25 records to start a classical music collection

Some recommendations for the classically-curious.
I probably pronounced some names wrong. This is why classical radio jockey's make the big bucks.
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[@joedeegan3870]

Am 75 years old & have been into classical since the late 1950's Enjoyed your presentation.

[@codygrayland]

Here too, great job young man. Thank you.

[@AAA-iw1ml]

Ive been collecting vinyls recently which has been pretty hard for a now 14 yr old. Ive only got pop and ive been searching everywhere for classicals. Thank you so much for the help

[@stereo8893]

I'm always late to the party, but I love your take on music. You're fresh, young, well spoken, and obviously very well educated. Keep up the good work here and may life reward you ten fold.

[@bobsykes]

Thank you! Amazing. Definitely a few Christmas presents I'll buy for myself among all of these recommendations. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@jivy2]

Michael, thanks for the great information. I have always wanted to dive into classical but the selection and names were overwhelming. Jazz has always been my go-to, but after receiving my order from Acoustic sounds with many of the titles you mentioned I can safely say I'm hooked!

[@AsTheTableTurns]

Thank you! I was searching your videos to see if you had an introduction list to classical but I couldn’t find one. This is a big help to novices like me.

[@mlblue5355]

Thanks, I appreciate your information on these recordings.

[@MilesHButler]

Always great stuff. Thank you man!

[@angelroman9170]

Marvelous video. As a neofit in classical music, ive learned a lot with these recommendations. We need a second part. Another 25 gems to own on vinyl! Greetings from Spain

[@Tojazzer]

Those are great picks. You've given me something more to think about. Thanks for the post. Also, your French pronunciation is pretty good. Your time in Quebec is paying off!

[@tweakerman]

Love your knowledge & thank you, for this video, I'll check out all 25 LP's, excellent video👍

[@FleagleSangria]

New guy here, thank Ken for sending me your way;) Fairly clueless on classical. This was VERY helpful. I think folks who are not sure where to start simply get frustrated/overwhelmed and, well, they dont start at all. Ill be having some great fun getting started properly! Thanks! subscribed👍🏻

[@ian_of_glos]

This is a fascinating and well presented review of a basic classical collection, and your recommendations show you have put a lot of thought into it. I only have a couple of these recordings in my collection - the Mravinsky set of Tchaikovsky symphonies and the Elgar cell Concerto, despite the fact that I am an avid classical record collector. So you have given me some great ideas I will thoroughly enjoy the job of searching for the other recordings that you have suggested.

[@marcelmillot7327]

I just want to let you know that your videos are definitely awesome! I am just starting to get into classical music and love your recommendations. I've checked them out on iTunes to see if they would be to my liking before I purchased them. I even have gone out to order some of them from London from ebay to makes sure I get the label you recommend. I also have high end equipment. I look forward to your future videos on vinyl/label recommendations. Thanks again. Marcel

[@josephlow1102]

Excellent picks and recommendations - thank you

[@sirroger1066]

Thanks, this was a nice Christmas gift

[@popsandclicks]

Excellent list, thanks for a novis on Classic music, i will try to find a few of these. Cheers.

[@Agamemnon2]

A fascinating list. I added a few of them to my ever-expanding wantlist for when I have more time to pursue classical music. So far I've mostly been dabbling at it occasionally, buying cheap RCA Red Seals, Deutsch Grammophons and EMIs that come my way. Maybe one day I'll have time to properly sit down an enjoy it.

[@jackspeight273]

Hi Michael. I know a lot about classical music and classical recordings but am completely ignorant to the audiophile, vinyl pressing side of things. Your information over a few videos as helped stay away from low quality pressings (even if the actual performances are good). Helped me a lot, thanks.

[@garysmith1156]

Love your collection mate

[@NotedArchived]

MJ - this is such a welcome and lovely video. thanks for all your hard work and research - years and years of listening and playing have gone into this list. profound. so many new titles for me to investigate. enjoy your family time in austin and be well, my friend. happy holidays!

