Essential Classical Music - The Best Symphony Recordings

Gil Zilkha, singer/collector/music enthusiast
In this installment of Essential Classical Music, I cover the best recordings of the major symphonies, including those of Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, Dvorak, Franck, Haydn, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saens, Schubert, Shostakovich, Sibelius, and Tchaikovsky.
00:00 - Introduction
02:34 - Beethoven Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
11:34 - Beethoven Symphony No. 5
22:32 - Beethoven Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral"
29:56 - Beethoven Symphony No. 7
37:14 - Beethoven Symphony No. 9 "Choral"
54:06 - Berlioz Symphonie fantastique
57:41 - Brahms Symphony No. 1
1:03:30 - Brahms Symphony No. 2
1:07:45 - Brahms Symphony No. 3
1:14:27 - Brahms Symphony No. 4
1:19:17 - Bruckner Symphony No. 4 "Romantic"
1:24:39 - Bruckner Symphony No. 5
1:28:11 - Bruckner Symphony No. 7
1:33:10 - Bruckner Symphony No. 8
1:41:21 - Bruckner Symphony No. 9
1:49:28 - Dvorak Symphony No. 7
1:52:50 - Dvorak Symphony No. 8
1:56:06 - Dvorak Symphony No. 9 "New World"
2:00:23 - Franck Symphony in D minor
2:01:26 - Haydn "London" Symphonies Nos. 93-104
2:04:31 - Mahler Symphony No. 1 "Titan"
2:11:11 - Mahler Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection"
2:17:55 - Mahler Symphony No. 3
2:21:25 - Mahler Symphony No. 4
2:25:58 - Mahler Symphony No. 5
2:30:06 - Mahler Symphony No. 6
2:33:47 - Mahler Symphony No. 9
2:44:26 - Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 "Scottish"
2:46:42 - Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 "Italian"
2:48:42 - Mozart Symphony No. 38 "Prague"
2:54:12 - Mozart Symphony No. 39
2:58:03 - Mozart Symphony No. 40
3:01:26 - Mozart Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter"
3:04:18 - Prokofiev Symphonies Nos. 1 and 5
3:06:24 - Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2
3:08:23 - Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 "Organ"
3:09:48 - Schubert Symphonies Nos. 8 and 9
3:17:19 - Shostakovich Symphony No. 5
3:23:07 - Shostakovich Symphony No. 7 "Leningrad"
3:24:00 - Shostakovich Symphony No. 10
3:27:33 - Sibelius Symphony No. 2
3:30:48 - Sibelius Symphony No. 4
3:32:32 - Sibelius Symphony No. 5
3:34:03 - Sibelius Symphony No. 7
3:36:18 - Tchaikovsky Symphonies Nos. 4-6

[@hxyjdn]

When I see the title and the length of this video, I know it’s an instant subscribe. Thank you Gil.

[@quinto34]

same

[@SDSsongs]

I admire how different your suggestions are from Mr. Hurwitz. It's nice to different viewpoints supported by well-detailed arguments. I personally do not care for historical performances; I've tried and tried, but life's too short. I know my brain wants good sound quality. But I appreciate the long-view perspective. Thanks for the hard work in putting this together.

[@GilZilkha]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!

[@thr4017]

Dear Mr Zilkha, I found this video via the discussion in the talkclassical forum about Hurwitz' channnel. I watched it piece by piece over the last weeks and enjoyed it very much. Thank you for this excellent presentation of important symphony recordings. I was happy when I saw this week that you released another video (about concerto recordings). Also, you started a new thread in the talkclassical forum which I will also follow. So I thought this is the right moment to say thank you, subscribe to your channel, give the videos a like and write a comment. By the way, I am from Germany (so sorry for possible language mistakes in my text), 53 years old, and I do not have a real "musical background", meaning I play no instrument and do not know very much about musical theory. But I have been enjoying listening to classical music and collecting recordings for many years. Probably the talkclassical forum is the better place to discuss the contents of the videos, so maybe just one thought here: In the symphony video I particularly liked how respectfully and appreciatively (is that the right word?) you talked about the conductors of the recordings. And I mean that especially in comparison to Mr Hurwitz, who is often very disrespectful to certain artists (he hates Furtwängler for example). Despite all freedom of opinion and speech, one can criticize an artist negatively but still should respect the person and his/her achievements. I like the way you talk about works, artists and recordings in your videos, and so I wish you all the best and hope that there will be more videos in the future. Your channel deserves much more subscriptions and clicks. Friendly greetings from Germany! TR

[@GilZilkha]

Thank you, I appreciate your feedback and am glad you have found the videos useful!

