The Basic Classical Collection on Compact Disc (Recommended Recordings)

By John J. Puccio

The following recommendations are personal favorites of mine derived from many years of listening and comparing. I tried to base the suggestions on both performance and sound, so most of them are stereo recordings. If you don't see your own personal favorites among my listed items, it's either because I've never heard them or because I've heard them and didn't care for them all that much.

Naturally, I'll update the list as new and interesting recordings come my way, and I always welcome comments and suggestions.

For beginners in the classical field, I have indicated with an asterisk (*) those works a person might best begin with.


ADAM, Adolphe (1803-1856)

Giselle:
Martinon/Paris Conserv. O. (HDTT)
Fistoulari/LSO (Mercury)
Bonynge/Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (Decca)


ALBINONI, Tommaso (1671-1750)
Adagio in g-minor:
Camerata Bern (Novalis)
Marriner/ASMF (EMI)
I Musici (Philips)
I Solisti Italiani (Denon)


BACH, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Toccata and Fugue in D:
Ledger (EMI)
Otto (Denon)
*Brandenburg Concertos:
        Pinnock/European Brandenburg Ensemble (Avie)
Marriner/ASMF (Philips)
        Lamon/Tafelmusik Baroque O. (Tafelmusik or Sony)
Pinnock/English Concert (DG Archiv)
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra (Harmonia Mundi)
        Savall/Les Concert des Nations (Astree)
Sorrell/Apollo's Fire (Avie)
        Leonhardt Ensemble (Sony/SEON)
Leppard/ECO (Philips)
*Orchestral Suites:
Savall/Les Concert des Nations (AliaVox or Astree)
Marriner/ASMF (Decca)
Koopman/Amsterdam Baroque O. (DHM)
Pearlman/Boston Baroque O. (Telarc)
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (DHM)
        Leppard/ECO (Philips)
        Clark/Consort of London (Brilliant Classics)
Violin Concertos:
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (DHM)
Menuhin/Bath Festival O. (Hi-Q or EMI)
Grumiaux/New Philh. O. (Philips)
Meyers/ECO (eOne)
Hahn/Kahane/LACO (DG)
Zehetmair/Amsterdam Bach Soloists (Brilliant Classics)
The Musical Offering:
Ensemble Sonniere (Virgin)
Linde-Consort (EMI)
Magnificat:
Gardiner/English Baroque Ensemble (Philips)
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (Virgin)
Pickett/New Decca Consort (L'Oiseau-Lyre)
Parrott/Taverner Players (EMI)
Suzuki/Bach Coll. (BIS)

BARTOK, Bela (1881-1945)

*Concerto for Orchestra:
Reiner/CSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Solti/CSO or LSO (Decca)
Fischer/Budapest Festival O. (Philips)
Rattle/CBSO (EMI)
Music for Strings, Percussion and Orchestra:
        Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Ormandy/Philad. O. (EMI)
Piano Concertos:
Kocsis/Fischer/Budapest O. (Philips)
Kovacevich/Davis/BBC SO (Philips)
Ashkenazy/Solti/LPO (Decca)
Pollini/Abbado/CSO (DG)
Violin Concertos Nos. 1 & 2:
Chung/Solti/CSO/LPO (Decca)


BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Overtures:
Jochum/Bamberg SO (RCA)
Davis/Bavarian RSO (Sony)
Masur/Gewandhaus O. (Philips)
Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Piano Sonatas:
Kempff (DG)
Brendel (Philips)
        Brawn (MSR)
Egmont, Incidental Music:
Szell/Lorengar/LSO (Decca)
Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5:
Kovacevich/Davis/LSO (Philips)
        Bezuidenhout/Heras-Casado/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
Perahia/Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Sony)
Piano Concerto No. 1:
       Richter/Munch/Boston Symphony O. (HDTT, JVC, or RCA)
       Bezuidenhout/Heras-Casado/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
Piano Concerto No. 4:
        Bezuidenhout/Heras-Casado/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
*Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor":
Kovacevich/Davis/LSO (Philips)
        Bezuidenhout/Heras-Casado/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
        Serkin/Ozawa/Boston Symphony O. (FIM or Telarc)
        Ashkenazy/Solti/CSO (Decca)
        Brendel/Rattle/VPO (Philips)
Gilels/Philh. O. (EMI)
Kempff/Leitner/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Arrau/Davis/Dresden Staatskapelle (Philips)
Guy/Jordan/French Radio PO (Naive)
*Violin Concerto:
        Heifetz/Munch/BSO (RCA)
        Ehnes/Manze/Royal Liverpool PO (Onyx)
        Shaham/Jacobsen/The Knights (Canary Classics)
Perlman/Giulini/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Szeryng/Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
        Repin/Muti/VPO (DG)
Kremer/Harnoncourt/COE (Teldec)
Grumiaux/Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Pentatone)
        Barton Pine/Serebrier/Royal Phil. O. (Cedille)
        Tetzlaff/Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova or Brilliant Classics)
Triple Concerto:
Rostropovich/Oistrakh/Richter/Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (Hi-Q or EMI)
        Schiff/Hoelscher/Zacharias/Masur/Gewandhaus O. (EMI)
Symphony No. 1:
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
        Herreweghe/Royal Flemish PO (Pentatone)
        Bohm/VPO (DG)
        Forck/Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin (Harmonia Mundi)
Marriner/ASMF (Pentatone)
Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova)
Norrington/LCP (Virgin)
Symphony No. 2:
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
Marriner/ASMF (Pentatone)
        Bohm/VPO (DG)
        Forck/Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin (Harmonia Mundi)
Norrington/LCP (Virgin)
Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova)
Jochum/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
*Symphony No. 3, "Eroica":
  Barbirolli/BBC SO (Dutton Labs or HDTT)
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
Bohm/VPO (DG)
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
        Jochum/LSO (EMI)
        Manze/Helsingborg Symphony O. (Harmonia Mundi)
Herreweghe/Royal Flemish PO (Pentatone)
Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova)
Symphony No. 4:
McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (PBP)
Jochum/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Bohm/VPO (DG)
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
Norrington/LCP (Virgin)
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
*Symphony No. 5:
Kleiber/VPO (K2HD or DG)
Reiner/CSO (JVC or RCA)
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
        Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony)
Bohm/VPO (DG)
Rattle/VPO (EMI)
*Symphony No. 6, "Pastoral":
Bohm/VPO (DG)
Walter/Columbia SO (Sony)
        Reiner/CSO (JVC or HDTT or RCA)
        Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
Jochum/LSO (EMI)
Jochum/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
*Symphony No. 7:
Reiner/CSO (RCA/JVC)
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
Davis/Royal Phil. O. (EMI)
        Von der Goltz/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
        McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (PBP)
Kleiber/VPO (K2HD or DG)
        Bohm/VPO (DG)
        Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova)
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Symphony No. 8:
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
        Bohm/VPO (DG)
Norrington/LCP (Virgin)
Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova)
Jochum/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
*Symphony No. 9, "Choral":
        Schmidt-Isserstedt/VPO (HDTT)
        Jochum/LSO (EMI)
Jochum/Concertgebouw O. (Philips/Belart)
Solti/CSO (Decca)
Bohm/VPO/1972 (DG)
Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (Arte Nova)
Mackerras/RLPO (EMI)
Wand/NGRSO (RCA)
Gardiner/ORR (DG Archiv)
Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Wellington's Victory:
Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
Kunzel/Cinn. Pops (Telarc)
Fidelio:
Ludwig/Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)


BERLIOZ, Hector (1803-1869)

Overtures:
Davis/Staatskapelle Dresden (RCA)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Harold in Italy:
Bernstein/French National O. (EMI)
Gardiner/ORR (Philips)
Davis/LSO (Philips)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
*Symphonie fantastique:
Beecham/French National Radio O. (EMI)
        Bernstein/French National O. (Hi-Q or EMI)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips or Pentatone)
        Munch/Boston SO (JVC or HDTT)
        Martinon/O. l'ORTF (EMI)
Stokowski/New Philh. O. (Decca)
        Norrington/LCP (EMI)
        Gardiner/ORR (Philips)
Romeo and Juliet:
Davis/VPO or LSO (Philips)


BIZET, Georges (1838-1875)
*Carmen:
De los Angeles/Gedda/Beecham/French RO (EMI)
        Horne/McCracken/Berstein/Met. Opera O. (Pentatone)
Gheorghiu/Alagna/Plasson/Toulouse Captitole O. (EMI)
        Troyanos/Domingo/Solti/LPO (Decca)
*Carmen/L'Arlesienne suites:
Beecham/French RO (EMI)
Paray/Detroit SO (Mercury)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
Symphony in C:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Beecham/French Nat'l O. (EMI)
Marriner/ASMF (Decca)


BLOCH, Ernest (1880-1959)
Schelomo:
Rostropovich/Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)


BORODIN, Alexander (1833-1887)
                                                          
Quartet No. 2:
        Borodin Quartet (Decca)
        Wolf-Quartett (NCA)
Prince Igor, orchestral excerpts:
        Beecham/RPO (EMI)
        Solti/LSO (FIM or Decca)
        Shaw/Atlanta SO (Telarc)
Symphony No. 2:
        Martinon/LSO (Decca)
        Ashkenazy/RPO (Decca)