[@NotedArchived]

ps. i did have a small chunk of the albums you shared but - a lot of new names to me... i have done some sampling online and have narrowed the list and set my sights on these three to pick up thanks to you and this video: Argenta/Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique Kertesz/Dvorak - Symphony No 5 Munch/Saint-Saens - Symphony No 3

[@poetryonplastic]

@@NotedArchived the Saint-Saens should be a blast on those Buchardts, enjoy!

[@dwashington607]

Hi Michael, Thank you for making this video. I’ve always admired how much knowledge you have when it comes to describing music and pressings. I’ve collected classical music through the year, but unfortunately not on vinyl. You remind me of a friend I had that used to work in the classical music department at J&R Music World in NYC. It’s long been closed for years. He would always have various choices for me to choose from. He was like a classical music walking encyclopedia. He had a huge collection of classical music he had collected for over 70 plus years. Unfortunately, he passed away year ago. I’ll be saving this video for future reference whenever I can afford to purchase music. Food comes first for me my friend. Thanks again for making this video. My friend Jeffery would have really liked you.

[@poetryonplastic]

Man J&R takes me back! I went there a few times in my undergrad living in nyc, I think I went once or twice when they were in the old building, and then once when they relocated and started clearing out their inventory (this was 2012 or 2013 I think). I wish my knowledge was sharper on classical vinyl back then because I don't remember looking through any classical records when I was there. I do miss the classical selection at Academy records (the one on 18th), that's still there to the best of my knowledge. Never apologize for putting yourself and your need before this hobby, a good record collection is not about how many records we own or are acquiring, but the connection we have with the music. Vinyl, Cds, etc, are just ways we get there. Besides, looking at your channel, it looks like you already have plenty to listen to! Stay safe my friend.

[@TorontoJon]

Great recommendations, Michael. I especially love the Fritz Reiner RCA Living Stereo performance of Rimsky-Korsakoff's 'Scheherazade' and I have both an Analogue Productions reissue as well as an original "shaded dog" version. It is truly spectacular. :)

[@georgedoughly8682]

I got the AP 45 RPM version of Scheherazade today and I Love it!!

[@ejtonefan]

Thank you Michael for this episode. You are one of a kind who speaks with experience and authority about Classical music and vinyl! There are plenty of "authorities" on most of the other genres of music. I discovered your channel in 2017 when you presented "A Guide to Collecting Classical Music on Vinyl". This guide is essential to understanding vinyl in general and is more unique than I think you realize. Audio clarity is essential in the appreciation of music, particularly classical music where there are generally a lot of different instruments being played and timbres heard. With "audiophile" grade LPs, the listener can better hear and comprehend what the composer, conductor and orchestra intended to be heard. This hobby doesn't have to be expensive. All of your recommendations for entry level audio equipment can bring that "sparkle to the ear". Also, I would rather have one of the recent "audiophile" remasters than a bunch of inferior sounding recordings. I know you are busy finishing your classical studies, however, any and all features on classical music are greatly appreciated!

[@TheVinylGuru]

You are so right about him. Yes to ALL of this.

[@wyattxhim]

Thank you for this

[@novisnick6928]

Thanks so much Michael!

[@bradleykay]

This is an awesome list. Now looking for that speakers corner Rite of Spring.

[@marcallen4532]

I’m cheering your selections! I have almost every one of those am most would be my top picks as well.

[@yanni5848]

Thank you very much for this Video. I ordered most of what you recommended. Beautiful.

[@brandnewstart]

Late arrival at your channel but looking to get more into classical so fascinating list. Thank you. As a Brit I’d have to add Vaughn Williams Larks Ascending of course. Graham 🙏

[@mazzysmusic]

This was great Michael. Although I know some of these pieces of music from my record store days I no longer own many of them on vinyl anymore and you’ve inspired me to dive back in. A perfect holiday gift \. BTW my package is on the way to you. Just a small offering. Best to you on Christmas and in the new year. Cheers ✌🏻

[@poetryonplastic]

Thank you mazzy, i look forward to the unboxing. May all our New Years be brighter than whatever the hell 2020 was!

[@rodrigollanes7619]

Great video! Happy Xmas MJ!

