This could be an extremely difficult one for many, but I figured why not? ;D
I'll have to think of a list and post it later. Have fun!
Okay, here goes nothing (in no particular order):
- Shostakovich symphonic cycle with Rozhdestvensky conducting the USSR Ministry of Culture SO on Melodiya
- Debussy/Ravel chamber music set with the Nash Ensemble on Virgin Classics
- Vaughan Williams symphony cycle with Bryden Thomson conducting the London SO on Chandos
- Rachmaninov orchestral set with Ashkenazy conducting the Royal Concertgebouw on Decca
- Bartok Piano Concertos with Andras Schiff with Ivan Fischer conducting the Budapest Festival Orchestra on Teldec (Warner)
- Ravel Piano Concertos with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet with Tortlier conducting the BBC SO on Chandos
- Mahler Complete Symphonies and Orchestral Songs with Leonard Bernstein conducting various orchestras on Deutsche Grammophon
- All of the various Sibelius Editions on BIS I bought (I'm going to cheat and count them as one)
- Nielsen Symphonies 3 & 5 with Leonard Bernstein conducting the Royal Danish Orch. and the New York Philharmonic on Columbia (Sony)
- Britten Complete Edition on Decca
Honorable mentions: Boulez's
Complete Recordings on Columbia set, Rozhdestvensky's Prokofiev symphony and ballet sets on Melodiya, Stravinsky
Complete Edition on Deutsche Grammophon, and Schnittke's
Peer Gynt on BIS (w/ Eri Klas conducting the Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra)
I'll bite...
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 4 & 5 / Sudbin, Minnesota, Vanska / BIS
Brahms, Joachim: Violin Concertos / Rachel Barton Pine, Chicago, Kalmar / Cedille
Bréville, Canteloube: Violin Sonatas / Pascal Devoyon & Philippe Graffin / Hyperion
Chants juifs / Sonia Wieder-Atherton / Naive
Cras: L'oeuvre pour orchestre / Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg / Timpani
A French Baroque Diva - Arias for Marie Fel / Carolyn Sampson, Ex Cathedra & Jeffrey Skidmore / Hyperion
Les Travailleurs de la mer - Ancient Songs from a Small Island / The Harp Consort, Andrew Lawrence-King / Harmonia Mundi
Liszt: Intégrale des années de pélerinage / Bertrand Chamayou / Naive
Song of the Stars / Voices of Ascension, Keene / Naxos
Villa-Lobos: Complete Choros, Bachianas Brasileiras, etc / Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra / BIS
No reason why these all have to be recordings.
The complete Eulenburg miniature scores of Wagner's Ring I bought myself as a graduation gift when I got my Ph.D. in 1977.
The complete Harnoncourt/Leonhardt CDs of the Bach cantatas.
The score to Stockhausen's Gruppen which my friend Albrecht Moritz had the composer sign for me.
The score to Boulez's Le Marteau sans Maitre which the composer signed for me.
The live performance at Columbia U's Miller Theater of the five Carter Quartets by the Pacifica Quartet, in the composer's presence.
Callas, diStefano, and Gobbi doing Tosca under deSabata.
Bernstein's recording of the Harold Shapero symphony.
Petre Munteanu's recording of Schubert's Schwanengesang.
The Yale Quartet's recording of the Beethoven late quartets.
My Sohmer upright piano.
Kubelik conducting Gotterdammerung at the Met in 1974.
The "Sega Grand Pianist" which I just finally found at a decent price and is on its way from Japan, the most exquisite miniature musical instrument ever.
The best books by Charles Rosen: The Classical Style and The Romantic Generation.
Joseph Kerman's Opera as Drama.
Boulez doing Mahler 3 at Carnegie Hall, and a BBC aircheck of a similar performance.
The study score of Wozzeck I bought at age 18 for only $20.
That's 10, right? :D
Quote from: (poco) Sforzando on January 02, 2017, 01:44:27 PM
The score to Stockhausen's Gruppen which my friend Albrecht Moritz had the composer sign for me.
The score to Boulez's Le Marteau sans Maitre which the composer signed for me.
So jealous, so so so so jealous omg
I can't think of a top 10 at all, but I absolutely cherish the scores I own, my guitar and my best classical music experiences have so far been the concerts of new music performed by these guys (http://www.plexuscollective.com) for which I have been buying tickets for the past few years.
Quote from: jessop on January 02, 2017, 06:11:16 PM
So jealous, so so so so jealous omg
Maybe someday you'll rise to their level of fame and some kid will be jealous of a score you've autographed.
Actually, I also have Stockhausen's signature on my score to Refrain and my CDs of Licht:Samstag (all thanks to Al Moritz, who used to travel to the Stockhausen courses each summer), and a signed copy of Boulez's Notes from an Apprenticeship. From Elliott Carter, I have his signature on the Juilliard Quartet's CD of the quartets (this was at the Pacifica concert; he was more than unusually peppery that night and said, "I shouldn't be signing my name; I should be writing music"). From Carter, I also have an album-leaf with his signature and a handwritten passage from the 2nd Quartet.
Wow, a top ten poll that makes sense to me.
I've been trying to come up with one myself, but failing. Fortunately, I no longer have to try. Mirror has done it for me.
The first thing that happened to me was not a purchase, not my purchase, that is. I inherited a box full of classical and jazz 78s from my uncle Bill. I assume someone had purchased them, perhaps Bill himself.
But they came to me. And that was the first I had heard any classical music--identified as such. (I came to find, as many others also have, that the cartoons I had watched, and the movies, too, had been full of little snippets of classical music.) It was revelatory. For me, it was "oh, this is what music really sounds like." And I embarked on a ten or eleven year survey of several hundred years worth of classical music.
Early in that decade, I purchased Rachmaninoff's piano concerto #2 (with Tchaikovsky's #1 on the other side). I wore that poor lp out playing it.
Good times those were, full of dozens of new discoveries, each more momentous than the first, which was the most momentous of all. ( :))
And then, in 1972, I bought Reiner's recording of Bartok's Concerto for orchestra. Magic. That was the most outrageous thing I'd heard so far, and it was what started me off on the rest of my listening life, though I came to realize that I had heard quite a lot of 20th century music already: Kodaly, Janacek, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev. (His fifth symphony would count as one of my favorite classical purchases (Martinon) as would his Romeo & Juliet ballet (Maazel). (Janacek's Taras Bulba was long a favorite of mine on the radio. When I finally found a recording of it (Ancerl), I played it very sparingly, wanted to keep it as fresh as possible for as long as possible.)
In quick succession, there was more Bartok and more Stravinsky. (I suppose the performance in Stockholm of Les Noces would count. I did purchase the ticket for it, anyway. I was well and truly hooked by that time. And that was one of the more memorable concerts of my life.)
Soon, there'd be Varese (Mehta) and Carter (Prausnitz). Prausnitz was also at the helm for another of my favorites, Gerhard's symphony no. 3.
And Stockhausen and Eimert and Ferrari. My favorite Ferrari then was the recording of Societie II. And I soon found myself in a long-running contest with several friends (and one son) to see who would get the first new Ferrari disc.
Lovely, lovely times.
Probably my very favorite LP purchase of those times was the Sonic Arts Union recording on Mainstream (love that name for an avant garde classical label) called Electric Sound. I genuinely loved all this stuff, but this album was too much, even for me. But I knew, of a certainty, that this was the real stuff, and that when I was ready for it, I would understand and love. Which turned out to be true. The only piece I could listen to at first with any sort of pleasure was Mumma's Hornpipe. Behrman's Runthrough was next, then Lucier's Vespers, and finally, many years later, Ashley's Purposeful Lady, Slow Afternoon. Ashley gets his own item on my top ten list: In Sara, Mencken, Christ and Beethoven there were men and women. As alluring a piece as I know. It goes along with Bach's St. Matthew Passion and Xenakis' Persepolis as one of the pieces that once I've started playing them, I cannot stop.
So ten, eh? I suppose if I can put in another concert, that would be the 1976 performance by the L.A. Phil of Cage's Renga, with Apartment House 1776. It didn't hurt that I had arranged to meet Cage at rehearsal in the afternoon, spending the rest of the afternoon in the lobby of his Westwood hotel, talking about music and mushrooms and playing chess.
I bought the ticket for that concert, so it counts as a purchase, but truly, you can't buy experiences like that, not for any amount.
A poll that makes sense. For me it must be not the absolutely best recordings, but the recordings that set me on the path to discovering this vast and varied musical universe - all these on LP that has been worn thin BTW, though I also mostly have them on CD.
Studio der Fruhe Musik's recordings on Telefunken and EMI's Reflexe series of medieval music
David Munrow's wonderful recording of Dufay's Se la Face ay Pale (a waterstone recording for me)
Milos Sadlo on Supraphon in cello concertos by Honegger and Shostakovich
David Oistrakh's EMI recording of Shostakovich's first violin concerto
A volume of the Leonhardt/Harnoncourt Bach cantata series with cantata no 21.