BRAHMS, Johannes (1833-1897)
Hungarian Dances:
Masur/Gewandhaus O. (Philips)
*Piano Concerto No. 1:
Curzon/Szell/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
Kovacevich/Sawallisch/LPO (EMI)
        Kovacevich/C. Davis/LSO (Newton Classics)
        Schiff/OAE (ECM New Series)
Gilels/Jochum/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
*Piano Concerto No. 2:
        Kovacevich/C. Davis/LSO (Newton Classics)
        Schiff/OAE (ECM New Series)
Gilels/Jochum/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Pollini/Abbado/VPO (DG)
        Richter/Leinsdorf/Chicago SO (RCA)
*Violin Concerto:
Chung/Rattle/VPO (EMI)
Szeryng/Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Perlman/Giulini/CSO (EMI)
Heifetz/Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Double Concerto:
Oistrakh/Rostropovich/Szell/Cleveland O. (EMI)
Serenades Nos. 1 & 2:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
        Kertesz/LSO (Decca)
        McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (PBP)
Chailly/Gewandhaus O. (Decca)
Variations on a Theme by Haydn:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Symphonies 1-4:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Mackerras/Scottish CO (Telarc)
Boult/LPO/LSO (EMI or Disky)
Kertesz/VPO (Decca)
*Symphony No. 1:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Jochum/LPO (EMI)
Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
*Symphony No. 2:
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Szell/Cleveland SO (Sony)
*Symphony No. 3:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Boult/LSO (EMI)
Haitink/BSO (Philips)
Walter/Columbia SO (Sony)
*Symphony No. 4:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Blomstedt/Gewandhaus O. (Decca)
        Walter/Columbia SO (HDTT or Sony)
        Kleiber/VPO (DG)
        Reiner/RPO (HDTT or Chesky)
Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Boult/LPO (EMI)
A German Requiem:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)


BRITTEN, Benjamin (1913-1976)
Spring Symphony:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia:
        Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Stern/Kansas City Symphony (Reference Recordings) 
*Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra:
Britten/LSO (Decca or Decca/JVC)
        Hickox/Bournemouth SO (Chandos)
        Stern/Kansas City Symphony (Reference Recordings)


BRUCH, Max (1838-1920)

Violin Concerto No. 1:
Perlman/Previn/LSO (ARC or EMI)
Heifetz/Sargent/New Symphony O. London (RCA)
        McDuffie/Swensen/Scottish CO (Telarc)
Chung/Tennstedt/LPO (EMI)
        Braunstein/Marin/Bamberg SO (Tudor)
Lin/Slatkin/CSO (Sony)
Scottish Fantasy:
        Heifetz/Sargent/New Symphony O. London (RCA)
        Benedetti/Macdonald/BBC Scottish Symphony O. (Decca)
        Perlman/Lopez-Cobos/New Philh. O. (EMI)
        Braunstein/Marin/Bamberg SO (Tudor)
        Oistrakh/Horenstein/LSO (FIM or Decca)
        McDuffie/Swensen/Scottish CO (Telarc)


BRUCKNER, Anton (1824-1896)

Symphony No. 3:
        Schuricht/VPO (HDTT)
*Symphony No. 4, "Romantic":
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Bohm/VPO (Decca )
Jochum/Berlin Philharmonic (HDTT or DG)
Jochum/Dresden Staatskapelle (EMI)
Wand/Berlin Philharmonic (RCA)
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Tintner/RSNO (Naxos)
Symphony No. 5:
Welser-Most/LPO (EMI)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Sinopoli/Dresden (DG)
Symphony No. 6:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Symphony No. 7:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Blomstedt/Dresden Staatskapelle (Denon)
Chailly/Berlin RSO (Decca)
Symphony No. 8:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Karajan/VPO (DG)
Wand/NDRSO (RCA)
Symphony No. 9:
Jochum/Dresden Staatskapelle (EMI)
Walter/Columbia SO (Sony)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)


CHABRIER, Emanuel (1841-1894)
*Espana, etc.:
        Argenta/LSO (FIM, HDTT, or Decca)
        Paray/Detroit Symphony O. (Mercury)
Jordan/French Nat'l O. (Erato)
Jacquillat/Paris O. (EMI-Pathe)

CHOPIN, Frederic (1810-1849)
*Piano Concerto No. 1:
Pollini/Kletzki/Philh. O. (EMI)
Argerich/Dutoit/Montreal SO (EMI)
        Rubinstein/Skrowaczewski/New Symphony O. of London (RCA)
        Fliter/Markl/Scottish Chamber O. (Linn)
Li/A. Davis/Philh. O. (DG)
Piano Concerto No. 2:
Argerich/Dutoit/Montreal SO (EMI)
Etudes:
Pollini (DG)
        Perahia (Sony)
        Andnes (Virgin)
        Lisitsa (Decca)
*Nocturnes:
        Rubinstein (RCA)
Pollini (DG)
        Sheng (Piano Classics)
Polonaises:
Pollini (DG)
        Rubinstein (RCA)
        Ashkenazy (Decca)
Preludes:
        Ashkenazy (Decca)
        Pollini (DG)
        Fliter (Linn)
*Waltzes:
Rubinstein (RCA)


COPLAND, Aaron (1900-1990)
Appalachian Spring, original version:
Copland/Chamber Ens. (Sony)
Schenck/Atlantic Sinf. (Koch)
Appalachian Spring, complete:
Tilson Thomas/San Francisco SO (RCA)
Slatkin/St. Louis SO (EMI)
*Appalachian Spring, suite:
        Copland/LSO (Sony)
        Bernstein/NYPO (HDTT or Sony)
Dorati/Detroit SO (Decca)
        Bernstein/LAPO (DG)
        Bernard/Park Avenue Chamber Symphony (Recursive Classics)
Billy the Kid:
Copland/LSO (Sony)
Bernstein/NYPO (Sony)
        Slatkin/Detroit Symphony (Naxos)
Tilson Thomas/San Francisco SO (RCA)
Dorati/Minn. SO (Mercury)
Fanfare for the Common Man:
Copland/LSO (Sony)
Dorati/Detroit SO (Decca)
*Rodeo:
Bernstein/NYPO (Sony)
Copland/LSO (Sony)
Tilson Thomas/San Francisco SO (RCA)
Third Symphony:
Bernstein/NYPO (DG)
Levi/Atlanta SO (Telarc)


DEBUSSY, Claude (1862-1918)
Orchestral music:
Martinon/O. l'ORTF (EMI)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Simon/Philh. O. (Cala)
*Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune:
Martinon/O. L'ORTF (EMI)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Images:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Argenta/O. Suisse Romande (Classic CD)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Martinon/O. l'ORTF (EMI)
        Gatti/French National O. (Sony)
*La Mer:
        Stokowski/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
        Martinon/O. l'ORTF (EMI)
Reiner/CSO (HDTT or RCA)
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Simon/Philh. O. (Cala)
        Gatti/French National O. (Sony)
Nocturnes:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Martinon/O. l'ORTF (EMI)
        Giulini/Philh. O. (EMI)
Misc. piano music:
Kocsis (Philips)
Roge (Decca)
Michelangeli (DG)
Ciccolini (EMI)


DELIBES, Leo (1836-1891)
Coppela and Sylvia, highlights:
Mari/Paris Opera O. (EMI)
Coppela, complete
        Mari/Paris Opera O. (EMI)
Dorati/Minneapolis SO (Mercury)
Bonynge/Nat'l PO (Decca)
Sylvia, complete:
        Mari/Paris Opera O. (EMI)
Bonynge/New Philh. O. (Decca)
Fistoulari/LSO (Mercury)


DELIUS, Frederick (1862-1934)
Orchestral music:
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Barbirolli/LSO/Halle O. (EMI)
Del Mar/Bournemouth Sinf. (Chandos)


D'INDY, Vincent (1851-1931)

Symphony on a French Mountain Air:
        Henriot-Schweitzer/Munch/Boston Symphony O. (HDTT or RCA)
        Ciccolini/Baudo/Paris O. (EMI)
        Thibaudet/Dutoit/Montreal Symphony O. (Decca)


DONIZETTI, Gaetano (1797-1848)

L'Elisir d'Amore:
Sutherland/Pavarotti/Bonynge/ECO (Decca)
La Fille du Regiment:
Sutherland/Pavarotti/Bonynge/ROH, CG (Decca)
Lucia di Lammermoor:
Sutherland/Pavarotti/Bonynge/ROH, CG (Decca)


DUKAS, Paul (1865-1935)
*The Sorcerer's Apprentice:
Jacquillat/Paris O. (EMI-Pathe)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Albrecht/Strasbourg PO (Pentatone)
Jordan/SRO (Warner)