[@jaysoncarmichael7104]

I’ve been into classical more since someone left me some records. I have bought quite a few since. I can usually tell if I’ll like them by the cover. I thought I had bought enough until I saw this video, I been inspired to buy a few more. You do good videos. I am still more into various genres of pop though.

[@DeAudiofilosyLocos]

Such a great list!. I myself need to look into these for the most part. I do enjoy my copy of Saint Saens with Munch way too often. Such an underrated composer...

[@poetryonplastic]

Yes it's my new years resolution to explore more of his chamber music!

[@1Verwoert]

Love this top 25 !

[@flamingroove]

Thanks. I was looking for a recommendation for a great “Grand Canyon Suite” recording. With my new stereo I was trying to get some more classical records. I think I have the version of “The Planets” you recommend, but in an older cover. Thanks

[@CharlesRBiggs]

Bravo! Thank you for your excellent and thoughtful selections. I am very grateful for Analogue Productions' reissues.

[@vinylrescueband2126]

In an online world of Idiocracy, this video is an oasis of valuable information and discussion. Thank you. I also appreciate the credit you give to Andre Previn's recordings which are highly underrated in my opinion. His conducting from the piano of Mozart's Piano Concerto in C Minor K.491 in my personal favorite.

[@lawrencejhutchinson]

You can't live without: 1.Haydn's cello concerto in c Rostropovich with Britten or Iona Brown 2.Mozart's clarinet concerto Jack Brymer with Marriner or Beecham 3.Carlos Kleiber's recordings of Beethoven 5, Brahms 4, and Schubert 8 4.Brahms violin concerto Krebbers with Haitink 5.Beethoven violin concerto Perlman or Krebbers

[@Josal]

Great list 👍🏽🤙🏽

[@Claus-CaptainPhoenixCorner]

Great "get-into-classical-music"-introduction - well done Michael. And good to learn that your generation - I'm one older - also have the appetite for classical music! I was a bit surprised that you didn't include any Mozart works/records, since most of his work is very accessible (and accessibility could be important to someone new to classical music). It could be almost any of his symphonies (I prefer the later - e.g. 41), his piano concertos (e.g. 25) - or even his Requiem... Or maybe an opera. I'd suggest Don Giovanni (love the 1959 Carlo Maria Giulini-version myself and the 1968 Karl Böhm too) and also Le Nozze di Figaro (where the 1968 recording - Böhm again - does it for me. I do get goose-bumps every - EVERY - time at the end of the ouverture!). Also a new-to-classical-music person should have/listen to BW 1043 - The double concerto. The first movement is in reality "rock'n'roll" merged into classical music, which I think will be easy and satisfying for many listeners (I love the 1981 recording w. Zubin Mehta - the celebration the 60.th anniversary of Isaac Stern but other recordings could maybe be even better). Anyways - keep up the good work 🙂 - Claus

[@pl566]

I love these types of lists and this was no exception. I was interested to hear your comments on performance of Baroque music of the past. Is that discussed more on another of your videos?

[@poetryonplastic]

I should talk more about it. Basically I think most of the good baroque recordings are more recent fare.

[@AndersInStockholm]

Thank you very much for this, I really enjoyed it. I do have some of these titles that you show, and I'm also in to the audiophile versions. I bought a large vinyl collection with classical music in september 2019, that's what I've been listening to mostly since. You asked for a opinion, I'm listen a lot to string quartets so Franz Schubert / Quartetto Italiano ‎- Der Tod Und Das Mädchen (Philips 1966) is something I would recommend to people that want to build a collection. But I know nothing compared to you. Thanks again /Anders

[@jamesnordbeck382]

Some of the gems in my collection are the Daniil Trifonov DG Rachmaninov Concerto's, well recorded and performed with good acoustics. I enjoy the CSO Levine Brahms RCA's and Ax Chopin Piano Concertos, Stern Tchiakovksy/Mendelssohn Violin, Boulez Cleveland La Mer.