[@eldragon4076]

C'mon, hate is a strong word. I haven't heard Hurwitz ever attacking a character of a person. He certainly has strong opinions about the performances, though.

[@thr4017]

@@eldragon4076 Have you heard him talking about the conductors T. Currentzis or R. Norrington? If this isn't "attacking a character" then I don't know what is.

[@jeki6035]

​@eldragon4076 Hurwitz is so biased, pro jewish conductors and artists it's laughable. Furthermore, he's a CD hoarder.....I seriously doubt he has listened to most of the CDs he's supposedly reviewed.

[@commonwombat9171]

@@thr4017 In Norrington's case, he was a very vocal and dogmatic propogandist for his theories. In my listening to Hurwitz's thoughts on Norrington; he certainly been scathing in his condemnation of Norrington the orchestral conductor (much less so as a choral) and his musical theories but do not recall him actually getting "personal", making aspersions about his personal character.

[@mangstadt1]

For Haydn I strongly recommend a box published by Archiv featuring Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert. It's called The Sturm and Drang Symphonies and it has several symphonies from the middle numbers, but not any succession as such. It is truly delightful, especially in situations of slumber or midwake on the sofa after lunch.

[@markwhitney5821]

Wow!! Thank you so much for going over these Composer's and your take on the best Symphony Orchestra to listen to! I'm a Trumpet player that was classically trained by a variety of teachers that were retired from Orchestra or were playing in them! From Michigan but went to school in Boston! So being a Trumpet player I do like the Chicago Symphony from 70s-80s! Will have to listen to what your take on the Malher, Bruckner, Salbalus, Stravinsky to name! Thank you for wisdom!

[@GilZilkha]

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@WalterSAllen]

It doesn't get better than Bud Herseth!!!!

[@onlykarlhenning]

Very enjoyable, thanks!

[@tip3y592]

great videos! Thank you really love your recommendation❤

[@felixheiss]

Good talk with great recommendations .

[@raydarable]

Great video!

[@b1i2l336]

Your choices are superb.

[@IntelligentArtefact]

Especially Karl Bame's Bruckner 4

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Tchaikovsky 6th: I discovered that Furtwangler on a set of 78s I picked up in an antique store! I played on my windup gramophone (Columbia Granola), and even in the dim sonics, I was mesmerized. As for a good mastering on CD, I recommend the Naxos....mastered by Mark Obert-Thorn. You will never hear this recording sound better.

[@jamessauve2419]

I just started watching this, very interesting. Thanks for making this. I found it amazing, to me, that record labels would even bother converting such old records to compact disc. I don't know, but I'm guessing there isn't a huge market for something like a Beethoven symphony recorded back in the 1940's when there are so many newer ones out there recorded on modern equipment. Moreover, of the CD's with older performances on them, I wonder how likely it really is that you could find one of them. I've seen Dave Hurwitz recommend some CD as a best version or reference recording or some such thing. When I go to see if I can find it for purchase, a lot of times it's out of print and used ones are way out of my price range or you can't find it at all.

[@dat1phoenix173]

this video was very informative

[@mangstadt1]

As far as Bruckner goes, for me it's got to be Sergiu Celibidache. A couple of weeks before getting married in 1989 I attended a performance of the 7th in Madrid. I had passages of the symphony going through my head when the judge who married us was speaking to me. Then in the 90s I attended two performances of the 3rd, and then the 4th and 8th. The final crescendo of the 4th by Celibidache is like nobody else. The string inflections in that buildup sound like no other conductor. Celi conducted 99 concerts in Spain throughout his lifetime and I was at nine of them. This said, not once did he draw tears from my eyes, in spite of the intensity.