Ansermet's Pelleas and Melisande
Karl Bøhm in Bruckner's 4th, and Haitink in his Philips recording of the 8th
The Hungarian Quartets Bartok cycle
The Busch Quartet's late Beethoven (like Sforzando, I also have a weak spot for the Yales)
Frank Martin's Der Cornet on Orfeo (with the stunning Marjana Lipovsek)
Ormandy's Shostakovich 14th
Pettersson 7th With Dorati
Vaughan Williams 6th with Boult on EMI
These were some of the discs I were weaned on. Come to think about it, some of these are still the best.
My goodness - what a task!
Ok here goes off the top of my head:
Vaughan Williams: Symphony 6 Decca Eclipse LP. LPO Boult. I was about 17 and this work in this performance tea formed my attitude to music. It had a huge effect on my youthful self. VW's speech at the end of the performance only added to the magical aspects of the whole thing.
Hilding Rosenberg: Symphony 3 Swedish EMI LP, Blomstedt Stockholm PO - the redemptive ending had a huge effect on me too - I played it over and over again.
Allan Pettersson: Violin Concerto 2 - Caprice LP Ida Haendel. The greatest VC of all time IMHO - I found the final section unbearably moving.
Honegger: symphonies 2 and 3 Berlin PO Karajan DGG LP. The third 'Liturgique' reminded me of Vaughan Williams's contemporaneous Symphony 6 with a more hopeful ending.
Miaskovsky: Symphony 6, Melodiya LP - after this I never looked back with Miaskovsky.
Bruckner: Symphony 9 Furtwangler Berlin PO (1944 performance) Heliodor LP. Wonderfully doom laden atmosphere throughout this great performance.
Shostakovich: Symphony 4 CBS LP, Ormandy - one of the great symphonies of all time.
Patrick Hadley: The Trees so High, Lyrita LP
Bax: Symphony 3, LSO Downes, RCA LP - never on CD ( >:D) listened to this one over and over again on headphones in the university library when I should have been studying.
Moving on to CD
John Kinsella, symphonies 3 and 4 Marco Polo CD.
Quote from: Mirror Image on January 02, 2017, 09:25:15 AM
Okay, here goes nothing (in no particular order):
- Shostakovich symphonic cycle with Rozhdestvensky conducting the USSR Ministry of Culture SO on Melodiya
- Debussy/Ravel chamber music set with the Nash Ensemble on Virgin Classics
- Vaughan Williams symphony cycle with Bryden Thomson conducting the London SO on Chandos
- Rachmaninov orchestral set with Ashkenazy conducting the Royal Concertgebouw on Decca
- Bartok Piano Concertos with Andras Schiff with Ivan Fischer conducting the Budapest Festival Orchestra on Teldec (Warner)
- Ravel Piano Concertos with Jean-Efflam Bavouzet with Tortlier conducting the BBC SO on Chandos
- Mahler Complete Symphonies and Orchestral Songs with Leonard Bernstein conducting various orchestras on Deutsche Grammophon
- All of the various Sibelius Editions on BIS I bought (I'm going to cheat and count them as one)
- Nielsen Symphonies 3 & 4 with Leonard Bernstein conducting the Royal Danish Orch. and the New York Philharmonic on Columbia (Sony)
- Britten Complete Edition on Decca
Honorable mentions: Boulez's Complete Recordings on Columbia set, Rozhdestvensky's Prokofiev symphony and ballet sets on Melodiya, Stravinsky Complete Edition on Deutsche Grammophon, and Schnittke's Peer Gynt on BIS (w/ Eri Klas conducting the Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra)
Great list which could largely come from me too although I'm less of a fan of Britten other than the Sinfonia da Requiem and War Requiem.
Quote from: The new erato on January 02, 2017, 11:38:10 PM
A poll that makes sense. For me it must be not the absolutely best recordings, but the recordings that set me on the path to discovering this vast and varied musical universe - all these on LP that has been worn thin BTW, though I also mostly have them on CD.
Studio der Fruhe Musik's recordings on Telefunken and EMI's Reflexe series of medieval music
David Munrow's wonderful recording of Dufay's Se la Face ay Pale (a waterstone recording for me)
Milos Sadlo on Supraphon in cello concertos by Honegger and Shostakovich
David Oistrakh's EMI recording of Shostakovich's first violin concerto
A volume of the Leonhardt/Harnoncourt Bach cantata series with cantata no 21.
Ansermet's Pelleas and Melisande
Karl Bøhm in Bruckner's 4th, and Haitink in his Philips recording of the 8th
The Hungarian Quartets Bartok cycle
The Busch Quartet's late Beethoven (like Sforzando, I also have a weak spot for the Yales)
Frank Martin's Der Cornet on Orfeo (with the stunning Marjana Lipovsek)
Ormandy's Shostakovich 14th
Pettersson 7th With Dorati
Vaughan Williams 6th with Boult on EMI
These were some of the discs I were weaned on. Come to think about it, some of these are still the best.
The last two could be on my list too although I prefer the earlier Boult version of the VW on Decca.
Quote from: vandermolen on January 02, 2017, 11:52:06 PM
The last two could be on my list too although I prefer the earlier Boult version of the VW on Decca.
I have the Decca cycle but are imprinted on the EMI.
Quote from: The new erato on January 02, 2017, 11:54:44 PM
I have the Decca cycle but are imprinted on the EMI.
The EMI cycle is great too and many prefer the more recent recordings. I think that there is marginally less mystery in the last movement than on the Decca but the Guide to the Top 1000 CDs of all time chooses the EMI version as the No.1 choice.
Quote from: some guy on January 02, 2017, 09:09:58 PM
Ashley gets his own item on my top ten list: In Sara, Mencken, Christ and Beethoven there were men and women. As alluring a piece as I know. It goes along with Bach's St. Matthew Passion and Xenakis' Persepolis as one of the pieces that once I've started playing them, I cannot stop.
Yes, I agree.
Only some of these are favourite music and/or recordings. A few are listed because they kind of opened a door for me that led to other works.
Brahms: Op. 119 - Serkin. (BBC Legends)
Brahms: Piano Concerto in D Minor - Pollini/Thielemann/Staatskapelle Dresden. (DG)
Shostakovich: Complete Quartets - Borodin Quartet. (Melodiya)
Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 5, Piano Concertos 1 & 2 etc. - Masur/Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. (Warner Classics)
Mahler: The Complete Mahler Symphonies - Bernstein/New York Phil. (Sony)
Bartók: 6 String Quartets - Hungarian String Quartet. (DG)
Debussy/Ravel/Faure: Piano Trios - Rouvier/Kantorow/Muller. (Denon)
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos - Krainev/Kitayenko/Moscow Philharmonic. (Melodiya)
Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps - Bernstein/New York Phil. (Columbia)
Vaughan Williams: The Complete Symphonies - Boult. (EMI)
I think I´ll pass, but thanks for some very interesting posts & reading here.
Quote from: NikF on January 03, 2017, 02:18:27 AM
Only some of these are favourite music and/or recordings. A few are listed because they kind of opened a door for me that led to other works.
....
Prokofiev: Piano Concertos - Krainev/Kitayenko/Moscow Philharmonic. (Melodiya)
....
Good to see that one! And it´s better than - and quite different from - Krainev/Kitayenko and the Frankfurt RSO.
Quote from: some guy on January 02, 2017, 09:09:58 PM
I bought the ticket for that concert, so it counts as a purchase, but truly, you can't buy experiences like that, not for any amount.
No you can't, but so long as prices for concerts and scores remain at their current astronomical highs, I consider them purchases!
- Bach: Famous Cantatas Vol. 1 (BWV 21 & 42/12, 38 & 75/27, 84, 85 & 161) (Collegium Vocale Gent/Herreweghe)
- Beethoven: Complete Works for String Quartet & String Quintet (The Endellion Quartet)
- Harmonia Mundi: Lumières - especially for Rameau's Castor & Pollux (Christie), Glück's Orfeo & Euridice (Jacobs), Mozart's Le nozze (Jacobs)
- Haydn: String Quartets, Opp. 64, 76, 77 (Mosaïques) - my first proper introduction to Haydn
- Ravel: Complete Edition (Decca/Universal) - Ravel was a favourite already before I got this, but I got to know many works, the operas and songs in particular, from here.
- Boulez's DGG boxes of Bartók and Stravinsky - instrumental in getting me more into 20th C. music. I'll count them as one here. :P
- The Decca Janáček box with chamber, instrumental and choral works.
- Cinquecento's Richafort Requiem - a major contributor to my interest in early music.
- UMG's Complete Chopin - led to a greater appreciation of a favourite composer to whom I hadn't paid the attention he deserved.
- Gidon Kremer & Martha Argerichs' Prokofiev Violin Sonatas - A glorious disc, and searching about it is what originally led me to GMG, where I would discover so much more music, and friends.