[@sonatahewrote]

love that Mravinsky/Tchaikovsky box set! my prized possession, thanks for the video

[@chasseur64]

It's very hard job to pick only 25 classical records ... but I think you've done a great job! Of course we couls easily discuss for hours, days, weeks, months ... which work or which recording to choose. So I won't start it :-) apart from Saint-Saens' Symphony Nr. 3. This is one of my favotite symphonies - and I am listining to and collecting classical music since I was 10 which is many many years ago. I own lot of recordings of that symphony, but I always end by putting Enest Ansermet on my turntabel, a recording dating from the early sixties. Decca SXL 6027 or the London equivalent CS 6331 will blow you away! Unfortunately there ist no reissue, I wonder why, but the originals are still to find at a reasonable price. Go for it!

[@djjoeykmusic]

Great video Had to watch it again Bravo 👏 Thank you so much

[@oddboxTopper]

Lovely recommendations. I seldom see any quality classical records in the wild were I live. Most that I find are usually beat unfortunately. I always appreciate and enjoy your recommendations. Peace

[@stevedundee866]

BRILLIANT !!

[@TheVinylGuru]

Thankfulness for this, sweetie.

[@zzuave2666]

Very informative, thank you. I'm going to try and treat myself to one of two of these for Christmas :). I'd be very interested to hear more in relation to Baroque. Have a great Christmas. Best wishes from the Isle of Skye. Scotland.

[@poetryonplastic]

I might do a video on that topic in the future, I think we are currently in a renaissance of good baroque recordings, the problem is none of them are on vinyl!

[@zzuave2666]

Well, I went off piste and ordered a couple of Decca UK narrow bands, a highlights Mme Butterfly and a Vienna New Year's day concert (1974) as I'm a total sucker for Anything Strauss. Been to Vienna and several concerts there too :).

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

Thank you so much for your wonderful recommendations. The Kertesz recordings of Dvorak's symphonies are all highly recommendable. I was actually listening to Munch's recording of Saint Saens Symphony No. 3 the other day, on the Victrola reissue label and it still sounded incredible. I love that Turandot (Leinsdorf was an extremely underrated conductor), and I would also recommend the Molinari-Pradelli EMI recording from 1967, also with Nilsson and with Corelli, and the 1954 Decca recording with Borkh, Del Monaco and a younger Tebaldi. If anyone else wanted to start collecting opera records, then you really can't go wrong with the (mono) 1953 EMI Callas/De Sabata recording of Tosca.

[@poetryonplastic]

That Tosca recording is definitely legendary, I’ve had it on my wishlist for a while now.

[@xxsaruman82xx87]

@@poetryonplastic Indeed! I think most of Callas’ recordings (certainly those from the 50s) are universally recommendable.

[@dashriprock2065]

very good - shocked i don't have any of them - looking forward to the hunt!

[@ArchismanMozumder]

I am an Indian and a beginner in understanding (western) classical music. Thank you very much for this video which has been of considerable educational value for me. I have subscribed to your channel & will follow it with interest. I very minor request. For videos like these, a list, in the description, will be of great help. Thanking you in advance.

[@djjoeykmusic]

Thank you so much!

[@georgeshaffer4686]

Great call on The Mahler 9

[@stephen-truthseeker]

This is good stuff.

[@404010ful]

I have the first one you showed merry Christmas to you I do love living stereo recordings do have some SACDS of living stereo I will check out the organ symphony one on vinyl Do have the reference recordings of that on SACD

[@joedeegan3870]

Stokowski was interested in getting the best sound on to the record. He was innovative and interested in the new right til the end. His Shherezade is interesting as an experiment in the Phase 4 approach.

[@rickmilam413]

I have The Planets as an original pressing and the Speakers Corner reissue. Often I prefer my older pressings but the Speakers Corner is fantastic. I didn't think I ever wanted to hear Mars again but the second side is sublime.