[@harukikougami]

We shouldn't forget mentioning Skrowaczewski when it comes to Bruckner :) His cycle is amazing and his interpretation of every single symphony is one of a kind. Check the 9th with the Minnesota especially. It'll be your favourite ;)

[@riverman6666]

Great video and thanks for taking the time to share your wonderful knowledge of the repertoire. Definitely looking forward to your chamber music and solo recording recommendations. Thanks again!

[@gerbs4009]

Gil...what a passion you have. I do not agree with many of your choices but admire your extensive offerings. Music as an artform is very much a personal choice. I have been collecting since really the introduction of cd's. I have also moved on a lot of recordings which I tired of. I can also say that with the baroque and classical repertoire, I much prefer any of the period performances over any modern instrument version. You mentioned John Elliot Gardener changing Beethoven. It was however not he, but rather Roger Norrington and the London Classical players that set thd music world alight. A controversial figure I know but just every recording since has emulated the pergormance style. I would propose that you need to remember what the performances are trying to achieve. That is trying to recreate the sound of the period. Most people do not have an understanding that orchestras of 200 years ago were much smaller ensembles than the modern day outfit. You cannot compare apples and pears. It is a matter of what you prefer. Lastly...The Hebrides overture....it is group of islands off the coast of Scotland and is pronounced Heb..re...dees.......

[@davidatkinson-lifematters4826]

That pronunciation you've laid-out of Hebrides is correct.

[@Tysknaden]

Sometimes I just think, that Brahms was so very german in his compositions, that it is actually helpful having a german doing the conducting. Same thing with Strauss’ ’Vier Letzte Lieder’ only working at 100% with a soprano of german tongue.

[@user-ks1di8rw3f]

No Nielsen? Great symphonies!

[@DerrickMims]

I was chuckling to myself about how often you apologize for recommending "bad" audio in the historical performances. I have been sampling things on youtube as I go through your video. As someone who has listened to many, many Grateful Dead audience tapes, nothing you have presented comes close to some of those for rough sound; I came to love so many of those Dead tapes. So no fear for me listening to a 1940s recording here. 😃

[@GilZilkha]

Haha. Well, some classical listeners can be fussy when it comes to sound quality.

[@barrysaines254]

Totally agree, Cluytens Beethoven cycle is one of the best!

[@ulyssewang]

Obviously you are a big fan of Furrwangler! I am too😊

[@alecsachs32]

Bernstein for Mahler 6 is my favorite version. There is a video of the whole piece on KZbin. Best thing is the video does not have ads that interrupt the video.

[@morrigambist]

Very well done. The soprano soloist on Horenstein's Mahler 4 is Margaret Price.

[@GilZilkha]

Yes, I noticed that slip while editing and added a subtitle correction in the video. I get my Marilyn’s and Margaret’s mixed in my head sometimes.

[@candyxing4858]

My favorite performance version of Beethoven's 7 Symphony is played by Fritz Reiner with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It has the most correct tempo and surpasses Kleiber, Böhm and many others in overall interpretation. The great conductor! Highly recommended!

[@Dageischniddr]

agree!

[@barrysaines254]

Kempe's Eroica on Testament mirrors Furtwangler's Funeral March and is a sonic delight.

[@GilZilkha]

That is indeed an excellent version. It’s on the short list of those I would have added if I had more time, including also Bohm’s 1961 Berlin version.

[@barrysaines254]

@@GilZilkha Thanks for your replay to my comment, enjoy your reviews very much Gil.

[@barrysaines254]

@@GilZilkha Gil do you find Japanese recordings superior as a whole compared to the other cd issues?

[@barrysaines254]

I totally agree, especially the Funeral March.

[@christiankoeppel]

Thank you for all your videos, its my first contact point! Do you have all these suggestions in written somewhere? In a website maybe? Please keep up your great work!