+ this one from last year, before which I had heard only a handful of the symphonies: Haydn: 107 Symphonies (Hogwood, Brüggen, Dantone, UMG)
ETA
I forgot about these, they belong on that list too:
Brahms: Complete Chamber Works (Hyperion) - I knew some Brahms before (a dozen or two pieces) but this set made my appreciation grow to a different degree.
Christian Gerhaher: The Art of Song (Schubert, Schumann, Mahler, etc etc) - This is some of the finest lied singing I've ever heard, and has got me interested in hearing more of the repertoire.
(Other signposts: Pärt Tabula Rasa (ECM), the DGG Berg box, Naxos's reissues of Craft's Schönberg, Colin Davis's Berlioz, Rattle's Britten with Bostridge, and the EMI Britten Collector's Edition, Suzuki's last one of the 15 CD Bach cantata boxes, Jansons' Shostakovich box, the EMI Complete Mahler box, and naïve's box with Alessandrini's Monteverdi Vespers and Vivaldi 'Vespers', and the UMG Complete Rakhmaninov)
Hmmm. I think my favorite purchases would be (hopefully nothing forgotten, in the order they popped into my head):
- Godowsky: Complete Studies on Chopin's Etudes, Marc-Andre Hamelin (Hyperion) (amazing)
- Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherezade, LSO/Mackerras (Telarc) (listened countless times and such good sound)
- Schubert: Complete Hyperion Schubert Lieder Edition (40 discs), Hyperion (granted, I bought them separately, but since it is available like this, I think it's fair)
- Bach: Paris Saxophone Quartet (CBS Masterworks) (only available on Vinyl, but I converted to cd and the one disc I wish they'd release on CD)
- Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8, 14, 21, and 30, Rudolf Firkusny (EMI) (perhaps the best Beethoven I've ever heard)
- Brahms: Complete Piano Trios, Florestan Trio + Soloists (Hyperion) (sublime)
- Victoria: Sacred Works (10 discs, Arkiv) (recent purchase, but I think about it all the time)
- Icon: The Mighty Boris (Christoff) (11 discs EMI/Warner) (again, bought the songs separately in 3 and 5 disc sets respectively)
- Mozart: Marriage of Figaro, Te Kanawa/Pop/Von Stade/Ramey/etc/Solti (3 discs, Decca) (the singing has never been bettered in this marvelous performance)
- Offenbach: Entre Nous (2 discs, Opera Rara) (listening to this just begs the question why more of his music hasn't been recorded)
Honorable mentions (on another day, they might be on the list, so no real difference with the above): Mozart Mass in C Minor/Leppard, Bruckner Symphony No. 9/Haitink (later one), Alnaes Piano Concerto (Hyperion romantic concerto series), Debussy/Kocsis, Elgar/Boult set (3 discs), British Light Music (4 discs, Hyperion), and Grainger Country Gardens (Eastman-Rochester/Fennel).
Quote from: mc ukrneal on January 03, 2017, 06:03:38 AM
Hmmm. I think my favorite purchases would be (hopefully nothing forgotten, in the order they popped into my head):
- Godowsky: Complete Studies on Chopin's Etudes, Marc-Andre Hamelin (Hyperion) (amazing)
- Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherezade, LSO/Mackerras (Telarc) (listened countless times and such good sound)
- Schubert: Complete Hyperion Schubert Lieder Edition (40 discs), Hyperion (granted, I bought them separately, but since it is available like this, I think it's fair)
- Bach: Paris Saxophone Quartet (CBS Masterworks) (only available on Vinyl, but I converted to cd and the one disc I wish they'd release on CD)
- Beethoven: Piano Sonatas 8, 14, 21, and 30, Rudolf Firkusny (EMI) (perhaps the best Beethoven I've ever heard)
- Brahms: Complete Piano Trios, Florestan Trio + Soloists (Hyperion) (sublime)
- Victoria: Sacred Works (10 discs, Arkiv) (recent purchase, but I think about it all the time)
- Icon: The Mighty Boris (Christoff) (11 discs EMI/Warner) (again, bought the songs separately in 3 and 5 disc sets respectively)
- Mozart: Marriage of Figaro, Te Kanawa/Pop/Von Stade/Ramey/etc/Solti (3 discs, Decca) (the singing has never been bettered in this marvelous performance)
- Offenbach: Entre Nous (2 discs, Opera Rara) (listening to this just begs the question why more of his music hasn't been recorded)
Honorable mentions (on another day, they might be on the list, so no real difference with the above): Mozart Mass in C Minor/Leppard, Bruckner Symphony No. 9/Haitink (later one), Alnaes Piano Concerto (Hyperion romantic concerto series), Debussy/Kocsis, Elgar/Boult set (3 discs), British Light Music (4 discs, Hyperion), and Grainger Country Gardens (Eastman-Rochester/Fennel).
Scheherazade was my first classical LP (Reiner).
Honourable mention:
Walton Symphony 1 New Philharmonia Orchestra Sargent. Sargent was underrated - his BBC SO version of Sibelius's Symphony 5 is my favourite version.
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Life-changing concerts:
- the Pavel Haas Quartet and Danjulo Ishizaka playing Schubert's String Quintet in C at Wigmore Hall (first time I had ever heard that work)
- the Warsaw Philharmonic and Antoni Wit playing Mahler's Third Symphony in Warsaw (first time I had ever heard that work, and in terms of playing/conducting the best concert I've ever seen)
Not life-changing, but certainly unforgettable, concerts:
- BBC Proms 2011 first weekend pass (admission to Belohlavek conducting Glagolitic Mass, Grosvenor playing Liszt Concerto No. 2, and of course Havergal Brian's Gothic Symphony, with fellow GMGers Luke, Dundonnell, JZ Herrenberg, and vandermolen)
- Argerich & Dutoit & the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Prokofiev Concerto 3 + Berlioz Fantastique
First CD I ever bought with my own money:
- Josef Suk and Antonín Dvorák's serenades for strings, Capella Istropolitana, Naxos
Other recordings:
- George Szell's collected Haydn symphonies (as posted by Sarge) and Robert Casadesus' collected Mozart piano concertos (ALSO as posted by Sarge!) helped me get through a time of acute depression at a horrible job with a long commute. On the drives to and from work I played discs from those boxes to reset my mind and keep a healthy enjoyment of at least something in life. I don't listen to the Mozart as much these days, but will always be grateful for the role it played. Szell's Haydn 92 remains one of my favorite recordings of anything, ever.
For the next two, please remember that I'm not talking about the Best Recordings I Own, but rather two recordings that really changed what I listen to, how I listen to it, and what my ears listen for in music. These are important for my personal history, in other words, and that's why they qualify for the list. Something else (Brilliant's 100 CD Russian Legends box) might have been a better deal, or another box (maybe Belohlavek Martinu symphonies) may have gotten more listens, but...
- Andrea Lucchesini's Beethoven sonatas on Stradivarius. Had no idea they would become so rare, or that my affection for his style would only grow and deepen with time. It was meant to be my first Beethoven sonata cycle, at a time when I'd only heard about 5 of the sonatas; though in 2011-12 my favorite near-cycle was Gilels, and at other times it's been other pianists, Lucchesini is returning to the top of my list, along with Rudolf Serkin. This was probably also the beginning of my passion for great pianism in general, and "cult" pianists in particular (see also: Michel Block, Zhu Xiao-Mei, Yevgeny Sudbin).
- Roussel symphonies (Scottish Natl Orch/Deneve/Naxos). I bought these knowing almost nothing about either composer, especially Roussel, whom I'd never heard a single note of before getting the box. And they brought me into a whole new world of listening; I spent years exploring the implications. Roussel actually led me in a backdoor approach from my old favorite Ravel back to Debussy.
And finally:
- GMG membership 8)
-
Bonus: things that don't count because they were free!
- student admission to a Rice orchestra concert featuring Janáček's Sinfonietta, the first time I had ever heard any Janáček, and the beginning of a lifelong obsession (this would fit under the "Life-changing" category above)
- ditto to a Rice concert of Renee Fleming singing the Four Last Songs (this would fit under the "unforgettable" category above)
- at age 13 or so my parents bought me a streaming subscription to naxos.com so I could listen to all the classical music I wanted to. They created a monster 8)
Most of my Top 10 Favorite Purchases are ones in which I heard music for the first time which I loved instantly, or nearly instantly. They're mostly Mahler, and none is in a box set. Those are so convenient, and economical, to recommend in 2017, but "economical" and "box set" were not words used in the same sentence very often in 1987, when I bought so many of my first classical CDs.
I had a set of friends I went shopping with on weekends back then, each of whom had listened mainly to classical his entire musical life. I was at the record store with two of them between Christmas and New Years 1987, the day I decided I wanted to get either Rattle's Mahler 2 or Tennstedt's Mahler 8, each of which had won a Gramophone award. One, a music critic, loved Bernstein. The other, a pianist and music professor, loved Karajan. Both insisted I listen to "easier" Mahler before M2 or M8, so what I went home with were Bernstein's CBS M1 (one I've never truly loved no matter who is conducting) and HvK's Mahler 4 (which remains a favorite, and is my favorite M4, to this day).