DVORAK, Antonin (1841-1904)
Overtures and Symphonic Poems:
Harnoncout/Concertgebouw O. (Warner)
Kertesz/LSO (Decca)
Kubelik/Bavarian RSO (DG)
        Rattle/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)
String Quartet No. 12 "American"
         Quartetto Italiano (Philips)
Serenade for Strings:
        Myssyk/Appassionata Chamber O. (Fidelio)
        Chung/VPO (DG)
Leppard/ECO (Philips)
Violin Concerto:
Perlman/Barenboim/LPO (EMI)
        Mutter/Honeck/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Barton Pine/Abrams/RSNO (Avie)
*Cello Concerto:
Starker/Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
Gendron/Haitink/LPO (HDTT)
Wallfisch/Mackerras/LSO (Chandos)
Rostropovich/Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (HDTT or DG)
        Fournier/Szell/BPO (HDTT or DG)
Ma/Masur/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Slavonic Dances:
Neumann/Czech PO (Teldec)
Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony)
Symphonies Nos. 1-9:
Kertesz/LSO (Decca)
Symphony No. 5:
Jansons/Oslo PO (EMI)
Symphony No. 7:
Pesek/Royal Liverpool PO (Virgin)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Kertesz/LSO (Decca)
Jansons/Oslo PO (EMI)
*Symphony No. 8:
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)
Pesek/Royal Liverpool PO (Virgin)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Kertesz/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
Kubelik/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Serebrier/Bournemouth SO (Warner Classics)
*Symphony No. 9, "New World":
Kertesz/LSO (Decca)
        Kertesz/VPO (HDTT)
Reiner/CSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
        Dorati/New Philh. O. (HDTT)
Macal/LPO (EMI)
Neumann/Czech PO (Denon)
Kubelik/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Kempe/BBC SO (BBC)
        Alsop/Baltimore SO (Naxos)


ELGAR, Sir Edward (1857-1934)
Violin Concerto:
Kennedy/Rattle/CBSO (EMI)
        Barton Pine/Litton/BBC SO (Avie)
Cello Concerto:
Du Pre/Barbirolli/LSO (EMI)
Enigma Variations:
Barbirolli/Philh. O. (EMI)
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Jochum/LSO (DG)
*Pomp and Circumstance marches:
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Barbirolli/Philh. O. (EMI)
Introduction and Allegro for Strings:
Barbirolli/Sinfonia of Decca (EMI)
Symphony No. 1:
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Handley/LPO (EMI)
Previn/RPO (Philips)
Symphony No. 2:
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Handley/LPO (EMI)
Downes/BBC PO (Naxos)


ENESCO, Georges (1881-1955)

*Roumanian Rhapsody No. 1:
Stokowski/RCA Victor SO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
Mata/Dallas SO (RCA)


FALLA, Manuel de (1876-1946)

Nights in the Gardens of Spain:
Soriano/Burgos/Philh. O. (EMI)
Larrocha/de Burgos/LPO (Decca)
        Loriod/Rosenthal/L'Opera de Paris (HDTT)
The Three-Cornered Hat:
Ansermet/O. Suisse Romande (FIM, HDTT, or Decca)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
El amor brujo:
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
Burgos/New Philh. O. (FIM or Decca)
        Rosenthal/L'Opera de Paris (HDTT)


FAURE, Gabriel (1845-1924)
Requiem:
Willcocks/New Philh. O. (EMI)
Rutter/London Sinfonia (Collegium)
Herreweghe/Musique OE (Harmonia Mundi)


FRANCK, Cesar (1822-1890)
Symphony in D:
Beecham/FNRO (EMI)
Monteux/CSO (RCA)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
Janowski/SRO (Telarc)


GERSHWIN, George (1898-1937)
                     
*An American in Paris:
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
        Previn/Pittsburgh SO (Philips)
        Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Fiedler/Boston Pops (RCA)
Piano Concerto in F:
        Wild/Fiedler/Boston Pops (RCA)

        Previn/Kostelanetz O. (Sony)
        Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Nakamatsu/Tyzik/Rochester PO (Harmonia Mundi)
*Rhapsody in Blue:
        Bernstein/Columbia SO (Sony)
        Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Biegel/Adrian Symphony O. (Naturally Sharp Records)
        Fiedler/Boston Pops (RCA)
        Gershwin/Tilson Thomas/Columbia Jazz Band (Sony)
        Tyzik/Rochester PO (Harmonia Mundi)
Porgy and Bess, complete:
        White/Maazel/Cleveland O. (Decca)
Porgy and Bess, orch. suite:
        Previn/LSO (EMI)


GOUNOD, Charles (1818-1893)
Faust:
Gedda/Cluytens/Paris Opera O. (EMI)
Leech/Plasson/Toulouse O. (EMI)
Hadley/Rizzi/Welsh Nat'l Opera (Teldec)
Ballet music from "Faust":
Paray/Detroit SO (Mercury)


GRIEG, Edvard (1843-1907)
Peer Gynt, complete:
Dreier/LSO (Unicorn)
Peer Gynt, highlights:
Fjeldstad/LSO (Classic CD)
Beecham/RPO (Hi-Q or EMI)
*Peer Gynt, suites 1 & 2:
Leppard/ECO (Pentatone or Philips)
Piano Concerto in A:
Kovacevich/Davis/BBC SO (Philips or Newton Classics)
Lupu/Previn/LSO (FIM or Decca)
Andsnes/Jansons/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)


GROFE, Ferde (1892-1972)

*Grand Canyon Suite:
Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Dorati/Detroit SO (Decca)
Kunzel/Cincinnati Pops O. (Telarc)


HANDEL, George Frideric (1685-1759)
Royal Fireworks Music (original version):
Pinnock/Eng. Concert (DG Archiv)
*Royal Fireworks Music (w/ strings):
Pinnock/Eng. Concert (DG Archiv)
        Lamon/Tafelmusik Baroque O. (Tafelmusik or Sony)
        Orpheus CO (DG)
Savall/Les Concert des Nations (Astree)
Pearlman/Boston Baroque (Telarc)
*Water Music, complete:
McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
        Pinnock/Eng. Concert (DG Archiv)
        Orpheus CO (DG)
        Lamon/Tafelmusik Baroque O. (Sony)
Savall/Les Concert des Nations (Astree)
Pearlman/Boston Baroque (Telarc)
Messiah, complete:
        Ohrwall/Swedish RSO (FIM or Proprius)
Christie/Les Arts Florissants (Harmonia Mundi)
Pinnock/Eng. Concert (DG Archiv)
Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists (Philips)
Davis/LSO (Philips)
*Messiah, highlights:
Pearlman/Boston Baroque (Telarc)


HAYDN, Joseph (1732-1809)

String Quartets:
        Kodaly Quartet (Naxos)
        Takacs Quartet (Decca)
        Quartetto Italiano (Philips and Decca)
        Endellion String Quartet (Warner)
Cello Concertos:
        DuPre/Barenboim/ECO (Warner)
        Ceccato/Gli Incogniti (Harmonia Mundi)
        Warner/Drostan Hall Camerata Chicago (Cedille)
        Croise/Mussakhan/Eurasian Soloists (Avie)
*Trumpet Concerto in E:
Berinbaum/Somary/ECO (Vanguard)
Hardenberger/Marriner/ASMF (Philips)
Schwarz/Y CO (Delos)
Marsalis/Leppard/Nat'l PO (Sony)
Symphony No. 45, "Farewell":
Orpheus CO (DG)
Paris Symphonies, Nos. 82-87:
Bruggen/O. of the 18th Century (Philips)
Symphony No. 88:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
*Symphony No. 94, "Surprise":
Jochum/LPO (DG)
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Symphony No. 96, "Miracle":
Jochum/LPO (DG)
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (DHM)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
*Symphony No. 100, "Military":
Jochum/LPO (DG)
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (DHM)
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Mackerras/O. of St. Luke's (Telarc)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
*Symphony No. 101, "Clock":
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (DHM)
Jochum/LPO (DG)
*Symphony No. 103, "Drum Roll":
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (DHM)
Jochum/LPO (DG)
Mackerras/O. of St. Luke's (Telarc)
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
*Symphony No. 104, "London":
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Kuijken/La Petite Bande (DHM)
Jochum/LPO (DG)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)


HINDEMITH, Paul (1895-1964)
Symphony "Mathis der Maler":
Blomstedt/SFSO (Decca)
Horenstein/LSO (Chandos)
Sawallisch/Philad. O. (EMI)


HOLST, Gustav (1874-1934)
*The Planets:
Previn/LSO (Hi-Q or EMI)
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)


HUMPERDINCK, Engelbert (1854-1921)
Hansel und Gretel, complete:
        Schwarzkopf/Karajan/Phil. O. (EMI, mono)
        Von Otter/Tate/BRSO (EMI)
        Larmore/Runnicles/BRSO (Teldec)
        Cotrubas/Pritchard/Gurzenich O. (Sony)
        Murray/C. Davis/Staatskapelle Dresden (Philips)
        Moffo/Eichhorn/Munich Radio SO (RCA)


IVES, Charles (1874-1954)
Symphony No. 1:
Tilson Thomas/CSO (Sony)
Symphony No. 2:
Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (DG)
Symphony No. 3:
Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Symphony No. 4:
        Tilson Thomas/CSO (Sony)
Three Places in New England:
Hanson/Eastman-Rochester O. (Mercury)
        Tilson Thomas/SFSO (RCA)
Holidays Symphony:
Tilson Thomas/Concertgebouw O. (Sony)
The Unanswered Question:
Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (DG)
Tilson Thomas/SFSO (RCA)


JANACEK, Leos (1854-1928)
Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba:
Mackerras/VPO (Decca)
Neumann/Czech PO (Supraphon)


KHACHATURIAN, Aram (1903-1978)
Gayaneh and Spartacus, excerpts:
Khachaturian/LPO (EMI)
        Svetlanov/Bolshoi Theatre O. (Brilliant Classics)
Violin Concerto:
        Kogan/Monteux/Boston SO (RCA)
Oistrakh/Khachaturian/MRSO (Mobile Fidelity)


KODALY, Zoltan (1882-1967)

Hary Janos, suite:
        Kertesz/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
Tennstedt/LPO (EMI)
Dorati/Phil. Hung. (Decca)
Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony)


