mitropoulos
Stravinsky - Rite of Spring (Bernstein/NYPO, Stravinsky/Columbia, Ozawa/CSO) Petrushka - Monteux/BSO, Stravinsky/Columbia Firebird - Stravinsky/Columbia
Verdi Requiem - Giulini/Philharmonia
Orff Carmina Burana - de Burgos/Philharmonia
Bruckner 6 - Bongartz/Leipzig Gewandhaus Orkest
Bruckner 4 - Barenboim/CSO
Bruckner 9 - Giulini/CSO HvK/Berlin (60s)
Bruckner 3 - Haenchen/Netherlands Radio
Hummel Trumpet Concerto - Ed Tarr
Beethove piano sonatas - Kempff (mono)
Wagner ring - Solti/VPO

I'll have to think on some more :)

Lisztianwagner

I have to think about it better, but I've already had some ideas. Only a question about the symphonies, do they have to be counted just as single recordings or it is possible to consider them as cycle?
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." - Gustav Mahler

vandermolen

#4
Oh gosh!

VW Symphony No.6 (LPO, Boult)
Miaskovsky Symphony No.6 (USSR SO, Kondrashin)
Bax Symphony 3 (LSO, Downes)
Bruckner Symphony No.9 (Berlin PO Furtwangler)
Walton Symphony No.1 (Sargent, Philharmonia)
VW A Pastoral Symphony (LSO, Previn)
DSCH Symphony No.4 (Ormandy, Philadelphia Orch)
Copland Symphony No.3 (LSO, Copland)
Rawsthorne: Symphony Studies (LPO, Pritchard)
Rubbra Symphony 4 (Rubbra conducting the BBC SO)
Hanson: Symphony No.3 (Koussevitsky, Boston SO)
VW A Sea Symphony (Haitink, LPO)
Shostakovich Symhony 13 (Haitink, Concertgebouw)
Sibelius Four Legends (Danish RSO, Jensen)

More later...
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Mirror Image

Quote from: Lisztianwagner on June 20, 2022, 02:30:14 AM
I have to think about it better, but I've already had some ideas. Only a question about the symphonies, do they have to be counted just as single recordings or it is possible to consider them as cycle?

Good question, but single recordings.

MusicTurner

Quote from: vandermolen on June 20, 2022, 05:54:32 AM
Oh gosh!

(...)
Sibelius Four Legends (Danish RSO, Jensen)

More later...

Interesting that you choose Jensen in the Sibelius Legends ? I don't know that one, but see the old LP occasionally. Supposedly it's mono?

vandermolen

#7
Quote from: MusicTurner on June 20, 2022, 06:10:03 AM
Interesting that you choose Jensen in the Sibelius Legends ? I don't know that one, but see the old LP occasionally. Supposedly it's mono?
As with many great works in my youth, Decca Eclipse (great LP cover) was my introduction to the Four Legends for Orchestra by Sibelius. I was delighted when a GMG Forum member let me know that the recording was available on CD (complete with a bizarre photograph of Eduard Van Beinum struggling with a hot potato in his mouth!) I think that Jensen's recording has a unique atmosphere.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

MusicTurner

Quote from: vandermolen on June 20, 2022, 06:35:48 AM
As with many great works in my youth, Decca Eclipse (great LP cover) was my introduction to the Four Legends for Orchestra by Sibelius. I was delighted when a GMG Forum member let me know that the recording was available on CD ( complete with a bizarre photograph of Eduard Van Beinum struggling with a hot potato in his mouth!)

Thanks, I suppose the CD transfer has better sound, but will probably look out for the LP, as a start.

Yes, not exactly the usual, classical conductor pose  :)

vandermolen

Quote from: MusicTurner on June 20, 2022, 06:44:32 AM
Thanks, I suppose the CD transfer has better sound, but will probably look out for the LP, as a start.

Yes, not exactly the usual, classical conductor pose  :)

All I know is that I loved that LP and no other recording has quite lived up to it.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Mirror Image

I'm going to do my own list in separate posts and my list will correspond with my "Top 50" favorite composers list:

Nos. 1-20








































Karl Henning

The If you could only keep 50 of your CDs, which would they be? Thread.  8)
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Mirror Image


Mirror Image

#13
Quote from: Mirror Image on June 20, 2022, 07:59:18 AM
I'm going to do my own list in separate posts and my list will correspond with my "Top 50" favorite composers list:

Nos. 1-20









































Now for Nos. 21-50 (in correspondence with my "Top 50" favorite composers list):


























































steve ridgway

Good idea for a thread, I'm going to see if I can find 50 recordings I like all the way through and listen to them more regularly to build up familiarity. I might have to start with 10 though and work my way up.

DavidW

I don't like gigantic lists, I guess I'm alone in that.  But instead of just skipping this thread entirely I thought I would share essential recordings for me when I recall them.  Here are three:


Madiel

Interesting to see your list, MI, what's the top of the top given just how much you purchase.

I'm not sure I'll go as high as 50. It might only be 20... really the goal is to be fairly picky so I'll focus on albums I really adore. Only not tonight as it's nearly midnight and I'm supposed to be winding down, not clicking on new threads.
I am now working on a discography of the works of Vagn Holmboe. Please visit and also contribute!

Mirror Image

Quote from: Madiel on June 27, 2022, 05:49:11 AM
Interesting to see your list, MI, what's the top of the top given just how much you purchase.

I'm not sure I'll go as high as 50. It might only be 20... really the goal is to be fairly picky so I'll focus on albums I really adore. Only not tonight as it's nearly midnight and I'm supposed to be winding down, not clicking on new threads.

I'm not sure about "top of the top" but I listed my "Top 20" first. These are all coming to desert island with me. Looking forward to seeing your own list, Madiel.

TheGSMoeller

Ok, very time consuming but mostly just with compiling the pics, which I thought pretty images would be more appropriate than listing.
Thinking of the first 25 was easy, many of these have been in my collection and have been favorites for years. I have 25 more to go and maybe I'll get to posting them tonight, which is possible as many of them I already know.