In January, I went to Tower and to buy the Tennstedt M8 and Rattle M2, but EMI wasn't on sale. CBS was, though, and I was able to get Bernstein's CBS M6 & M8 and M7, M9, & M10 (six CDs) for the same amount of money I might have spent on the four by Rattle and Tennstedt. All of these Bernstein recordings became my favorites. They are my top two CD purchases of all time.
I bought both the M2 by Rattle, and Tennstedt's M8. I listened to them a lot, and considered the Rattle M2 my favorite for some time. But it was superseded by the Bernstein version on DG, and I have never liked any M8 as much as Bernstein's. It snuck up on me, really. The sound quality was so harsh in the first movement in this first US set of Bernstein CBS CDs, but it slid in right after the end of M6 and dared me to change to the other version.
So that's three favorites, including the HvK M4. I like too many versions of M2 to have any of them serve as a favorite here.
An earlier large body of work I liked a lot were Mozart's Piano Concertos. I started with 23 & 27, Brendel, Philips Silverline 1986. Though I came to prefer Perahia, Gulda, and Anda in the PCs, Brendel's 23 and 27 were one of the first three classical CDs I bought. As someone else pointed out, they may be more significant for the purchases they led to than for their own content.
The very first classical CD I wanted was Brendel's Silverline CD of Schubert's last piano sonata and Wanderer Fantasie. I heard it in the record store and had to have it. That was the very beginning of my becoming a classical listener and collector.
Then came Bach. My favorite favorite is Herreweghe's first St. Matthew Passion. That brings me to six favorites.
Seven: one earlier recording should be on this list. That's an LP of Vivaldi concertos conducted by Bernstein. It didn't contain the Kramer vs. Kramer theme I bought it for (shame on you, Seattle record store clerk), but it's one of my most played records of all time.
My eighth favorite allowed me to like music I had previously listened to numerous versions of and dismissed, figuring it just was something I didn't like. That CD is Paul Lewis' first Beethoven CD. I could hardly take it out of the CD player during 2005.
A new favorite for my ninth: Shostakovich's String Quartets. Since I acquired them in the cheap box set era, I have very little idea of which one I'm listening to. I have them by the Emerson, the Fitzwilliam, the Jerusalem, and the Pacifica String Quartets, and I guess I like them all equally.
I am having a hard time picking out a tenth. Pinnock's Brandenburgs or Vivaldi? Hogwood's Mozart? Perhaps Schiff's first Goldberg Variations. Or Schubert's 956 String Quintet by Melos & Mstislav.
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on January 03, 2017, 07:08:56 AM
(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/june2010/RingBoehm.jpg)
(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/berlin/Vanguard1.jpg)
(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/oct2009/briangothiclenard.jpg) (http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/feb2016/nielsen3bernstein.jpg)
(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/jan2011/brucknerLPszell.jpg) (http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/gmgpictures/SzellMozart.jpg)
(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/ngmg/MozCas.jpg) (http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/ngmg/CasMozSz.jpg)
(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/aug11/haydn88104szell.jpg) (http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/goodmusic/VWBern.jpg)
(http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/decgmg/Mahler6Szell.jpg) (http://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/mahler/Mahler10Or.jpg)
Nice to see these old LP sleeves. The VW/Elgar is especially good - never saw it before. The Havergal Brian 'Gothic' on Marco Polo should really have been on my list too.
Quote from: vandermolen on January 03, 2017, 11:19:16 AM
Nice to see these old LP sleeves. The VW/Elgar is especially good - never saw it before.
The VW/Elgar Vanguard Everyman LP was my first classical purchase, and the first time I heard Elgar. Those works created a lifelong love of British music. It only cost two bucks but was, in effect, priceless.
Sarge
Quote from: sanantonio on January 03, 2017, 07:13:07 AM
Complete Webern by Boulez on DG
Almost made my list. An astonishing achievement.
Sarge
Quote from: Brian on January 03, 2017, 08:06:46 AM
Other recordings:
- George Szell's collected Haydn symphonies (as posted by Sarge) and Robert Casadesus' collected Mozart piano concertos (ALSO as posted by Sarge!)
Your taste in music is simply impeccable ;)
Sarge
Quote from: sanantonio on January 03, 2017, 12:18:33 PM
Yes. I had purchased the CBS box of LPs much earlier, and had to decide which to include in my list. And in the spirit of posting LP covers:
(https://img.discogs.com/VhJO7Uz-5CqEZoUwMrKfoWDQdWw=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(40)/discogs-images/R-4613652-1372814313-6892.jpeg.jpg)
But the DG is far more comprehensive and generally has better performances, so I went with it.
I have both too (like you, I have the earlier Sony in an LP box). But I prefer the DG for the reasons you give. James can suck it ;D
Sarge
Far and away my favorite classical purchase is the complete Berlioz cube from Philips. Cheap for its time ($125.00) and always in use (no matter text/libretti aren't included as I have alternates).
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/519m65QTjLL.jpg)
Bartok, string quartets, Vegh.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61Ew5cSQwmL.jpg)
Hindemith, Ludus tonalis, Mustonen.
(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1080/MI0001/141/MI0001141335.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
Dvorak, last two quartets, Panocha Quartet.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81nAzffos5L._SL1200_.jpg)
Beethoven, Op.131, Hagen Quartet.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51P9E9SD4hL.jpg)
Sibelius, violin concerto, Haendel/Berglund/Bournemouth.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4108O4wKrJL.jpg)
Martinu, string quartets, Panocha Quartet.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51af2jrCPSL._SX425_.jpg)
Rimsky-Korsakov, Kashchey the Immortal, Gergiev.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61ewOC6eozL.jpg)
Prokofiev, 8th piano sonata, Gavrilov.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51NLI9ZwPQL.jpg)
Liszt, Dante sonata, Nemoto.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71Wu2HJbo8L._SL1450_.jpg)
Handel, Agrippina, Gardiner.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/718rRGVVuxL._SL1400_.jpg)
Bach, Christmas Oratorio, Veldhoven.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51jhcSnPP5L.jpg)
Berg, Lyric Suite, Arditti Quartet.
(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1080/MI0001/032/MI0001032191.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
Schumann, Symphonic Etudes, Pletnev.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51it%2BEtD5dL.jpg)
Bruckner, 8th symphony, Boulez.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71J1YaeyEmL._SL1200_.jpg)
Wagner, Parsifal, Knappertsbusch.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/4154E4fsDRL.jpg)
Prokofiev, complete piano concertos, El Bacha/Ono.
(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_1080/MI0001/106/MI0001106486.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
Quote from: Dancing Divertimentian on January 03, 2017, 04:19:51 PM
Far and away my favorite classical purchase is the complete Berlioz cube from Philips. Cheap for its time ($125.00) and always in use (no matter text/libretti aren't included as I have alternates).
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/519m65QTjLL.jpg)
Cool.
(Love that
Mustonen disc, too.)
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on January 03, 2017, 05:24:15 PM
Cool.
(Love that Mustonen disc, too.)
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Glad to see Jolli Olli is still using his patented technique of attacking the keys from three feet in the air.
Hard to come up with a definitive top ten purchases ever, but this will do for now:
Beethoven - Complete Piano Sonatas; Annie Fischer (Hungaroton). Though I bought them individually, I treat them as one. This set the standard for LvB sonatas that I am still trying to match 92 cycles in.
Bartok - Violin Concertos; Isaac Stern & Eugene Ormandy/Leonard Bernstein (Sony). Part of the first batch of classical discs I bought, and one that made me want to explore classical music.
Berg - Wozzeck; Claudio Abbado, et al (DG). The second recording I heard (Dohnanyi was the first), and the first I bought, of this work, the piece that made me appreciate opera.
Ravel - Daphnis et Chloe; Pierre Boulez (DG). Great music and performance tied up with an extra-musical association.
Bruckner - Symphony 8; Sergiu Celibidache (EMI). A recording that for me showed how far music could be pushed, in this case to a lengthy extreme, and still be phenomenal. Or epiphenomenal, if you prefer.
Chopin - Four Scherzi; Ivo Pogorelich (DG). Basically perfect.
Michel Block Plays the Holy Music of Franz Liszt; OM Records. Definitely perfect.
Masters from the Golden Century (Morales, Guerrero, Victoria); Jordi Savall, et al (Alia Vox). Great music making, with the Morales disc one of the most captivating and beautiful things I've ever heard.
The Art of Ivry Gitlis (Vox). A magnificent twofer that demonstrates big names and big labels don't have a lock on great music making.