LEHAR, Franz (1870-1948)
*The Merry Widow:
Schwarzkopf/Matacic/Philh. O. (EMI)
Studer/Gardiner/VPO (DG)
Waltzes:
Boskovsky/J. Strauss O. (EMI)


LISZT, Franz (1811-1886)
Les Preludes:
Kunzel/Cinn. Pops (Telarc)
Solti/LPO (Decca)
*Symphonic poems:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Halasz/Polish NRSO (Naxos)
Masur/Gewandhaus O. (EMI)
Solti/LPO/Paris O. (Decca)
*Piano Concerto No. 1:
Richter/Kondrashin/LSO (HDTT or Philips)
Brendel/Haitink/LPO (Philips)
        Pennario/Leibowitz/LSO (HDTT)
Zimerman/Ozawa/BSO (DG)
        Nebolsin/Petrenko/Royal Liverpool PO (Naxos)
*Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 for Orchestra:
Stokowski/RCA Victor SO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Hungarian Rhapsodies for Orchestra, complete:
Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
Boskovsky/LSO and Philh. Hungarica (EMI)
Hungarian Rhapsodies for Piano:
Cziffra (EMI)
Szidon (DG)
Sonata in B minor:
Richter (Philips)
Nojima (Reference Recordings)
Misc. piano music:
Bolet (Decca)


MAHLER, Gustav (1860-1911)
*Symphony No. 1, "Titan":
 Solti/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
        Mackerras/RLPO (EMI)
Horenstein/LSO (Unicorn)
Solti/Chicago SO (Decca)
        Kubelik/BRSO (DG)
Bernstein/Concertgebouw O. (DG)
Haitink/Berlin Philharmonic (Philips)
Tennstedt/LPO (EMI)
        Luisi/Vienna Symphony (WS)
Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection":
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Rattle/CBSO (EMI)
Symphony No. 3:
Horenstein/LSO (Unicorn)
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
        Rattle/CBSO (EMI)
        Abbado/VPO (DG)
*Symphony No. 4:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Szell/Cleveland O. (HDTT or Sony)
Reiner/CSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Roth/Les Siecles (Harmonia Mundi)
Symphony No. 5:
Barbirolli/New Philh. O. (EMI)
        Tennstedt/LPO (EMI)
Symphony No. 6, "Tragic":
Barbirolli/New Philh. O. (EMI)
Haitink/Berlin Philharmonic (Philips)
Symphony No. 7:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
        Abbado/CSO (DG)
        Tilson Thomas/LSO (RCA)
Solti/CSO (Decca)
        Vanska/Minnesota O. (BIS)
Inbal/Frankfurt RSO (Denon)
Symphony No. 8 "Symphony of a Thousand":
Solti/CSO (Decca)
Tennstedt/LPO (EMI)
*Symphony No. 9:
Barbirolli/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI or HDTT)
        Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Klemperer/New Philh. O. (HDTT or EMI)
Walter/Columbia SO (HDTT or Sony)
        Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Bernstein/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)  
Symphony No. 10:
Rattle/Berlin PO (EMI)
Das Lied von der Erde:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Des Knaben Wunderhorn:
Schwarzkopf/Fischer-Dieskau/Szell/LSO (EMI)


MASSENET, Jules (1842-1912)
Le Cid, ballet music:
Fremaux/CBSO (EMI or Klavier)


MENDELSSOHN, Felix (1809-1847)
Octet for Strings:
        ASMF (Decca)
*Violin Concerto in E:
Perlman/Previn/LSO (ARC or EMI)
Heifetz/Munch/BSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
        Zukerman/Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
        Szeryng/Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Chee-Yun/Lopez-Cobos/LPO (Denon)
        Swensen/Scottish CO (Linn)
Chung/Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
        Barton Pine/Mueller/Gottinger Symphony O. (Cedille)
Symphonies Nos. 1-5:
Abbado/LSO (DG)
*Symphony No. 3, "Scottish":
Maag/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Abbado/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
        Abbado/LSO (DG)
        Swensen/Scottish CO (Linn)
Blomstedt/SFSO (Decca)
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Norrington/LCP (EMI)
*Symphony No. 4, "Italian":
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Munch/BSO (JVC, United Classics, or RCA)
        Abbado/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
Abbado/LSO (DG)
Blomstedt/SFSO (Decca)
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Sinopoli/Philh. O. (DG)
*A Midsummer Night's Dream:
        Previn/LSO (JVC or EMI)
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Maag/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
        Fischer/Budapest Festival O. (Channel Classics)


MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)
Overtures:
Marriner/ASMF (EMI)
        Weill/Tafelmusik (Sony)
Divertimenti:
Marriner/ASMF (FIM)
Clarinet Concerto:
        Kam/Haydn Philharmonic (Berlin Classics)
        Neidich/Orpheus CO (DG)
Brymer/Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Flute and Harp Concerto:
Rampal/Laskine/Paillard CO (Erato)
*Horn Concertos:
Brain/Karajan/Philh. O. (EMI, mono)
Greer/McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
        Civil/Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI or Testament)
        Eastop/Halstead/Hanover Band (Hyperion)
        Koster/Weil/Tafelmusik (Sony or Newton Classics)
Tuckwell/ECO (Decca)
Ruske/Mackerras/Scottish CO (Telarc)
Piano Concerto No. 17:
        Andsnes/NCO (EMI)
  Perahia/ECO (Sony)

        Bezuidenhout/Mullejans/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
Piano Concerto No. 18:
        Tan/McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
        Brautigam/Willens/Kolner Akademie (BIS)
Piano Concerto No. 19:
        Tan/McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
*Piano Concerto No. 20:
        Curzon/Britten/ECO (Decca)
        Barenboim/ECO (Hi-Q or EMI)
        Kissin/Kremerata Baltica (EMI)
        Andsnes/NCO (EMI)
  Perahia/ECO (Sony)
*Piano Concerto No. 21:
        Kovacevich/C. Davis/LSO (Philips)
Piano Concerto No. 22:

        Bezuidenhout/Mullejans/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
        Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
        Barenboim/Kubelik/Bavarian RSO (BR Klassics)
  Perahia/ECO (Sony)
  Brautigam/Willens/Kolner Akademie (BIS)
Piano Concerto No. 23:
        Barenboim/ECO (Hi-Q or EMI)
  Barenboim/Kubelik/Bavarian RSO (BR Klassics)
Piano Concerto No. 24:
        Perahia/ECO (Sony)
Piano Concerto No. 25:
        Kovacevich/C. Davis/LSO (Philips)
  Ashkenazy/Philh. O. (Decca)
Piano Concerto No. 27:
        Curzon/Britten/ECO (Decca)
        Kissin/Kremerata Baltica (EMI)
        Ashkenazy/Philh. O. (Decca)
Sinfonia concertante:
        St. Johns/The Knights (Ancalagon)
        Barton Pine/Marriner/ASMF (Avie)
        Oistrakhs/Kondrashin/Moscow PO (FIM or Decca)
Violin Concertos, complete:
        Barton Pine/Marriner/ASMF (Avie)
        Skride/Aadland/Swedish Chamber Orchestra (Orfeo)
Violin Concerto No. 1:
        Mutter/LPO (DG or JVC)
Violin Concerto No. 2:
        Mutter/Muti/Philh. O. (EMI)

        Mutter/LPO (DG or JVC)
        Grumiaux/C. Davis/LSO (Philips)
Violin Concerto No. 3:
        Mutter/Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        St. John/The Knights (Ancalagon)
        Oistrakh/Philharmonia O. (EMI)
        Grumiaux/C. Davis/LSO (Philips)
Violin Concerto No. 4:
        Mutter/Muti/Philh. O. (EMI)

        Mutter/LPO (DG or JVC)
        Grumiaux/C. Davis/LSO (Philips)
Violin Concerto No. 5:
        Mutter/Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Grumiaux/C. Davis/LSO (Philips)
Serenade No. 7, "Haffner":
Maier/Collegium Aureum (RCA)
Serenade No. 8:
Boskovsky/VME (Decca)
Serenade No 9, "Posthorn":
Maier/Collegium Aureum (RCA)
*Serenade No. 13, "Eine kleine Nachtmusik":
Boskovsky/VME (Decca)
Weill/Tafelmusik (Sony)
Orpheus CO (DG)
Marriner/ASMF (EMI)
Symphonies Nos. 1-25:
Mackerras/Prague CO (Telarc)
        Marriner/ASMF (Philips)
Late Symphonies:
        Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
        Bernstein/VPO (DG)
        Klemperer/Philharmonia O. (EMI)
Symphony No. 25:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
  Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Symphony No. 29:
Krivine/Sinfonia Varsovia (Denon)
Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Symphony No. 31:
Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Bruggen/O. of the 18th Cent. (Philips)
*Symphony No. 35, "Haffner":
Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Bernstein/VPO (DG)
Bruggen/O. of the 18th Cent. (Philips)
Symphony No. 36, "Linz":
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Bernstein/VPO (DG)
Mackerras/Prague CO (Telarc)
Davis/Dresden Staatskapelle (Philips)
Symphony No. 38, "Prague":
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Bernstein/VPO (DG)
*Symphony No. 39:
Davis/Dresden Staatskapelle (Philips)
Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Bernstein/VPO (DG)
*Symphony No. 40:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
Orpheus CO (DG)
        Walter/Columbia Symphony (Sony)
Bernstein/VPO (DG)
Menuhin/Sinfonia Varsovia (Virgin)
Bohm/VPO (DG)
*Symphony No. 41, "Jupiter":
Jochum/Boston SO (DG)
        Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Barenboim/ECO (EMI)
        Jacobs/Freiburg Baroque O. (Harmonia Mundi)
        Walter/Columbia Symphony (Sony)
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
        Bernstein/VPO (DG)
Bohm/VPO (DG)
Davis/Dresden Staatskapelle (Philips)
Pinnock/English Concert (Archiv)
Cosi fan tutte:
Schwarzkopf/Bohm/Philh. O. (EMI)
Lott/Mackerras/SCO (Telarc)
Don Giovanni:
Wachter/Giulini/Philh. O. (EMI)
Marriage of Figaro:
Wachter/Giulini/Phil. O. (EMI)
Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute):
Gedda/Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Heilmann/Ziesak/Solti/VPO (Decca)
Johnson/Argenta/Norrington/LCP (EMI)
Requiem:
P. Neumann/Collegium Cartusianum (EMI)
Higginbottom/O. of the Age of Enlightenment (Novum)
Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists (Philips)
Herreweghe/O. Champs Elysees (Harmonia Mundi)
 C. Davis/LSO (LSO)
        Davis/BBC SO (Philips)
        Giulini/Philharmonia O. (EMI)


