Most Important Recordings in Classical Music

[FideLeo]

Pro Arte/Vox or Sony?

No...they are now on a private label called "musical concepts" but, yes, the original recordings were on ProArte CD and LP's before they went out of print.

[The new erato]

mdt.co.uk have got it listed as a Vox issue.

[FideLeo]

mdt.co.uk have got it listed as a Vox issue.

Well so be it...my copy (ordred from US vendors) has no mention to "Vox" whatsoever.  0:)

[Haffner]

Karajan's 1970 Meistersinger

May I please have a link to that recording? Amazon doesn't show the dates.

[lachlanbutch]

May I please have a link to that recording? Amazon doesn't show the dates.

This EMI recording is the 1970 one:

http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Meistersinger-Nurnberg-Schreier-Riderbusch/dp/B00000K4GK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1207396008&sr=8-2

If you can read German, it has more details on the German Amazon:

http://www.amazon.de/Meistersinger-Nürnberg-Gesamtaufnahme-Herbert-Karajan/dp/B000026CJG

at least i think it's the 1970 one... 

EDIT:

Yes, it is definitely the 1970 recording, as is detailed here also:

http://www.wagnerdiscography.com/reviews/mei/mei70karajan.htm

[marvinbrown]

I like Furtwangler best.  Before I got the Furtwangler, I liked Bohm the best.  Furtwangler was the best or at least one of the best Wagnerian conductors.  Listen to the love duet in the second act.  He is pushing those singers and, as a result, the orchestra is unbelievable and the singing is without a doubt a true love fest.  Once you've heard it, other conductors don't shine quite as brightly.

I think he brings out Wagner's true intent regarding lovemaking.  The opera becomes exciting for the listener and it sets up Act 3 as such a "downer".  Isolde's final music in Act 3 is so gorgeous and benefits from the love duet excitement, then depression for Tristan's death. 

  A wonderful write up Anne.  I really enjoyed reading your review of the Furtwangler recording.  I have both the Furtwangler and the Bohm and I find the Furtwangler recording quite exquisite- I love Flagstad as Isolde and under the baton of Furtwangler that recording is a must have indeed!

  marvin

[Haffner]

This EMI recording is the 1970 one:

http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-Meistersinger-Nurnberg-Schreier-Riderbusch/dp/B00000K4GK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1207396008&sr=8-2

If you can read German, it has more details on the German Amazon:

http://www.amazon.de/Meistersinger-Nürnberg-Gesamtaufnahme-Herbert-Karajan/dp/B000026CJG

at least i think it's the 1970 one... 

EDIT:

Yes, it is definitely the 1970 recording, as is detailed here also:

http://www.wagnerdiscography.com/reviews/mei/mei70karajan.htm

Thank you so much! Really helpful info.

[Keemun]

Karajan's Beethoven-Complete Symphonies (1960s)

Probably my favorite cycle that I have heard.  Besides many enjoying them (some do not, but it seems many do) what makes them so important as they have been mentioned already?

To answer your question I did some research on this and, to quote a review on The Flying Inkpot, "It was the first recording of the Nine to be conceived, planned and sold as an integral set. The initial purchasers had to pay a subscription for the LPs which were sent to them symphony by symphony. Thirty-six years later, this cycle has become somewhat of a benchmark for these cornerstones of the symphonic repartoire."

[Bogey]

To answer your question I did some research on this and, to quote a review on The Flying Inkpot, "It was the first recording of the Nine to be conceived, planned and sold as an integral set. The initial purchasers had to pay a subscription for the LPs which were sent to them symphony by symphony. Thirty-six years later, this cycle has become somewhat of a benchmark for these cornerstones of the symphonic repartoire."

Thank you for digging that out Keemun.  This was what I was hoping for from this thread.  This way when I pull a certain cd off the shelf for a friend I can let them know, along with my musical views, if there is any "story" behind it as well.

[Keemun]

Thank you for digging that out Keemun.  This was what I was hoping for from this thread.  This way when I pull a certain cd off the shelf for a friend I can let them know, along with my musical views, if there is any "story" behind it as well.

You're welcome.  It's pretty cool to know the story behind the music. 

[Daverz]

No...they are now on a private label called "musical concepts" but, yes, the original recordings were on ProArte CD and LP's before they went out of print.

I have the Hammerklavier on Lp.  The acoustic is rather swimmy.  He also recorded this on a Steinway, and I think I prefer that recording.

[FideLeo]

He also recorded this on a Steinway, and I think I prefer that recording.

I have heard the opposite elsewhere (someone whose ear I trust).  Anyway, I prefer fortepianos.

[Daverz]

The problem I have coming up with truly "important" recordings is that that word brings to mind so many recordings that I respect more than I love.  And so many of the recordings that I love are really not all that "important".   

The set below strikes me as truly important in the sense that it is the only complete cycle of the Miaskovsky symphones and contains the only recordings of many of them.





There's another Reicha quintet cycle that is either complete are nearly complete, but I think the Schweitzer Quintet is still the gold standard for these works.

[Daverz]

I have heard the opposite elsewhere (someone whose ear I trust).  Anyway, I prefer fortepianos.

No problem.  I'm definitely not the go to guy for Beethoven piano recommendations.  Mainly I can't stand unfocused piano sound.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I have heard the opposite elsewhere (someone whose ear I trust).  Anyway, I prefer fortepianos.

No fortepiano is any better than the fortepianist who plays it.

On the whole, after reading some of these entries, I seriously wonder how many of these recordings are so much "important" as they are "recordings I particularly like." Seriously, guys, is Peter Serkin's Beethoven more "important" than Artur Schnabel's?

[FideLeo]

No fortepiano is any better than the fortepianist who plays it.

All fortepianos are better than modern day Steinways in the appropriate repertories. IMO, of course.

[(poco) Sforzando]

All fortepianos are better than modern day Steinways in the appropriate repertories. IMO, of course.

The only answer I can give to that is to reiterate the post you replied to. Hardware is secondary.

[FideLeo]

The only answer I can give to that is to reiterate the post you replied to. Hardware is secondary.

The instrument is more than hardware for me. 

[(poco) Sforzando]

The instrument is more than hardware for me. 

Yes, yes, I know. But you seem all too ready to jettison a magnificent tradition of pre-HIP recorded performance to justify this insistence on the "instrument."

[FideLeo]

Yes, yes, I know. But you seem all too ready to jettison a magnificent tradition of pre-HIP recorded performance to justify this insistence on the "instrument."

No, I listen to pre-HIP recorded performances, but I also have a different set of priorities than you do.