[@waverly2468]

That Scheherazade recording with Sydney Harth playing the solo violin and Adolph Herseth on first trumpet is in a class by itself, along with all of the RCA recordings with Heifetz. That Boston Symphony recording of the Saint Saens Organ Symphony is a classic, but from that era I prefer the very lush Philadelphia Orchestra recording with Ormandy, who did another great recording of it on cd with Michael Murray on the organ. Other than that I'm usually not partial to older vinyl recordings except in a few cases like Bernstein's Nielsen Symphony #5 on Columbia (now Sony Classical). I listen to most of my classical music on Spotify. If you want great sound check out you-tube performances of the Frankfurt Symphony, especially a recent one with the Bruch Violin Concerto.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I’m halfway through this video, and find myself hoping you include the remarkable Fennell/Cleveland recording of Holst Suites on Telarc. The best thing on that disc is the Bach Fantasia in G.

[@iblamesummers]

Glad you focused more on the Romantic era than Baroque.

[@poetryonplastic]

I just think that most of the baroque recordings I would recommend are not on vinyl as they would be released in the last 20 years.

[@iblamesummers]

@@poetryonplastic wholeheartedly agree. Would love to hear your thoughts on post-classical & 20th century classical music, if you have not already done so.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

I absolutely LOVE the Shostakovich 2nd Pa Concerto!!! It was on the program of the very first classical concert I ever attended. I was in sixth grade at the time, and I’ve been an avid classical collector ever since. And yes, the first recording I owned was that very Bernstein, and I still have it. (I’m 61 yo)

[@larryshaver3568]

I have several renditions of the Planets, i was so glad i got the one with Georg Solti after you said Kingsway Hall was demolished

[@dirkh.44]

My favorite recording of this work is a DG recording from 1971,with William Steinberg conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Special in Mars and Jupiter.

[@poetryonplastic]

@@dirkh.44 I've been really enjoying the old Decca of Karajan and Vienna lately. Not an easy to find record so unsuitable for this list, but a surprisingly good gem to look out for.

[@dirkh.44]

Yes indeed,thats also a very fine recording. Thanks for your response.@@poetryonplastic

[@djjoeykmusic]

Awesome Thank you so much

[@thomasfranzky3924]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge about classical recordings! Can you recommend any good recordings on vinyl of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, Concerto for Two Violins, and Suite No. 2 in B Minor?

[@EdwardT9]

Your baroque comment is true, but I still love the Brandenburg Concertos, pretty much by anyone, period instruments or not. Others you did not pick that I would... Richard Strauss Also sprach, and the Four last songs. Great channel, glad you’re doing this.

[@traviscoopermusic8812]

Maybe not easy to track down, but the Ansermet version of the Saint-Saen Symphony 3 on London blueback...I did compare it to a friend's Munch version. Get an Ansermet if ya can or don't have it. It's just stunning. Also, I thought I heard you say in another video that Reiner's Le Mer was a favorite of yours? I was fortunate to pick one of those up recently. But I figure you're trying to help people with excellent and more accessible reissues. Also, please do more composer spotlights if ya can. Loved the Shostakovich one.

[@poetryonplastic]

I’ve been wanting both the Ansermet and the Paray for a while now. I was very disappointed by the recent Kansas City/Reference Recordings pressing of this work, it sounded very dull. Lots of good La Mer’s out there. The Reiner LSC with Don Juan on the other side is another fantastic one. I also really like the sxl with Ansermet that also features the rhapsody for clarinet.

[@EddieJazzFan]

Great recommendations. The Bernstein Shostakovich 5 is great, but IMHO, the Ormandy/Philly on RCA has an edge for it's emotional impact and no Columbia strident string sound.

[@andreshazard2088]

Is hard for me in Chile to get most of this, but I'll try to get some. Thanks!!

[@jeremyarcher289]

Hey Michael, can you recommend accessible vinyl recordings of Brandenburg 2 the one with the trumpet solo? Also Mozart Little Night Music? Oh yah and Copland Billy the kid and other of his Americana stuff? Just trying to relive on vinyl my required listening list from college 😆! Great 👍 vid, will be buying a lot of your recommendations 👍 PS I live in Lago Vista, about 45minutes from downtown Austin 👍 Always hit up Waterloo and Book people when we travel in for Broadway subscription at Bass concert hall!