MUSSORGSKY, Modest (1839-1881)
*Night on the Bare Mountain:
Solti/LSO; Rimsky-Korsakov arr. (FIM or Decca)
Jones/LPO; original version (Philips)
        Ansermet/O. Suisse Romande (Decca)
        Maazel/Cleveland O. (FIM or Telarc)
Kunzel/Cinn. Pops; Stokowski arr. (Telarc)
        Serebrier/Bournemouth SO; Stokowski arr. (Naxos)
*Pictures at an Exhibition:
Reiner/CSO (RCA/JVC)
        Muti/Philad. O. (EMI)
Ansermet/O. Suisse Romande (Decca)
Maazel/Cleveland O. (FIM or Telarc)
        Markevitch/Gewandhaus Orchestra (Brilliant Classics)


NIELSEN, Carl (1865-1931)

Symphonies Nos. 1-6:
Blomstedt/SFSO (Decca)
Bernstein/Ormandy/New York Philharmonic/Philad. O. (Sony)
Berglund/Royal Danish O. (RCA)


OFFENBACH, Jacques (1819-1880)
Overtures:
Marriner/Philh. O. (Philips)
Fremaux/CBSO (Klavier)
*Gaite Parisienne (arr. Rosenthal):
Fiedler/Boston Pops (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Rosenthal/Monte Carlo PO (EMI)
Previn/Pittsburgh SO (Philips)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
Orpheus in the Underworld:
Mesple/Plasson/Toulouse O. (EMI)
Tales of Hoffmann:
Domingo/Bonynge/Suisse RO (Decca)


ORFF, Carl (1895-1982)
*Carmina Burana:
Previn/LSO (Hi-Q or EMI)
Blomstedt/SFSO (Decca)
        Ormandy/Phild. O. (Sony)
Jochum/German Opera O. (HDTT or DG)


PACHELBEL, Johann (1653-1706)
*Canon & Gigue:
I Solisti Italiani (Denon)
Parrott/Taverner Players (Virgin)
Pinnock/Eng. Concert (DG Archiv)


PAGANINI, Niccolo (1782-1840)
*Violin Concerto No. 1:
Rabin/Goossens/Philh. O. (EMI)
Perlman/Foster/RPO (EMI)
Hahn/Oiji/Swedish RSO (DG)
        Accardo/Dutoit/LPO (DG)

PROKOFIEV, Serge (1891-1953)
Cinderella:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Lieutenant Kije:
        Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony)
Handley/LPO (EMI)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Tennstedt/LPO (EMI)
        Ashkenazy/Sydney Sym. (Exton)
*Peter and the Wolf:
Karloff/Rossi/Vienna St. Op. O. (Vanguard)
        Richardson/Sargent/LSO (Decca)
Previn/Previn/RPO (Telarc)
Romeo and Juliet, complete:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Maazel/Cleveland O. (Decca)
        Ashkenazy/RPO (Decca)
Romeo and Juliet, excerpts:
Leinsdorf/LAPO (Sheffield)
Ermler/ROH, CG (Conifer)
Piano Concerto No. 3:
Argerich/Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Janis/Kondrashin/MPO (Mercury)
Cliburn/Hendl/CSO (RCA or HDTT)
Violin Concerto No. 2:
Heifetz/Munch/BSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
        Jansen/Jurowski/LPO (Decca)
*Symphony No. 1, "Classical":
Marriner/ASMF (Decca)
Previn/LSO (EMI or Philips)
Abbado/COE (DG)
        Ashkenazy/Sydney Sym. (Exton)
Symphony No. 5:
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (HDTT or DG)
Previn/LAPO (Philips)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Rattle/CBSO (EMI)
Jarvi/Scottish Nat'l O. (Chandos)
Symphony No. 7:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Alexander Nevsky:
Abbado/LSO (DG)
Previn/LSO (EMI)


PUCCINI, Giacomo (1858-1924)
*La Boheme:
Pavarotti/Freni/Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (Decca)
Madama Butterfly:
Freni/Pavarotti/Karajan/VPO (Decca)
Scotto/Bergonzi/Barbirolli/Rome O. (EMI)
Tosca:
Callas/de Sabata/La Scala (EMI, mono)
Turandot:
Sutherland/Pavarotti/Mehta/LPO (Decca)


RACHMANINOV, Sergei (1873-1943)
Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4:
Ashkenazy/Previn/LSO (Decca)
        Lugansky/Oramo/CBSO (Warner)
Piano Concerto No. 1:
Janis/Kondrashin/MPO (Mercury)
*Piano Concerto No. 2:
Cliburn/Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Janis/Dorati/Minneapolis SO (Mercury)
Ashkenazy/Previn/LSO (Decca)
Wild/Horenstein/RPO (Chesky)
*Piano Concerto No. 3:
Argerich/Chailly/BRSO (Philips)
Horowitz/Ormandy/New York Philharmonic (RCA)
        Rachmaninov/Ormandy/Philadelphia O. (RCA, mono)
        Janis/Munch/BSO (HDTT or RCA)
        Janis/Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
        Andsnes/Pappano/LSO (EMI)     
Piano Concerto No. 4:
Michelangeli/Gracis/Philh. O. (EMI)
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini:
Rubinstein/Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Ashkenazy/Previn/LSO (Decca)
Symphonic Dances:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Oue/Minnesota O. (Reference Recordings)
        Petrenko/Royal Liverpool Philharmonic (Avie)
Symphony No. 1:
Ashkenazy/Concertgebouw O. (Decca)
        Pletnev/Russian National O. (DG)
*Symphony No. 2:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Pletnev/Russian National O. (DG)
        Ormandy/Philad. O. (Sony)
        Ashkenazy/Concertgebouw O. (Decca)
        Svetlanov/Russian Federation SO (Warner)
Symphony No. 3:
Stokowski/NPO (EMI)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Ormandy/Philad. O. (Sony)
The Bells:
Previn/LSO (EMI)


RAVEL, Maurice (1875-1937)
*Orchestral music:
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
        Martinon/O. de Paris (EMI)
        Skrowaczewski/Minnesota SO (Mobile Fidelity or Vox)
        Cluytens/Paris Conservatoire O. (EMI)
Simon/Philharmonia O. (Cala)
*Bolero:
        Previn/LSO (Hi-Q or EMI)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Skrowaczewski/Minnesota SO (Mobile Fidelity or Vox)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
Daphnis et Chloe, complete:
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
        Munch/Boston SO (RCA/JVC)
Monteux/LSO (Decca)
Schwarz/Seattle SO (Delos)
Daphnis et Chloe, Suite No. 2:
        Previn/LSO (Hi-Q or EMI)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Bernard/Park Avenue Chamber Symphony (Recursive Classics)
Stokowski/LSO (Decca)
Simon/Philharmonia O. (Cala)
Piano Concerto in G major:
Michelangeli/Gracis/Philh. O. (EMI/Warner)
        Tiberghien/Roth/Les Siecles (Harmonia Mundi)
L'Enfant et les Sortileges:
Maazel/O. Nat'l de l'ORTF (DG)


RESPIGHI, Ottorino (1879-1936)
Ancient Airs and Dances, complete:
Dorati/Philh. Hungarica (Mercury)
        Lopez-Cobos/Lausanne CO (Telarc)
Ancient Airs and Dances/Botticelli Pictures:
Orpheus CO (DG)
*Pines and Fountains of Rome:
Reiner/CSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
Muti/Philad. O. (EMI)
        Falletta/Buffalo Philharmonic (Naxos)
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, Nikolai (1844-1908)
Capriccio espagnol:
Kondrashin/RCA SO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Argenta/LSO (FIM or Decca)
        Boult/LPO (EMI)
Handley/Halle O. (EMI)
Russian Easter Overture:
Svetlanov/Philh. O. (Hyperion)
Handley/Halle O. (EMI)
*Scheherazade:
Reiner/CSO (JVC or RCA)
Beecham/RPO (HDTT or EMI)
Kondrashin/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Haitink/LPO (Philips)
Mackerras/LSO (Telarc)
Krivine/Philh. O. (Denon)
Symphony No. 2 "Antar":
Svetlanov/Russian St. SO (RCA)
Svetlanov/Philh. O. (Hyperion)