The Robert Casadesus Editon (Sony). I bought the last readily available one on the market back in 2002 after hemming and hawing. Around the same time, I lost out on the bargain basement complete GPOC cycle at BRO (for only $400!), so this can be viewed as a kick-ass consolation prize. From this magnificent purchase I gained my appreciation of surveys of all of an artist's recordings for a given label.
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on January 03, 2017, 12:02:06 PM
The VW/Elgar Vanguard Everyman LP was my first classical purchase, and the first time I heard Elgar. Those works created a lifelong love of British music. It only cost two bucks but was, in effect, priceless.
Sarge
Very interesting to hear. Where did you buy the LP from?
Well, going by what got played the most over the years
[asin]B000001GQO[/asin]
[asin]B00H9N3GWK[/asin]
[asin]B0000026HI[/asin]
[asin]B000003FWL[/asin]
[asin]B001B56KT8[/asin]
[asin]B002TMITCS[/asin]
[asin]B00006LI7R[/asin]
[asin]B00JH53POM[/asin]
and the one Sarge forgot:
[asin]B0000029YK[/asin]
Have to add one more, though my count remains at 10 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 10!) This was a little gouache I had custom-painted by an artist, Jane Mount, who specializes in painting people's favorite books (well, their spines really). For $300, framed, in 2011, I got a little 8x10 of about a dozen of my favorite musical scores, including Meistersinger, Falstaff, the Beethoven quartets, Marteau sans Maitre, the WTC, etc. And a volume of the Collected Works of Sforzando. Her prices have gone way up and I couldn't afford another, but here's a sample of her work: https://www.idealbookshelf.com/blogs/blog?page=53
Off the top of my head
Teldec Complete Bach set
Brilliant 100 CD Symphonies set ( includes Fischer's Haydn, Barshai's DSCH, and a PI Mozart cycle)
Hogwood Haydn box
Borodin Qt DSCH cycle
Zinman/Zurich Mahler 9
DG Complete Mahler box
DG Complete Boulez box
Handel's Ariodante (McGeghan)
Puccini Turandot (Mehta)
And squeezed into tenth place, the entirety of the Naive Vivaldi edition
Squeezed out for lack of room
DG Complete Debussy box
DG Complete Ravel box
Sony Ligeti Edition (chamber, keyboard, and vocal works)
Beghin's set of Haydn keyboard works
Schiff's Beethoven sonatas
Furtwangler's RAI Ring
Knappertsbusch's Parsifal from (?) 1954
Gardiner's Bach Cantata Pilgrimage
EMI Eminence box
Mercury Living Presence 1 box
And in a class of their own, the complete Callas Remastered, Artur Rubinstein, and Murray Perahia boxes.
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on January 04, 2017, 04:30:41 PM
Off the top of my head
Teldec Complete Bach set
Brilliant 100 CD Symphonies set ( includes Fischer's Haydn, Barshai's DSCH, and a PI Mozart cycle)
Hogwood Haydn box
Borodin Qt DSCH cycle
Zinman/Zurich Mahler 9
DG Complete Mahler box
DG Complete Boulez box
Handel's Ariodante (McGeghan)
Puccini Turandot (Mehta)
And squeezed into tenth place, the entirety of the Naive Vivaldi edition
Squeezed out for lack of room
DG Complete Debussy box
DG Complete Ravel box
Sony Ligeti Edition (chamber, keyboard, and vocal works)
Beghin's set of Haydn keyboard works
Schiff's Beethoven sonatas
Furtwangler's RAI Ring
Knappertsbusch's Parsifal from (?) 1954
Gardiner's Bach Cantata Pilgrimage
EMI Eminence box
Mercury Living Presence 1 box
And in a class of their own, the complete Callas Remastered, Artur Rubinstein, and Murray Perahia boxes.
I seem to slightly prefer the ones you squeezed outside of the room than the ones in it. I may decide to drive by and pick them up...
The ones that 'really got me' at the very beginning .. and more importantly remain as opposed to those that tended to atrophy or die away with time ..
Bartok - 6 SQs, Juilliard 60s (Sony)
Bartok - Pno Ctos, Friscay/Anda (DG)
Stravinsky conducts Agon (Columbia)
Webern - Complete Works, op. 1-31, Boulez (Sony)
JS Bach - Goldberg Variations, Gould '55 (Sony)
more to come ..
Quote from: Jeffrey Smith on January 04, 2017, 04:30:41 PM
Teldec Complete Bach set
Hogwood Haydn box
I can affirm the musical joy and wisdom in these 8) 0:)
More crème de la crème ..
Dowland, Complete Lute Works, Paul O'Dette (Harmonia Mundi)
Faure, Complete Solo Piano, Jean Doyen (Erato)
JS Bach, Brandenburg Ctos (Pinnock/Archiv); (Carlos/Columbia)
JS Bach, Complete Organ Works, Michel Chapuis (Valois)
JS Bach, Mass in B Minor, Harnoncourt (Telarc)
JS Bach, Partitas (Schiff/Decca); (Gould/Sony)
Debussy, Orchestral Works, Boulez (Sony)
Barborelli conducts Wagner (Vanguard)
..
I forgot to add my piano keyboard scarf, purchased at least 30 years ago from I can't remember where. But they are easily available over the Internet for anyone who wishes to buy one. I am on the whole an indifferent dresser, but this is the one article of clothing I own that invariably draws favorable comments (especially when I tell people I can use it to make music).
I know ahead of doing it that this won't stop at 10 :laugh:.
These are recordings (many OOP) that have never been matched (IMHO of course). Hell, I don't want them to ever be matched! That would be like watching a hallowed idol toppled off its pedestal... :(
So, in no particular order:
- Bach: St-Matthew Passion, Mogens Wöldike. Vanguard
- Bruckner: Helgoland, Wyn Morris. IMP Pickwick
- Bruckner symphony no 8. Böhm, WP, DGG
- J. Strauss: waltzes (transcr. by Berg, Webern, Schoenberg): Ensemble 13 Baden-Baden, Manfred Reichert. HM
- Haydn: Missa Cellensis. Gerhard Wilhelm, EMI Electrola
- Sibelius: symphony no 1. Stokowski, National Philharmonic, Sony
- Sibelius: symphonies 3 and 5. Rozhdestvensky, Moscow Radio, Melodiya
- Pettersson: 2nd violin concerto. Ida Haendel, Herbert Blomstedt. Caprice
- Dvorak: symphony no 9. Böhm, WP, DGG
- Dvorak: symphonic Poems. Zdenek Chalabala, Czech Philarmonic, Supraphon
- Schubert: Der Hirt auf dem Felsen. Elly Ameling, Jörg Demus. HM
- Tchaikovsky: symphony no 1. Tilson Thomas, Boston Symphony, DGG
- Félicien David: Le désert. Lauren Equilbey, Accentus. Naïve
- F. Couperin: Messe pour les paroisses. Michel Chapuis, HM.
- Brahms: piano concerto no 1. Gilels, Jochum, BP. DGG
- Brahms: violin concerto, Michèle Auclair, van Otterloo. Philips
- Brahms: symphony no 3, Bruno Walter, Columbia Symphony, Sony
- Alain Vanzo (tenor): arias recital. Vogue
- Mado Robin (soprano): stratospheric coloratura, Decca
- Maria Callas: Callas à Paris. EMI
That's 20 ;)
Quote from: James on January 06, 2017, 03:12:24 AM
More crème de la crème ..
Dowland, Complete Lute Works, Paul O'Dette (Harmonia Mundi)
Faure, Complete Solo Piano, Jean Doyen (Erato)
JS Bach, Brandenburg Ctos (Pinnock/Archiv); (Carlos/Columbia)
JS Bach, Complete Organ Works, Michel Chapuis (Valois)
JS Bach, Mass in B Minor, Harnoncourt (Telarc)
JS Bach, Partitas (Schiff/Decca); (Gould/Sony)
Debussy, Orchestral Works, Boulez (Sony)
Barborelli conducts Wagner (Vanguard)
..
Couldn't help notice a typo and ambiguity. Harnoncourt recorded the Mass in b-minor for Teldec (rather than Telarc) twice. Which version were you referring to? (I realize this was a year ago.)
In any case, I couldn't begin to answer this question...
Quote from: André on January 30, 2018, 01:46:52 PM
I know ahead of doing it that this won't stop at 10 :laugh:.