[@clarkebustard8672]

One of the best ways to get into classical music is with a collection of overtures. Most run from 5 to 10 minutes, closer to the length of songs. (A 40-minute piece like "Scheherazade" is a heavy life for a newcomer.) Overture collections often give you a pretty wide range of musical styles. Look for collections with at least two or three of these overtures: Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," Beethoven's "Egmont," Rossini's "William Tell," Mendelssohn's "Hebrides," Suppé's "Light Cavalry," Johann Strauss' "Die Fledermaus," Brahms' "Academic Festival." Another good entry point would be sets of Dvořák's "Slavonic Dances" and/or Brahms' "Hungarian Dances," all short pieces running 2 to 5 minutes. I also recommend rooting around KZbin - it's chock full of classical music - to sample the music before spending big bucks on a record. I'm not up on current/recent classical vinyl reissues, so I can't recommend a particular LP. . . . Oh, and in Bruno Walter's Columbia Symphony Beethoven symphony cycle, the standouts are No. 6 (the "Pastoral") and No. 7 - again, I don't know about audiophile reissue availability.

[@charleswoodard253]

You hit a chord with me when you said Prokofiev never wrote bad music. I’ve often thought the same. His music is hardly ever uninteresting. His melodies are the best! One composition I became obsessed with I think you would really enjoy is the second violin concerto. Best recording is the Heifetz. I think Prokofiev might have written it for Heifetz. I’m a strictly classical CD physical product kind of guy, but I was interested in what you had to say and you did good!

[@rodrigollanes7619]

Have you heard the Mehta/Los Angeles - Holst the Planets from the Decca reissue series (pressed by Optimal, Remastered at Abbey Road)? It says that it is “mastered from the original Decca analog tapes”. Really, great video!

[@poetryonplastic]

Cant say I have, I have the speakers corner, ORG 45, and the King Super Analogue, so I think I’m done buying that recording for the foreseeable future lol.

[@rodrigollanes7619]

@@poetryonplastic Ha thanks. One of my first purchases of classical music on vinyl was the Decca Sound box set. 6 Classic Analogue LPs. Of those you recommended, include Solti - Stravinsky: Le sacre de printemps. Although it is labeled as "The Analogue Years", it is not AAA (the backcover indicates ADD), but I think the sound is good and, above all, the recordings are phenomenal. I think it's a cheap way to get some great records. I guess the Metha - Holst it is also ADD...

[@ythagakure]

I see what you did here... 25 days til Christmas 🎄 and you drop this gift 🎁 on us! Great work and thank you for your recommendation!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

The Symphony of the Air is actually the remnants of Toscanini’s NBC Symphony.

[@pandoraefretum]

I enjoyed this. Glenn Gould's first and last recordings were of the Goldberg variations.... how amazing is that.... but wait... there's more... it's the only piece he ever recorded twice. He recorded all of Bach's works... once only (except the Goldbergs) and lastly... his later recording is the one I prefer. It is one of the most Earth sharttering piano recordings I have ever heard.... it shook me to the bones when I heard it 30 odd years ago... I could not stop listening to it... I was close to being in shock. Mahler's 4th is the most accessible.... but you;re right.. I have the Giulini and let me say he conducted everything slow and weighty and absolutely sublime... also I love your Tchaik 4 5 6 reccomendation

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Interesting bit of trivia….Reiner made a mono recording of the Barton with Pittsburgh a few years before taking the reins in Chicago. However, the first stereo recording of the work actually came from Houston, under Stokowski on the Everest.

[@martinsalazarloaiza4144]

Saludos desde Costa Rica 🇨🇷 Voy a iniciar mi colección de vinilos partiendo de tus recomendaciones! Gracias !

[@poetryonplastic]

Muchas gracias mi amigo!