RODRIGO, Joaquin (b. 1902)
*Concierto de Aranjuez:
        Yepes/Argenta/Spanish National SO (HDTT)
A. Romero/Allessandro/SASO (Mercury)
P. Romero/Marriner/ASMF (Philips)
Bonell/Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
        Williams/Fremaux/Philharmonia O. (Sony)
Conciertos Madrigal and Andaluz:
Los Romeros/Marriner/ASMF (Philips)


ROSSINI, Gioacchinio (1792-1868)
*Overtures:
Orpheus CO (DG)
        Reiner/CSO (HDTT or RCA)
Marriner/ASMF (Philips or Pentatone)
        Gamba/LSO (Decca or Decca/JVC)
Maag/Paris Conserv. O. (HDTT)
Goodman/Hanover Band (Newton Classics or RCA)
        Norrington/LCP (EMI)
        Giulini/Philh. O. (EMI)
Barber of Seville:
Callas/Gobbi/Galliera/Philh. O. (EMI)


SAINT-SAENS, Camille (1835-1921)

Danse macabre:
Jacquillat/O. of Paris (EMI-Pathe)
Martinon/Paris Cons. O. (Decca)
*Carnival of the Animals:
Previn/Pittsburgh SO (Philips)
Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5:
Collard/Previn/RPO (EMI)
        Hough/Oramo/CBSO (Hyperion)
        Chamayou/Krivine/French National Orchestra (Erato)
Symphonies Nos. 1-5:
Martinon/O. l'ORTF (EMI-Pathe)
*Symphony No. 3, "Organ":
Fremaux/CBSO (Klavier or EMI)
Munch/BSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
        Martinon/Orchestre National de l'ORTF (EMI or Brilliant Classics)
        Stern/Kansas City Symphony (Reference Recordings)
Mester/Pasadena SO (Auricle)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)


SCHUBERT, Franz (1797-1828)

String Quintet in C:
        Lindsay Qt. (ASV)
Belcea Qt. (EMI)

String Quartet No. 14, "Death and the Maiden":
Quartetto Italiano (Philips or Decca)
Belcea Qt. (EMI)
*Piano Quintet in A, "Trout":
Beaux Arts Trio et al (Philips or Pentatone)

        Schiff/Hagen Qt. (Decca)
Curzon/Vienna Octet members (HDTT or Decca)
        Brendel et al (Philips)
        The Nash Ensemble (CRD)
        Immerseel/L'Archibudelli (Sony or Newton Classics)
Octet in F-major:
Hausmusik (EMI)
ASMF Chamber Ens. (Chandos)
Chilingirian Qt. et al (EMI)
Rosamunde:
       Masur/Gewandhaus O. (Philips)
Symphonies Nos. 1-9:
       Abbado/CO of Europe (DG)
*Symphony No. 5:
       Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Klemperer/Phil. O. (EMI)
Goodman/Hanover Band (Nimbus)
        Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (RCA)
*Symphony No. 8, "Unfinished":
        Jochum/Boston SO (DG)
       Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
        Klemperer/Phil. O. (EMI)
        Blomstedt/Gewandhaus O. (DG)
Sinopoli/Philh. O. (DG)  
        Walter/NYPO (Sony)
        Krips/VPO (HDTT or Decca)
        Zinman/Tonhalle O. Zurich (RCA)
        Jacobsen/The Knights (Ancalagon)
Munch/Boston SO (RCA/JVC)
Mackerras/Scottish CO (Telarc)
*Symphony No. 9, "Great C-major":
        Savall/Le Concert des Nations (AliaVox)
Krips/LSO (HDTT or Decca)
        Klemperer/Phil. O. (EMI)
        Mackerras/O. of the Age of Enlightenment (Virgin)
Solti/VPO (Decca)
        Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony)
        Blomstedt/Gewandhaus O. (DG)
Wand/Berlin Philharmonic (RCA)
Mackerras/Scottish CO (Telarc)
Boult/LPO (EMI)


SCHUMANN, Robert (1810-1856)
Cello Concero in A-minor:
        Miranda/Vronsky/Moravian Philharmonic (Navona)
Starker/Skrowaczewski/LSO (Mercury)
        Thedeen/Markiz/Malmo SO (BIS)
Piano Concerto in A-major:
Kovacevich/Davis/BBC SO (Philips or Newton Classics)
Cliburn/Reiner/CSO (RCA)
        Andsnes/Jansons/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)
        Lorango/Newman/New Brandenburg Collegium (Newport Classic)
        Lupu/Previn/LSO (FIM or Decca)
        Janis/Skrowaczewski/Minneapolis SO (Mercury)
Symphonies Nos. 1-4:
        Sawallisch/Staatskapelle Dresden (EMI)
        Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Szell/Cleveland SO (Sony)
        Gardiner/ORR (DG)
*Symphony No. 1, "Spring":
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Sawallisch/Staatskapelle Dresden (EMI)
Symphony No. 2:
Sawallisch/Staatskapelle Dresden (EMI)
Goodman/Hanover Band (RCA)
Symphony No. 3, "Rhenish":
Sawallisch/Staatskapelle Dresden (EMI)
Norrington/LCP (EMI)
*Symphony No. 4:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Sawallisch/Staatskapelle Dresden (EMI)
Goodman/Hanover Band (RCA)


SHOSTAKOVICH, Dmitri (1906-1973)

Symphony No. 1:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Decca)
Jarvi/Scottish NO (Chandos)
Rozhdestvensky/USSR State SO (JVC)
        Ormandy/Philad. O. (Sony)
Symphony No. 5:
Jansons/VPO (EMI)
Ashkenazy/RPO (Decca)
        Bernstein/NYPO (Sony)
M. Shostakovich/USSR SO (RCA)
Stokowski/Stadium SO (Everest)
        Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Decca)
Previn/LSO (RCA)
Jarvi/SNO (Chandos)
Symphony No. 6:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Symphony No. 8:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Mravinsky/Leningrad SO (BBC)
Symphony No. 10:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Inbal/VSO (Denon)
Symphony No. 13 "Babi Yar":
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Decca)
Symphony No. 15:
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Decca)
Roshdestvensky/USSR SO (JVC)


SIBELIUS, Jean (1865-1957)
*Finlandia and other tone poems:
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)
Stein/Suisse Romande O. (Decca)
Ashkenazy/Philh. O. (Decca)
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (Warner)
Vanska/Lahti SO (BIS)
C. Davis/LSO (RCA)
        C. Davis/Boston SO (Philips)
Four Legends:
Ormandy/Philad. O. (EMI)
Pelleas et Melisande:
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Violin Concerto:
Heifetz/Munch/BSO (RCA)
Lin/Salonen/Philh. O. (Sony)
        Perlman/Previn/Pittsburgh SO (EMI)
Kullervo Symphony:
Berglund/Helsinki PO (EMI)
Davis/LSO (RCA)
Symphonies Nos. 1-7:
        Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)
        C. Davis/LSO (RCA)
        C. Davis/Boston SO (Philips)
Symphony No. 1:
Maazel/VPO (Decca)
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)
Ashkenazy/Philh. O. (Decca)
Davis/LSO (RCA)
Vanska/Lahti SO (BIS)
Jansons/Oslo PO (EMI)
        Bernstein/VPO (DG)
*Symphony No. 2:
Barbirolli/RPO (Chesky Gold)
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI or HDTT)
        Monteux/LSO (HDTT)
        Szell/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
        Rouvali/Gothenburg SO (Alpha-Classics)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)
        Kletzki/Philh. O. (Hi-Q)
        Sondergard/BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Linn)
Vanska/Lahti SO (BIS)
Symphony No. 3:
Davis/LSO (RCA)
Berglund/Helsinki PO (EMI)
Jarvi/Gothenburg SO (BIS)
Symphony No. 4:
Ashkenazy/Philh. O. (Decca)
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (HDTT or DG)
Berglund/Helsinki PO (EMI)
Vanska/Lahti SO (BIS)
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)
Symphony No. 5:
Davis/LSO (RCA)
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Rattle/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Rattle/CBSO (EMI)
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI and DG)
Symphony No. 6:
Davis/LSO (RCA)
Berglund/Helsinki PO (EMI)
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)
Vanska/Lahti SO (BIS)
Symphony No. 7:
Beecham/RPO (EMI)
Davis/LSO (RCA)
Berglund/Helsinki PO (EMI)
Barbirolli/Halle O. (EMI)


SMETANA, Bedrich (1824-1884)
*Ma Vlast, complete:
        Dorati/Concertgebouw O. (Philips or Newton Classics)
Berglund/Dresden SO (EMI)
Neumann/Gewandhaus O. (Teldec)
        Kubelik/Czech PO (Supraphon)
Pesek/Royal Liverpool PO (Virgin)
        Wit/Polish National RSO (Naxos)
Ma Vlast: Vltava (The Moldau):
Stokowski/RCA Victor SO (RCA or RCA/JVC)


STRAUSS, Johann (1825-1899)
*Waltzes:
Boskovsky/VPO (Decca or HDTT)
Boskovsky/J. Strauss O. (EMI)
Dorati/LPO (HDTT) 
Reiner/CSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Horenstein/Vienna St. Op. O. (Chesky)
Die Fledermaus:
Rothenberger/Boskovsky/Vienna SO (EMI)