These are recordings (many OOP) that have never been matched (IMHO of course). Hell, I don't want them to ever be matched! That would be like watching a hallowed idol toppled off its pedestal... :(
So, in no particular order:
- Bach: St-Matthew Passion, Mogens Wöldike. Vanguard
- Bruckner: Helgoland, Wyn Morris. IMP Pickwick
- Bruckner symphony no 8. Böhm, WP, DGG
- J. Strauss: waltzes (transcr. by Berg, Webern, Schoenberg): Ensemble 13 Baden-Baden, Manfred Reichert. HM
- Haydn: Missa Cellensis. Gerhard Wilhelm, EMI Electrola
- Sibelius: symphony no 1. Stokowski, National Philharmonic, Sony
- Sibelius: symphonies 3 and 5. Rozhdestvensky, Moscow Radio, Melodiya
- Pettersson: 2nd violin concerto. Ida Haendel, Herbert Blomstedt. Caprice
- Dvorak: symphony no 9. Böhm, WP, DGG
- Dvorak: symphonic Poems. Zdenek Chalabala, Czech Philarmonic, Supraphon
- Schubert: Der Hirt auf dem Felsen. Elly Ameling, Jörg Demus. HM
- Tchaikovsky: symphony no 1. Tilson Thomas, Boston Symphony, DGG
- Félicien David: Le désert. Lauren Equilbey, Accentus. Naïve
- F. Couperin: Messe pour les paroisses. Michel Chapuis, HM.
- Brahms: piano concerto no 1. Gilels, Jochum, BP. DGG
- Brahms: violin concerto, Michèle Auclair, van Otterloo. Philips
- Brahms: symphony no 3, Bruno Walter, Columbia Symphony, Sony
- Alain Vanzo (tenor): arias recital. Vogue
- Mado Robin (soprano): stratospheric coloratura, Decca
- Maria Callas: Callas à Paris. EMI
That's 20 ;)
I should have chosen that recording of the revelatory Pettersson VC 2 on my list as well. Also I have a soft spot for MTT's 'Winter Daydreams' recording.
I'll have a go :
1) Mahler 1st symphony / Maazel / Wiener Phil - The Stürmisch Bewegt movement was the first movement unlocking the Mahler world to me.
2) Mahler complete symphonies / Bertini - The set that unlocked all the symphonies (bar the 8) and generated the subsequent onslaught of cycles
3) The yet unstarted 4-Volume De la Grange Mahler biography (after most of the others) - The recently purchased expensive cherry on top of the chocolate sauce on top of the whipped cream on top of my favorite cake in my favourite bakery feeding that obsession.
4) Bruckner / Celibidache cycle - Classical music and particularly works like those symphonies were a strong test of my initial attention span. Celi's versions were ultimately the most rewarding in this respect.
5) Satie / De Leeuw - Gymnopédies / Gnossiennes - Even slower was possible in this classical world without a loss of impact or emotion.
6) Scarlatti / Scott Ross - Fast and bonkers can be pretty exciting and thrilling too
7) a concert ticket for my first time seeing the Quatuor Mosaïques, opening my mind and ears to chamber music and particularly string quartet
8) Another concert, this time with Melnikov Trio, spending the concert mesmerized by the sound of Queyras' cello.
9) Loewe: Songs & Ballads (Boesch) - the power of the voice and lieder at an unexpected Snape concert where Goerne (due to play Winterreise) pulled out.
10) Arvo Pärt - Kanon Pokajanen (ECM) - desert island disc topper.
Berg Vln Cto (DG) - Mutter/Levine.
For some reason, it started coming out box sets, so I stuck to the theme. These are box sets that would get "distinguished service" medals in my collection.
Haydn: Symphonies - Fischer
[asin] B0000666AF[/asin]
Long my goto set for pre-Paris symphonies. Though I'd probably recommend the Davies set these days, I still have a soft spot for Fischer and his band.
Silvestri: The Collection
(https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/045/MI0001045052.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
This old Disky set is is now replaced by a superior and expanded Warner box, but it did introduce me to this conductor.
Kurt Sanderling: Legendary Recordings. Has his Shostakovich, Sibelius, and Mahler with the Berlin Symphony.
(https://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/148/MI0001148390.jpg?partner=allrovi.com)
This assemblage is long OOP, but I think you can still find all these recordings on various Brilliant and Berlin Classics issues. I love the sound of this orchestra and the East German recordings.
Beethoven: String Quartets - Juilliard Quartet
[asin] B00006OA6A[/asin]
OOP again, unfortunately. I love the sound of this ensemble and the old 60s recordings.
Bruckner: Symphonies - Jochum/Dresden SK
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71yTEJc4xRL._SX482_.jpg)
My first serious introduction to these symphonies. Superseded by various Warner boxes, including one of Jochum's EMI recordings.
Beethoven: Piano Concertos - Fleisher/Szell
[asin] B0000026GM[/asin]
Some of the oldest CDs in my collection, and still my favorite complete cycle, I think.
Martinu: Symphonies - Neumann
[asin]B000025R9R[/asin]
Perhaps no longer the default recommendation it once was, but I still keep coming back to these recordings.
Reicha: Complete Wind Quintets - Schweitzer Quintet
[asin] B000001RXQ[/asin]
Hours of bliss.
Zelenka: Orchestral Music; Trio Sonatas - Camerata Bern
[asin] B001MUJSWS[/asin]
Berwald: Symphonies - Goodman
[asin] B00000300O[/asin]
I'd probably go for the Ehrling/Bis set these days, but the Goodman set was an excellent introduction to the whole Berwald cycle.
Quote from: André on January 30, 2018, 01:46:52 PM
I know ahead of doing it that this won't stop at 10 :laugh:.
These are recordings (many OOP) that have never been matched (IMHO of course). Hell, I don't want them to ever be matched! That would be like watching a hallowed idol toppled off its pedestal... :(
So, in no particular order:
- Bach: St-Matthew Passion, Mogens Wöldike. Vanguard
- Bruckner: Helgoland, Wyn Morris. IMP Pickwick
- Bruckner symphony no 8. Böhm, WP, DGG
- J. Strauss: waltzes (transcr. by Berg, Webern, Schoenberg): Ensemble 13 Baden-Baden, Manfred Reichert. HM
- Haydn: Missa Cellensis. Gerhard Wilhelm, EMI Electrola
- Sibelius: symphony no 1. Stokowski, National Philharmonic, Sony
- Sibelius: symphonies 3 and 5. Rozhdestvensky, Moscow Radio, Melodiya
- Pettersson: 2nd violin concerto. Ida Haendel, Herbert Blomstedt. Caprice
- Dvorak: symphony no 9. Böhm, WP, DGG
- Dvorak: symphonic Poems. Zdenek Chalabala, Czech Philarmonic, Supraphon
- Schubert: Der Hirt auf dem Felsen. Elly Ameling, Jörg Demus. HM
- Tchaikovsky: symphony no 1. Tilson Thomas, Boston Symphony, DGG
- Félicien David: Le désert. Lauren Equilbey, Accentus. Naïve
- F. Couperin: Messe pour les paroisses. Michel Chapuis, HM.
- Brahms: piano concerto no 1. Gilels, Jochum, BP. DGG
- Brahms: violin concerto, Michèle Auclair, van Otterloo. Philips
- Brahms: symphony no 3, Bruno Walter, Columbia Symphony, Sony
- Alain Vanzo (tenor): arias recital. Vogue
- Mado Robin (soprano): stratospheric coloratura, Decca
- Maria Callas: Callas à Paris. EMI
That's 20 ;)
Just received the MTT 'Winter Daydreams' on CD - a wonderful performance.
The opening here sounds like the beginning of Nielsen's 5th Symphony!
Great, Jeffrey ! A beguiling, bubblicious work, with MTT and the bostonians playing with such obvious relish.
Quote from: André on February 13, 2018, 08:07:55 AM
Great, Jeffrey ! A beguiling, bubblicious work, with MTT and the bostonians playing with such obvious relish.
Yes, Andre it's wonderful and, guess what, whist sorting out my CDs I discovered another copy of it ( ::)). Maybe my daughter would like it as she's becoming more interested in classical music - a great disc in all respects with lovely cover art.
Quote from: vandermolen on February 13, 2018, 08:42:36 AM
Yes, Andre it's wonderful and, guess what, whist sorting out my CDs I discovered another copy of it ( ::)). Maybe my daughter would like it as she's becoming more interested in classical music - a great disc in all respects with lovely cover art.
Happened to me a few times. I don't trust my memory anymore, so I get up and double check before hitting the red button ;).
- Gilels/Ludwig Beethoven PC 4 & 5
- Kleiber/VPO Beethoven No 5 & 7
- Lucchesini Beethoven Piano Sonatas
- Gilels Beethoven Piano Sonatas
- Perahia/Haitink Beethoven PCs
- Perahia/ECO Mozart PCs
- Perahia/ASMF Bach Keyboard Concertos
- Moravec Chopin Nocturnes
- Zimerman/Ozawa Rachmaninoff PC 2
- Du Pre/Barbirolli Elgar CC
I'll think of and compile a HIP exclusive list, too
Quote from: André on February 13, 2018, 09:10:34 AM
Happened to me a few times. I don't trust my memory anymore, so I get up and double check before hitting the red button ;).