[@indranilpoddar7195]

Hi thanks for the marvellous video...some obvious choices of course like the Chicago Reiner or Boston Munch recordings but I thought rather than the Shostakovich /Ravel LP maybe something from Bernstein the conductor (Beethoven Eroica or 7th with the VPO or Berlioz Harold with Donald Mcinnes)...plus maybe a couple of composers missed out - Sibelius and Haydn...the new Haydn 2032 Antonini series is promising...also how about a video of your favourite wind concertos? Great video once again...cheers and merry Christmas from India

[@poetryonplastic]

Yes Sibelius 2 would have been a good choice. Haydn, perhaps the surprise or farewell symphony.

[@kyoban6673]

Very interesting choices, of the ones I'm familiar with, I slightly prefer Saint-Saens s. 3 with Ormandy, btw do you have a favorite for Lizst piano solo/orchestra? Already own The Virtuoso Lizst in Rca Living St.

[@josephwoody8289]

if you havent picked it up or heard it you should get symphony #3 with organ by saint seans performed with michael murry at the organ and the eugene ormandy philadelphia orchestra. use caution - the forth piece is explosive but i love the deep pedalboard in the second movement best.

[@royhumphrey49]

I was on the verge of observing, in exasperation, No Mahler! Ok, so not my fave Mahler symphony, but then either #3 or #7 , as my favourites are difficult to understand then what about 'Das Lied von der Eerde'? Stokowski for Wagner????? Aaaaarrrrggghhh. His re-orchestrations decimated the originals! I am also surprised that you didn't pick Sir Adrian Boult as the greatest interpreter of Holst 'Planets'.

[@rc2257]

just stumbled on this video i like your picks. the proportions of your picks devoted to romantic, baroque, opera, and modern pretty much match my taste, though i'm super fond of bach. I'm sure you're familiar with bach's cello concertos, i especially love the starker on mercury living presence, I have the speakers corner 3x33 box and think it sounds dreamy. i've heard the AP 6x45 sounds better and I don't doubt that, but it's pretty expensive (esp now that it's out of print). I also have the rostropovich and casals on CD. i have a real soft spot for the casals, but having been recorded in the 1930s, the SQ is not great. (my CD also is probably not the best-sounding version) i have about half of your picks, esp. the analogue productions/QRP pressings of rca living stereo. i've been collecting them as they've become available from Acoustic Sounds. Can't go wrong with Reiner or Munch. I hadn't heard of about 10 of your picks. I bookmarked them and will look for them this summer. thanks for the video, keep up the great work!

[@downtowndesign]

Thanks for this video. No, thanks for this channel. Do you have any recommendations for good Brahms Sym 2&3 and Mahler Sym 2&3 recordings? My dad just told me on the telephone to compare those to get a good picture of the harmonies/disharmonies of different classic eras. And I was like, OKAY. So I thought, asking a pro for a recommendation isn't a bad idea.

[@theophicen7850]

Fantastic choice, all great classical albums, first rate (Reiner, Mravinsky!) I only disagree on your opinion of baroque performances in the past. Yes, I like historical too, but I Musici and Mutter/Karajan (Vivaldi) in EMI vinyl or Karl Richters Bach on DG is also very good. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Note…that Shostakovich 5th was recorded at the end of the tour, yes….but in Symphony Hall, Boston. The acoustics there are far better than anything in NYC, including Carnegie (I’ve played in both halls).

[@richardvicek8043]

Great episode. Have made at least 10 new purchases based on your many videos. Please do an opera highlights top picks sometime too. Richard Vicek

[@poetryonplastic]

Will do. You could probably build a collection of a dozen or so essential operas in highlights form for under $100 if you are patient!

[@benhartzberg671]

Just found your channel! Love your passion for classical music. Can you give me a few suggestions to start a classical collection with piano and violin please?

[@poetryonplastic]

I would start with the recent Impex reissue of Beethoven Piano Trio Op. 1 with Heifetz and Piatigorsky, its excellent! Another excellent reissue released recently is Kyung Wha Chung and Radu Lupu playing the Franck and Debussy sonatas, reissued by Analogphonic (originally on Decca).

[@JazzMessengerToGo]

Thank you for the recommendations! Some of the recommendations can be difficult to find. Do you have a recommendation as to which Analog Productions classical music reissues are suitable for beginners? I already ordered all the available AP ones in this excellent video.