STRAUSS, Richard (1864-1949)
An Alpine Symphony:
Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle (EMI)
Kempe/Royal Philharmonic O. (Testament)
Previn/VPO (Telarc)
        Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips or Newton Classics)
Blomstedt/SFSO (Decca)
        Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
        Mehta/Los Angeles Philharmonic (HDTT or Decca)
        Solti/BRSO (Decca)
Thielemann/VPO (DG)
*Also Sprach Zarathustra:
        Reiner/CSO (1954, RCA)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Reiner/CSO (HDTT, RCA, or RCA/JVC)
Previn/VPO (Telarc)
Blomstedt/Dresden Staatskapelle (Denon)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Mester/Pasadena SO (Auricle)
Death and Transfiguration:
Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
*Don Juan:
Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Previn/VPO (Telarc)
Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle (EMI)
Don Quixote:
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)
Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle (EMI)
Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Previn/VPO (Telarc)
Ein Heldenleben:
Kempe/Dresden Staatskapelle (EMI)
Reiner/CSO (RCA)
        Beecham/Royal Philharmonic (EMI)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Barbirolli/LSO (EMI)
Solti/VPO (Decca)
Der Rosenkavalier:
Schwarzkopf/Karajan/Philh. O. (EMI)
Salome:
Behrens/Karajan/VPO (EMI)
Nilsson/Solti/VPO (Decca)


STRAVINSKY, Igor (1882-1971)
*The Firebird, complete:
Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Nagano/LSO (Virgin)
Haitink/LPO (Philips)
Chailly/Concertgebouw O. (Decca)
The Firebird, suite:
Muti/Philad. O. (EMI)
        Shaw/Atlanta SO (Telarc)
        Stokowski/LSO (Decca)
        Bernard/Park Avenue Chamber Symphony (Recursive Classics)
Petrushka:
Monteux/Boston SO (RCA)
Rattle/CBSO (EMI)
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony)
Davis/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
        Muti/Philad. O. (EMI)
Haitink/LPO (Philips)
Pulcinella, suite:
Marriner/ASMF (Decca)
*The Rite of Spring:
        Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony, remastered)
 Solti/Chicago SO (Decca or Decca/JVC)
        Muti/Philad. O. (EMI)
        Stravinsky/Columbia SO (Sony)
        Boulez/Cleveland SO (Sony)


SULLIVAN, Sir Arthur (1842-1900)
*The Mikado:
Nash/D'Oyly Carte (Decca)
Jones/D'Oyly Carte (Sony)
Mackerras/Welch Nat'l Opera (Telarc)
The Pirates of Penzance:
Godfrey/D'Oyly Carte (Decca)
Mackerras/Welch Nat'l Opera (Telarc)
*H.M.S. Pinafore:
Godfrey/D'Oyly Carte (Decca)
Mackerras/Welch Nat'l Opera (Telarc)


SUPPE, Franz von (1819-1895)
*Overtures:
Paray/Detroit SO (Mercury)
Marriner/ASMF (EMI)
Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)


TCHAIKOVSKY, Peter (1840-1893)
Capriccio Italien:
Boult/LPO (EMI)
        Kondrashin/RCA Victor SO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
        Alwyn/LSO (HDTT)
Mata/Dallas SO (RCA)
Gibson/LSO (Chesky Gold)
        Leaper/RPO (Naxos)
*1812 Overture:
Previn/LSO (Hi-Q or EMI)
Edwards/Liverpool PO (EMI)
Dorati/Minn. SO (Decca/Mercury)
        Reiner/CSO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
        Alwyn/LSO (HDTT)
        Kunzel/Cincinnati Symphony O. (FIM or Telarc)
Marche slave:
Boult/LPO (EMI)
Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
        Alwyn/LSO (HDTT)
Romeo and Juliet Overture:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Boult/LPO (EMI)
*Piano Concerto No. 1:
Cliburn/Kondrashin/RCA SO (RCA or RCA/JVC)
Horowitz/Toscanini/NBC SO (RCA, mono)
Argerich/Dutoit/RPO (DG)
Giles/Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Argerich/Kondrashin/BRSO (Philips)
Wild/Fistoulari/RPO (Chesky)
Violin Concerto:
Perlman/Wallenstein/LSO (Chesky Gold)
Heifetz/Reiner/CSO (RCA)
Chung/Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
*Nutcracker/Sleeping Beauty/Swan Lake, highlights:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Nutcracker, suite:
Abravanel/Utah SO (Vanguard)
        Kurtz/Philharmonia O. (Hi-Q or EMI)
Nutcracker, complete:
Dorati/Concertgebouw O. (Philips/Decca)
        Dorati/LSO (Mercury)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Ashkenazy/RPO (Decca)
Dutoit/Monteal SO (Decca)
        Gergiev/Kirov O. (Philips/Decca)
        Rattle/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)
Sleeping Beauty, complete:
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Ashkenazy/RPO (Decca)
        Mogrelia/Slovak State Philharmonic O. (Naxos)
Pletnev/Russian National O. (DG)
        Rozhdestvensky/BBC SO (BBC)
*Swan Lake, highlights:
Fistoulari, Concertgebouw O. (HDTT or Decca)
        Ansermet/O. Suisse Romande (FIM)
        Kurtz/Philharmonia O. (Hi-Q or EMI)
Swan Lake, complete:
        Dutoit/Montreal SO (Decca)
Ansermet/O. Suisse Romande (FIM)
        Previn/LSO (EMI)
Moldoveanu/Royal PO (RPO)
*Serenade for Strings:
Marriner/ASMF (Decca)
Leppard/ECO (Philips)
Symphonies Nos. 1-7:
        Jansons/Oslo PO (Chandos)
Symphony No. 1, "Winter Daydreams":
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Markevitch/LSO (Philips)
Jansons/Oslo PO (Chandos)
Muti/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Pletnev/Russian National O. (Pentatone)
Symphony No. 2, "Little Russian," original version:
Simon/LSO (Chandos)
Symphony No. 2, "Little Russian," revised version:
Markevitch/LSO (Philips)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Symphony No. 3, "Polish":
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Markevitch/LSO (Philips)
Jansons/Oslo PO (Chandos)
*Symphony No. 4:
Monteux/BSO (JVC)
Szell/LSO (Decca)
Jansons/Oslo PO (Chandos)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
*Symphony No. 5:
Jansons/Oslo PO (Chandos)
Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
Muti/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Stokowski/New Philh. O. (Decca)
        Gergiev/VPO (Decca)
*Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique":
Pletnev/Russian National O. (Virgin)
Ashkenazy/Philh. O. (Decca)
Jansons/Oslo PO (Chandos)
        Klemperer/Philh. O. (HDTT)
Manfred Symphony:
Muti/Philh. O. (EMI)
Jansons/Oslo PO (Chandos)
        Kitajenko/Gurzenich O. (Oehms)


VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, Ralph (1872-1958)
Orchestral music:
        Barbirolli/Sinfonia of London (EMI)
Symphonies Nos. 1-9:
Boult/LPO/New Philh. O. (EMI)
        Haitink/LPO (Warner Classics or EMI)
        Previn/LSO (RCA)
Handley/Liverpool PO (EMI)
        Manze/RLPO (Onyx)
Symphony No. 3:
        Previn/LSO (HDTT or RCA)
Symphony No. 4:
Thomson/LSO (Chandos)
Symphony No. 5:
Previn/RPO (Telarc)
        Spano/Atlanta SO (Telarc)


VERDI, Giuseppe (1813-1901)
Overtures and choruses:
Muti/Philh. O. (EMI)
Abaddo/Teatro alla Scala (DG)
*Aida:
Freni/Carreras/Karajan/VPO (EMI)
Caballe/Domingo/Muti/N. Phil. O. (EMI)
Otello:
Del Monaco/Karajan/VPO (Decca)
Domingo/Maazel/La Scala (EMI)
Rigoletto:
Pavarotti/Milnes/Bonynge/LSO (Decca)
*La Traviata:
Cotrubas/Kleiber/Bavarian St. O. (DG)
*Il Trovatore:
Price/Domingo/Mehta/New Phil. O. (RCA)
Plowright/Domingo/Giulini/St. Cecilia O. (DG)
Requiem:
Schwarzkopf/Giulini/Philh. O. (EMI)
Orgonasova/Gardiner/ORR (Philips)
        Gheorghiu/Abbado/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI/Warner)


VIVALDI, Antonio (1675-1741)
*The Four Seasons:
        McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque O. (PBP)
Kuijken/La Petite Bande (Pro Arte or Sony)
Sparf/Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble (BIS)
        Sorrell/Apollo's Fire (Avie)
Lamon/Tafelmusik (Sony)
        Pinnock/Eng. Concert (DG Archiv)
        Marriner/ASMF (Decca)
        Perlman/LPO (Hi-Q or EMI)
        I Musici (Decca)
Silverstein/Ozawa/BSO (FIM or Telarc)
Gloria:
Preston/AAM (L'Oiseau-Lyre)


WAGNER, Richard (1813-1883)
*Overtures, preludes, and orchestral excerpts:
        Klemperer/Philh. O. (EMI)
        Haitink/Concertgebouw O. (Philips)
        Leinsdorf/LAPO (Sheffield)
        Stokowski/Symphony of the Air/RPO/LSO (HDTT or RCA)
        Boult/LPO and LSO (EMI)
Orchestral music from the Ring:
Solti/VPO (Decca)
Dorati/Nat'l SO, WA (Decca)
The Flying Dutchman:
Adam/Silja/Klemperer/New Philh. O. (EMI)
        Bailey/Martin/Solti/Chicago SO (Decca)
The Ring of the Nibelungen, complete:
Nilsson/Ludwig/Solti/VPO (Decca)
Tannhauser:
Domingo/Studer/Sinopoli/Philh. O. (DG)
Kollo/Dernesch/Solti/VPO (Decca)
Konig/Popp/Haitink/Bavarian RSO (EMI)
Tristan und Isolde:
Domingo/Stemme/Pappano/ROH (EMI)
Vickers/Dernesch//Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (EMI)