Your collection is obviously better organised than mine! Luckily Amazon have a feature which states 'you bought this CD in 2016' etc. which has saved me on numerous occasions. ::)
The last few years I have been collecting Composer Editions/Masterworks type boxes - Some of these items have given me a lot of pleasure and could be considered top purchases:
(https://s19.postimg.org/gbisr5lkj/debussycollectedworksbest2hrs.jpg)
Debussy Edition - DG
(https://s19.postimg.org/nt5a4sgpf/haydnstringquartetskodalybest2hrs.jpg)
Haydn Complete String Quartets - Naxos
(https://s19.postimg.org/v15fe4eyr/mahlercollectedworksllbest2hrs.jpg)
Mahler The Complete Works - Warner
(https://s19.postimg.org/osqzmue83/messiaencollectedworkswarner2best2hrs.jpg)
Olivier Messiaen Edition - Warner
(https://s19.postimg.org/ewh82puur/ravelcollectedworksbest2hrs.jpg)
Ravel The Complete Edition - Decca
(https://s19.postimg.org/viu6y5lkz/shostakovicheditionllbest2hrs.jpg)
Shostakovich Edition - Brilliant Classics
(https://s19.postimg.org/fklh8348j/shostakovichsymphoniesmelodiyabest2hrs.jpg)
Shostakovich All Symphonies - Melodiya
(https://s19.postimg.org/3zkhrqn77/sibeliuseditionllbest2hrs.jpg)
Sibelius Edition - DG
(https://s19.postimg.org/qpf16zoqr/tchaikovskycollectedworksdgbest2hrs.jpg)
Tchaikovsky Masterworks - DG
(https://s19.postimg.org/dhfne91k3/wagnerderringsoltibest2hrs.jpg)
Wagner Der Ring Des Nibelungen - Decca
to expand my list from the other thread:
Brahms - String Sextets Nos. 1 and 2 - L'Archibudelli [Sony Vivarte]
Tchaikovsky - Suite No. 3, Serenade for Strings - Kirill Kondrashin & the Moscow Philharmonic [Melodiya]
Bartók - String Quartets Nos. 1-6 - Juilliard Quartet [Columbia] [1963]
Schumann - Kreisleriana & Kinderszenen - Martha Argerich [DG]
Schubert - String Quintet D. 956 - Taneyev Quartet & Mstislav Rostropovich [Westminster]
Beethoven - String Quartet Op. 130/133 - Hagen Quartett [DG]
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-32 - Paul Badura-Skoda [Naïve Astrée]
Janáček - String Quartets Nos. 1-2 - Panocha Quartet [Supraphon]
Schubert - Piano Sonatas D. 958-960 - Andreas Staier [Teldec]
Schubert - Symphonies Nos. 1-8 - Frans Brüggen & the Orchestra of the 18th Century [Philips]
Shostakovich - String Quartets Nos. 1-15, Piano Quintet & Trio - St. Petersburg String Quartet [Hyperion]
I think that's 10.
This is assuming "favourite purchases" refers specifically to recordings. If it's all classical music-related purchases in general, I don't think any recordings would make it into the top ten.
Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde - Klemperer/Philharmonia & Ludwig and Wunderlich
Beethoven: Symphony No 3 'Eroica' - Bernstein/NYPO
Strauss: Salome - Karajan/VPO, Behrens etc
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 5; Serenade to Music - Boult/LPO & soloists
Berlioz: Les Troyens - Davis/ROH Orchestra, Veasey, Vickers etc
Dvorak: Symphony No 8 - Kubelik/Berlin PO
Mahler: Symphony No 5 - Barbirolli/New Philharmonia
Mozart: Figaro;Don Giovanni;Zauberflote - Bohm & various orchestra & soloist - a hefty 11 LP box, my mainstay in Mozart opera for years
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique - Davis/LSO (Philips) - despite the numerous rivals in my collection still my favourite
Nielsen: Symphony No 5 - Horenstein/New Philharmonia Orchestra
Mahler: Complete Symphonies (mainly CBSO/Rattle)
Autumn 2007: Went looking for just Symphonies 2 & 3, so to come back home with all 10 of them in a box was mindblowing!
Brian: Symphony No. 1 (loads of choirs and orchestras/Lenard)
5CD box including Delius' A Mass of Life, Howells' Hymnus Paradisi and Hadley's The Hills, along with a bunch of other stuff by those composers.
Suk: Orchestral Works (4CDs, Czech PO/Neumann, Pesek)
Messiaen Edition (18CDs, my biggest boxset to date)
Lloyd: A Symphonic Mass (Bournemouth SO/Lloyd)
Bantock: Celtic Symphony; Hebridean Symphony (Royal PO/Handley)
Elgar: The Apostles (London PO/Boult)
British Symphonic Collection (10CDs, cond. Bostock)
Daugherty: Philadelphia Stories/UFO (Colorado SO/Alsop)
That Delius/Howells/Hadley box set is superb. Magnificent but unfairly neglected choral masterpieces.
Quote from: Biffo on February 24, 2018, 02:47:19 AM
Beethoven: Symphony No 3 'Eroica' - Bernstein/NYPO
(https://photos.imageevent.com/sgtrock/asheville/bUTTHEAD.gif)
Sarge and the boys
Quote from: amw on February 24, 2018, 02:13:39 AM
Brahms - String Sextets Nos. 1 and 2 - L'Archibudelli [Sony Vivarte]
Tchaikovsky - Suite No. 3, Serenade for Strings - Kirill Kondrashin & the Moscow Philharmonic [Melodiya]
Bartók - String Quartets Nos. 1-6 - Juilliard Quartet [Columbia] [1963]
Schumann - Kreisleriana & Kinderszenen - Martha Argerich [DG]
Schubert - String Quintet D. 956 - Taneyev Quartet & Mstislav Rostropovich [Westminster]
Beethoven - String Quartet Op. 130/133 - Hagen Quartett [DG]
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Nos. 1-32 - Paul Badura-Skoda [Naïve Astrée]
Janáček - String Quartets Nos. 1-2 - Panocha Quartet [Supraphon]
Schubert - Piano Sonatas D. 958-960 - Andreas Staier [Teldec]
Schubert - Symphonies Nos. 1-8 - Frans Brüggen & the Orchestra of the 18th Century [Philips]
Shostakovich - String Quartets Nos. 1-15, Piano Quintet & Trio - St. Petersburg String Quartet [Hyperion]
I think that's 10.
Smooth, very smooth!
I'll list the 10 purchases that have had the strongest effect on my tastes and my appreciation of music:
(https://img.discogs.com/_PRjfN-gajJFTmYCKyGzZICHwTw=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-4982681-1381310199-3158.jpeg.jpg)
My first Wagner, which ignited a passion that hasn't waned for some 40 years now.
(https://www.popsike.com/pix/20120128/110816887390.jpg)
My first Parsifal, a work that I love intensely and that I'm in awe of to this day, and my first contact with the work of Pierre Boulez.
(http://www.bertdekkers.nl/klassiek/boulez_list_bestanden/boulez_pli.jpg)
Not my first purchase of Boulez's music, but the work bowled me over with its intense beauty and definitely converted me into a lifelong admirer of the composer.
(https://img.discogs.com/N3NHKmnmc5JN3iW5tylpZAvtey4=/fit-in/450x450/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-2269948-1422721634-9979.jpeg.jpg)
The work and recording that unveiled the wonders of the 2nd Viennese schoool to me.
(https://img.discogs.com/btwD17oWNr5Yq6F1LPSrAd_0p8I=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-5300284-1403868633-3165.jpeg.jpg) (https://img.discogs.com/xSKKYrRkO221y-3LQEO1cLAgf-Y=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-4846573-1515242663-4471.jpeg.jpg)
Wagner led to Boulez the conductor, and then Boulez led to Debussy, to Stravinsky, and so much more...
(https://www.audiophileusa.com/covers400water/88514.jpg)
The recording that opened the treasure trove of Italian opera. (and introduced me to the marvels of Maria Callas's art).
(https://www.popsike.com/pix/20160312/301896325106.jpg)
The perfect Mozart opera recording, and the one that cemented my lifelong admiration for Karl Böhm.
(https://img.discogs.com/KzRPvSQO9sCUEgpUAUxqBoD4ay8=/fit-in/600x597/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-10223710-1493663256-8994.jpeg.jpg)
A 3 LP set that gave me a relatively comprehensive overview of Falla's work. To this day, I love almost every one of his compositions.
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91MrpLAdHHL._SX522_.jpg)
The first recording that made me really love Mahler (even if my admiration for the composer has faded as of late). Still my favourite recording of any Mahler Symphony, and a fantastic performance by Abbado, a conductor who remains in my pantheon of all-time greats.
That makes 10. There's probably many more, but these are the 10 that first came to mind.
Lovely post, Rafel! Some phenomenal recordings therein your list.
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 11, 2018, 08:08:31 AM
Lovely post, Rafel! Some phenomenal recordings therein your list.