[@poetryonplastic]

Some additional records that AP has done that would likely suit you: Bruno Walter Beethoven 6 Starker- Dvorak Cello Concerto Fiedler- Rhapsody in Blue/American In Paris Gibson- Faust Ballet Music Reiner- Pines of Rome Munch- Bolero Abel and Steinberg- Debussy and Brahms Violin Sonatas Gibson- Sibelius 5 Rubinstein- Rhapsody on a theme from Paganini Monteux- Tchaikovsky 4 Heifetz- Sibelius Violin Concerto (Or any Heifetz in general) Starker- Bach Cello Suites (expensive, but a gem)

[@JazzMessengerToGo]

@@poetryonplastic Thank you! I just received and played the AP Munch Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 and I am now thinking of slowing down on getting Jazz vinyl to make room for Classical!

[@razorback-mark]

What a great video! My very first CD I purchased was Tchaikovsky 1812 O. I bought a new stereo based on the Telarc pressing with real cannon fire. I still have the CD but would like to get a vinyl pressing with cannon fire. I see that AS has a telarc vinyl recording but do you recommend a better copy with real cannons? Thx in advanced for your recommendation.

[@poetryonplastic]

I can't say I care for that recording too much. I once owned the original 80s vinyl, it was considered a tracking test at the time, but its a somewhat lifeless recording from what I remember. If you want 1812 with cannons on vinyl, I think the original maroon label Mercury with Dorati and Minneapolis is the way to go. If you like the piece but don't care about cannons, AP just reissued the Reiner/Chicago that is supposed to be excellent (I haven't heard it yet but it's on my to-buy list).

[@TheKyriakosss]

This is a great video! Thank you! Do you have any advice on a book one can get started into digging into more information around famous recordings, composers and eras? Thank you

[@gusriley9785]

Kyriakos - As good a place as any, and better than most I would say is: - Phil G Goulding: "Classical Music: The 50 Greatest Composers and Their 1,000 Greatest Works, published in 1992" He started that book from scratch following his retirement from being a Gov Press Agent, at the suggestion of his wife for something to make his retirement a productive and meaningful one. He fully understands the from the bottom up approach very well admitting his ignorance became his strength for people approaching Classical Music from a non technical/professional background, and harnesses his journalistic skills with a very methodical and grounded several year project, hope that helps, Peace Gus ;)

[@TheKyriakosss]

@@gusriley9785 Thanks for the recommendation and the side info! That really helps. Will check it out.

[@gusriley9785]

@@TheKyriakosss Your very welcome, - hope it helps, it certainly helped me some years ago, - it's a labor of love from Phil Goulding, you'll get a second hand copy on Amazon for a few dollars, - good luck, but he has a fantastic classification method to explain a complex issue, and he takes the sting out of what professional musicologists have not to my knowledge previously managed, - his skills as a former high level journalist sure come into play and he's a very systematic thinker, a master of clarity! his background was writing precise Gov Press briefings for presidents, and it shows, - cheers, Gus ;)

[@gusriley9785]

PS Downloader a free Ad Blocker, and you'll get the whole series uninterrupted, good luck! ;)

[@keithwood4031]

Excellent list, thanks.

[@rorilee9791]

Have you done a vid on WHERE to get these? Thanks!

[@ericdaniel323]

I had the CD and hi-res digital version of the Riener Scheherazade before buying the LP (used - NOT the AP pressing) and being really disappointed with it. Are there notably poor pressings floating around? The record is pretty clean, but the dynamics are really compressed and there is what sounds like a print-through echo, which I had not heard of with this recording.

[@georgeshaffer4686]

The Bartok. CfO&Pictures Solti/ CSO Such a hard DDA record to pass on

[@BryanHalo123]

All winners! I prefer SACD, better sound and without the vinyl hassle and pops and scratches. But no issue with your curation.

[@cbusch69]

What kind of outer sleeves do you use? They're remarkably clear!

[@stpd1957]

I agree with the following: Reiner/CSO Scheherazade is superb Bernstein/NYPO Shostakovich 5 is superb And so on