WALTON, Sir William (1902-1983)
Facade, Gloria, Te Deum, et al:
        Fistoulari/Royal Opera House O., Covent Garden (HDTT)
Fremaux/CBSO (EMI)
Symphony No. 1:
Previn/LSO (RCA)
        C. Davis/LSO (LSO Live)
Mackerras/LSO (EMI)
Symphony No. 2:
        Previn/LSO (EMI)
Mackerras/LSO (EMI)
Szell/Cleveland O. (Sony)
Belshazzar's Feast:
Hickox/LSO (EMI)
Previn/LSO (EMI)
Shaw/Atlanta SO (Telarc)


WEBER, Carl Maria von (1786-1826)
Overtures:
Goodman/Hanover Band (Nimbus)
Karajan/Berlin Philharmonic (DG)
Clarinet Concertos Nos. 1 & 2:
Pay/O. of the Age of Enlightenment (Virgin)
        Shifrin/Golub/O. di Padova e del Veneto (Delos)
Der Freischutz:
Kollo/Kubelik/Bavarian RSO (Decca)


WEILL, Kurt (1900-1950)
The Threepenny Opera, complete:
Lenya/Bruckner-Ruggeberg BRO (Sony)
The Threepenny Opera, suite:
Weisberg/Contemporary Chamber Ens. (Nonesuch)
Chicago Pro Musica (Reference Recordings)

JJP

Meet the Staff

Meet the Staff
John J. Puccio, Founder and Contributor

Understand, I'm just an everyday guy reacting to something I love. And I've been doing it for a very long time, my appreciation for classical music starting with the musical excerpts on the Big Jon and Sparkie radio show in the early Fifties and the purchase of my first recording, The 101 Strings Play the Classics, around 1956. In the late Sixties I began teaching high school English and Film Studies as well as becoming interested in hi-fi, my audio ambitions graduating me from a pair of AR-3 speakers to the Fulton J's recommended by The Stereophile's J. Gordon Holt. In the early Seventies, I began writing for a number of audio magazines, including Audio Excellence, Audio Forum, The Boston Audio Society Speaker, The American Record Guide, and from 1976 until 2008, The $ensible Sound, for which I served as Classical Music Editor.

Today, I'm retired from teaching and use a pair of bi-amped VMPS RM40s loudspeakers for my listening. In addition to writing for the Classical Candor blog, I served as the Movie Review Editor for the Web site Movie Metropolis (formerly DVDTown) from 1997-2013. Music and movies. Life couldn't be better.

Karl Nehring, Editor and Contributor

For more than 20 years I was the editor of The $ensible Sound magazine and a regular contributor to both its equipment and recordings review pages. I would not presume to present myself as some sort of expert on music, but I have a deep love for and appreciation of many types of music, "classical" especially, and have listened to thousands of recordings over the years, many of which still line the walls of my listening room (and occasionally spill onto the furniture and floor, much to the chagrin of my long-suffering wife). I have always taken the approach as a reviewer that what I am trying to do is simply to point out to readers that I have come across a recording that I have found of interest, a recording that I think they might appreciate my having pointed out to them. I suppose that sounds a bit simple-minded, but I know I appreciate reading reviews by others that do the same for me — point out recordings that they think I might enjoy.

For readers who might be wondering about what kind of system I am using to do my listening, I should probably point out that I do a LOT of music listening and employ a variety of means to do so in a variety of environments, as I would imagine many music lovers also do. Starting at the more grandiose end of the scale, the system in which I do my most serious listening comprises Marantz CD 6007 and Onkyo CD 7030 CD players, NAD C 658 streaming preamp/DAC, Legacy Audio PowerBloc2 amplifier, and a pair of Legacy Audio Focus SE loudspeakers. I occasionally do some listening through pair of Sennheiser 560S headphones. I miss the excellent ELS Studio sound system in our 2016 Acura RDX (now my wife's daily driver) on which I had ripped more than a hundred favorite CDs to the hard drive, so now when driving my 2022 Accord EX-L Hybrid I stream music from my phone through its adequate but not outstanding factory system. For more casual listening at home when I am not in my listening room, I often stream music through the phone into a Vizio soundbar system that has tolerably nice sound for such a diminutive physical presence. And finally, at the least grandiose end of the scale, I have an Ultimate Ears Wonderboom II Bluetooth speaker for those occasions where I am somewhere by myself without a sound system but in desperate need of a musical fix. I just can’t imagine life without music and I am humbly grateful for the technology that enables us to enjoy it in so many wonderful ways.

William (Bill) Heck, Webmaster and Contributor

Among my early childhood memories are those of listening to my mother playing records (some even 78 rpm ones!) of both classical music and jazz tunes. I suppose that her love of music was transmitted genetically, and my interest was sustained by years of playing in rock bands – until I realized that this was no way to make a living. The interest in classical music was rekindled in grad school when the university FM station serving as background music for studying happened to play the Brahms First Symphony. As the work came to an end, it struck me forcibly that this was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard, and from that point on, I never looked back. This revelation was to the detriment of my studies, as I subsequently spent way too much time simply listening, but music has remained a significant part of my life. These days, although I still can tell a trumpet from a bassoon and a quarter note from a treble clef, I have to admit that I remain a nonexpert. But I do love music in general and classical music in particular, and I enjoy sharing both information and opinions about it.

The audiophile bug bit about the same time that I returned to classical music. I’ve gone through plenty of equipment, brands from Audio Research to Yamaha, and the best of it has opened new audio insights. Along the way, I reviewed components, and occasionally recordings, for The $ensible Sound magazine. Most recently I’ve moved to my “ultimate system” consisting of a BlueSound Node streamer, an ancient Toshiba multi-format disk player serving as a CD transport, Legacy Wavelet II DAC/preamp/crossover, dual Legacy PowerBloc2 amps, and Legacy Signature SE speakers (biamped), all connected with decently made, no-frills cables. With the arrival of CD and higher resolution streaming, that is now the source for most of my listening.

Ryan Ross, Contributor

I started listening to and studying classical music in earnest nearly three decades ago. This interest grew naturally out of my training as a pianist. I am now a musicologist by profession, specializing in British and other symphonic music of the 19th and 20th centuries. My scholarly work has been published in major music journals, as well as in other outlets. Current research focuses include twentieth-century symphonic historiography, and the music of Jean Sibelius, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Malcolm Arnold.

I am honored to contribute writings to Classical Candor. In an age where the classical recording industry is being subjected to such profound pressures and changes, it is more important than ever for those of us steeped in this cultural tradition to continue to foster its love and exposure. I hope that my readers can find value, no matter how modest, in what I offer here.


Bryan Geyer, Technical Analyst

I initially embraced classical music in 1954 when I mistuned my car radio and heard the Heifetz recording of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. That inspired me to board the new "hi-fi" DIY bandwagon. In 1957 I joined one of the pioneer semiconductor makers and spent the next 32 years marketing transistors and microcircuits to military contractors. Home audio DIY projects remained a personal passion until 1989 when we created our own new photography equipment company. I later (2012) revived my interest in two channel audio when we "downsized" our life and determined that mini-monitors + paired subwoofers were a great way to mate fine music with the space constraints of condo living.

Visitors that view my technical papers on this site may wonder why they appear here, rather than on a site that features audio equipment reviews. My reason is that I tried the latter, and prefer to publish for people who actually want to listen to music; not to equipment. My focus is in describing what's technically beneficial to assure that the sound of the system will accurately replicate the source input signal (i. e. exhibit high accuracy) without inordinate cost and complexity. Conversely, most of the audiophiles of today strive to achieve sound that's euphonic, i.e. be personally satisfying. In essence, audiophiles seek sound that's consistent with their desire; the music is simply a test signal.

Mission Statement

It is the goal of Classical Candor to promote the enjoyment of classical music. Other forms of music come and go--minuets, waltzes, ragtime, blues, jazz, bebop, country-western, rock-'n'-roll, heavy metal, rap, and the rest--but classical music has been around for hundreds of years and will continue to be around for hundreds more. It's no accident that every major city in the world has one or more symphony orchestras.

When I was young, I heard it said that only intellectuals could appreciate classical music, that it required dedicated concentration to appreciate. Nonsense. I'm no intellectual, and I've always loved classical music. Anyone who's ever seen and enjoyed Disney's Fantasia or a Looney Tunes cartoon playing Rossini's William Tell Overture or Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 can attest to the power and joy of classical music, and that's just about everybody.

So, if Classical Candor can expand one's awareness of classical music and bring more joy to one's life, more power to it. It's done its job. --John J. Puccio

Contact Information

Readers with polite, courteous, helpful letters may send them to classicalcandor@gmail.com

Readers with impolite, discourteous, bitchy, whining, complaining, nasty, mean-spirited, unhelpful letters may send them to classicalcandor@recycle.bin.

"Their Master's Voice" by Michael Sowa

"Their Master's Voice" by Michael Sowa