Thanks,
John. Have a great Sunday... :)
Quote from: ritter on March 11, 2018, 08:53:28 AM
Thanks, John. Have a great Sunday... :)
Thank you! You, too, Rafael. 8)
Hmm. I keep looking at this topic and thinking, can I develop a top 10? Not sure. I might do half and then come back if I figure out a second half. Of course I don't make nearly as many purchases as some people here, though it's still a decent enough collection...
1. Faure, Piano Quintets
[asin]B000002ZVF[/asin]
This is a dead easy one. Though I don't think this was the first Faure I ever bought, it was the first chamber music, and was a key element in consolidating both love of Faure and love of chamber music (EDIT: And complete devotion to Susan Tomes). Always the disc I nominate as the favourite single CD I have. Though it might finally have some competition...
2. Schoenberg/Schubert
[asin]B009P8LDSG[/asin]
I really haven't had this that long or listened to it enough times to know whether it might displace the Faure in my affections. But oh my goodness it's wonderful.
3. Rachmaninov, Piano Concertos and piano works
[asin]B0000041ML[/asin]
I like the whole box. I don't know if I love the whole box. What I do know, though, is that CD6 is so utterly brilliant that the box needs to be here. There's some pretty good stuff on other discs as well, but leave me with the op.39 Etudes-Tableaux and the 2-piano version of the Symphonic Dances and I'll be happy enough.
4. Holmboe, Symphonies
[asin]B000027DT8[/asin]
Kind of obligatory for this to be here given that it successfully launched my oddest musical obsession. I didn't get it all immediately, but I wanted to. And that's what set up the journey.
5.Haydn, op.76 string quartets
[asin]B0000013OP[/asin][asin]B0000013OQ[/asin]
These have to be here because they were among the first classical things I ever bought, on cassette. Those cassettes got played a lot during study. And once my cassette player started dying, these were the top of the list of things that needed to be repurchased on CD. The Penguin Guide recommended these versions. Perhaps now I'd find some other version that was more... edgy? But I've been enjoying these for a long time.
I did think of some more, with some more unusual reasons for a couple of them.
6. J.S. Bach, Cantatas (box set 5 from Suzuki's series)
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/419kT8ov8VL._SX466_.jpg)
This is a bizarre choice because I've still not, after 3 years and 4 months, listened to this at all except a check that all the discs were working. I should start listening to it within the next month or two, as I'm on the last disc of box set 4.
The reason it's a favourite purchase is the circumstance of purchasing. I didn't even know this box existed until I saw it in the shop in Melbourne, and it was a perfect moment during a 2-week holiday that was full of perfect moments. So every time I look at this box, I have memories of all these fabulous amazing things that happened in November 2014.
I expect, given the quality of the rest of the Suzuki series, that I'll be pretty happy with the music as well.
7. Holmboe, Holmboe på Holmen
[asin]B000OCZ87E[/asin]
Also on here because of the circumstances of purchasing, which I wrote about last year. Buying a CD directly from the performer is inevitably a special moment, especially when it's unexpected. This just pips out receiving Holmboe's Faroese choral works from the person one of them was written for, because that was free and done in writing rather than face to face.
8. Sibelius, Symphonies
[asin]B0000042GV[/asin][asin]B0000042GW[/asin]
These make the list because essentially they're the basis of my deep interest in Sibelius and my belief in him as perhaps the greatest orchestrator of all. Obviously I'd read something that made me interested in the first place, but in terms of actually hearing the music, this was basically it for a long time. There are some searingly good moments, especially when it comes to brass.
9. Debussy, piano works
[asin]B00925T9LK[/asin]
I thought about listing my set of Ravel's piano works, by Pascal Roge. But then I decided to list this instead. As far as I can remember, I already had a belief in Ravel as a great piano composer when I purchased my Ravel recordings. What Bavouzet did, though, is convince me of the quality of Debussy as a piano composer when I previously had my doubts. And that's an impressive achievement.
10. Shostakovich, String Quartets
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41W55y36X7L.jpg)
And finally, I've decided this makes the list because it played such a big role in expanding my musical horizons. Essentially this was my entry into "modern" 20th century music. Of course, I now know that in fact my tastes still tend towards the more traditionalist composers, but at the time I bought this, falling in love with the 12th quartet was a significant chronological leap in my tastes. I still find this box satisfying.
I suppose an update is much needed here for my 'Top 10 Favorite Classical Purchases' -
Nos. 1-3: Paul Jacobs' Debussy
(http://www.nonesuch.com/sites/g/files/g2000005811/f/styles/album_detail__545___545_/public/201611/PAUL%20JACOBS%C2%A0%2B%C2%A0GILBERT%20KALISH%20Debussy-Etudes%20for%20Piano_En%20Blanc%20et%20Noir.jpg?itok=uBiH1_Bu) (http://www.nonesuch.com/sites/g/files/g2000005811/f/styles/album_detail__545___545_/public/201611/PAUL%20JACOBS%C2%A0Debussy-Piano%20Preludes%2C%20Books%20I%20%26%20II.jpg?itok=AfUDDsCa) (http://www.nonesuch.com/sites/g/files/g2000005811/f/styles/album_detail__545___545_/public/201611/PAUL%20JACOBS%C2%A0Debussy-Images_Estampes.jpg?itok=bDHB_R-1)
These recordings have changed my view on Debussy's piano music, but they have also given me some of the most profound, spellbinding, and, ultimately, rewarding listening experiences of my life thus far. The way I feel about these recordings is in the form of a question: "Where has Jacobs' Debussy been all of my life?"
No. 4: Tharaud's Ravel
(https://static.qobuz.com/images/covers/28/92/0794881719228_600.jpg)
Before I discovered Tharaud's Ravel set, like Debussy, I hadn't paid much attention to the piano music. One of the first sets I bought was Bavouzet's set on the MD&G label. Thankfully, I decided to give this piano music another listen, because I still don't enjoy Bavouzet's set. After Bavouzet, I bought Osborne's set on Hyperion and thought it was pretty good, but not outstanding. Then several years went by before I decided to opt for Alexandre Tharaud's set on Harmonia Mundi. I'm not sure whether it was the passage of time or more musical experience on my end, but Tharaud really opened my ears to this music. The work that first blew me away in this set was Miroirs. After the second movement, Oiseaux Tristes ended, I paused the recording and just sat and stared off into space for minute before I snapped back into reality and proceeded to Une barque sur l'océan.
No. 5: Shostakovich Preludes & Fugues from Melnikov
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61BQRy1cFHL._SL1000_.jpg)
Until this particular point in time, I had not been too familiar with Shostakovich's piano music. In fact, I purposely avoided his Preludes & Fugues because of my then negative view that it'll just be endless pieces that sound like doodling with zero musical substance. Of course, I couldn't have been more wrong. :) This is currently the only recording I own of the work, but I adore this music so much now that it's become a part of my regular listening. I need to explore other performances at some point, but I really am content with the exemplary playing of Melnikov.
No. 6: Boulez's first recording of Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle
(https://www.music-bazaar.com/album-images/vol1018/959/959895/2821868-big/Bela-Bartok-Bluebeard-s-Castle-Pierre-Boulez-cover.jpg)
There's not much to say here other than this recording blew me away the first time I heard and it remains my favorite recording of this opera. I preferred Boulez's performance to the rightfully acclaimed Kertész recording (w/ Berry/Ludwig) on Decca. For some reason, Boulez's recording just felt much more electric to me --- edgy, raw, but still, somehow, atmospheric.
No. 7: Debussy Complete Works set on Deutsche Grammophon
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71GdwugciFL._SL1188_.jpg)
I think I've mentioned this set enough already. It's an essential acquisition much more so than the Warner Classics set, which doesn't really get to the heart of Debussy the way the DG set has done for me.
No. 8: Berg Violin Concerto with Mutter/Levine/CSO
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/713tn%2BhpJ3L._SL1400_.jpg)
One of those lightbulb moments for me. I was under the impression that the Second Viennese School were these scary, monster-like creatures that swam in lagoons and preyed on innocent bystanders until I heard Berg's Violin Concerto. Let me see if I can sum this up much more quickly: when I received this recording, I played this concerto eleven times in a row and still wanted to hear it again. To say it made a deep impression on me, would be an understatement. This was my gateway into Schoenberg and Webern.
No. 9: Firkušný's Janáček on Deutsche Grammophon
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61%2BKtyEaozL.jpg)
After hearing Schiff's performances of these works, I was left wondering what other kind of performances I could find and here enters Firkušný. To my mind, these piano works were much more effective played by Firkušný. I believe the intensity was better captured and the sudden changes in emotional temperature seemed better judged to these ears. This set is now a firm favorite and a set I'm continuously enthralled by.
No. 10: Stravinsky Complete Edition on Deutsche Grammophon
(https://img.discogs.com/KfEQ-G4ruKQdMjfIPgb3aJ25Vt8=/fit-in/600x600/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-8233529-1457638946-6646.jpeg.jpg)
My enthusiasm for Stravinsky's music and this box set have already been plastered throughout the forum. No need for further elaboration. :)