[@jg2977]

Big Mahler fan here. Thank you for listing some recommendations for some historical recordings that I wasn’t aware of. I will definitely give those a listen. I would be interested in your top picks for Mahler 7 & 8 as well.

[@jg2977]

@@c05.63 I agree that Wit is very good in Mahler 8. My first listening of the 8th was Abbado and I am partial to that one. For Mahler 7 both Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin and Tilson Thomas/London SO are excellent.

[@EE-gg3xf]

I agree with Dave Hurwitz for those two. For the 7th, Lenny and the New York Phil. For the 8th, Solti and Chicago is the classic recording, but Antoni Wit on Naxos is even better.

[@jg2977]

@@EE-gg3xf which Lenny/NYPO do you prefer? Sony or DG? As a trombonist, I love the DG one because the brass is amazing. However, the Sony one is incredibly exciting.

[@EE-gg3xf]

@@jg2977Sony

[@kingconcerto5860]

Mahler 7 - Bernstein + NY Phil (Sony) Mahler 8 - Solti + Chicago There is also a new recording of the 8th which is FANTASTIC from Osmo Vanska + Minnesota Orchestra on BIS, I highly recommend giving that one a listen too. I'm not a big fan of the Wit recording, although a lot of people like it. Also, there is a recording of the 2nd that not many people talk about, but I think is the best version ever recorded- Ozawa + Saito Kinen Orchestra on Sony. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Everyone has their own preferences for the 9th but I've always been partial to Ancerl + Czech Philharmonic on Supraphon.

[@shantihealer]

Really excellent survey. I wouldn't take away from any of your recommendations, all so fairly balanced and sensible. I especially appreciate your lack of grudges which have become a pain with Mr Hurwitz especially re Furtwangler. One addition that comes to mind re Bruckner would be Skrowaczeski. Wow! his entire Bruckner cycle is so fresh and energetic. Boulez by the way, also did a wonderful Bruckner 5 as well as 8, but maybe not available on CD. PS there is an out of this world wartime performance of Brahms 1 by Furtwangler from Jan 1945. Only the last movement survives, there are no words for its intensity.

[@GilZilkha]

The Skrow/Halle Bruckner 4 is a favorite of mine. If I had expanded the discussion more I would have included it. Darn, you’re right about that wartime Furt Brahms 1st! I should have mentioned it even though it’s only the last movement. Unparalleled intensity.

[@IntelligentArtefact]

While I tend to agree with 90% of Hurwitz's choices I find his allergy to Horenstein both annoying and insulting. Furthermore he regularly blasts the UK/European critics while being equally guilty of being parochially in favour of his US-based examples. This may be because USA didn't have comparable access to UK issues when he was forming his opinions 40-50 years ago. Similarly Western Europe was denied access to masses of fine East German productions (e.g Sanderling and Blomstedt) at that time. And only now are they being rehabilitated via old Berlin Classics. Fortunately EMI reissued much Melodiya material and Supraphon LPs were always cheaply available at 75% of the cost of other premium price issues. Or we'd have missed even more great issues.

[@shantihealer]

@@IntelligentArtefact Hurwitz is a good critic but he's not omniscient. He has his blind spots and biases and rarely owns up to them. Humility is not a trait of his as it refreshingly is with Gil.

[@orientaldagger6920]

The Jochum Brahms with the LPO not the LSO. For Eroica one that is special is Scherchen with the VSOO where with the exposition repeat in the 1st mvt clocks in the fastest on record. The other is Monteux with the Concertgebouw really distinctive timbre. Both day not use the extra trumpet parts at the end of the first mvt.

[@stevouk]

I've always thought that the final movement of Bernstein's (DG) Beethoven 7 exemplifies Wagner's comment about it being the apotheosis of the dance. Any faster, and it makes no sense to make any references to dance. As exciting as Kleiber is, it can seem just a little too driven.

[@josephlow1102]

a great effort - may I recommend you take one composer at a time so that listeners can take notes - look forward to your next talk - many thanks

[@thiinkerca]

The new said from warner emi of the furtwangler beethoven symphonies is amazing

[@barney6888]

Rodzinsky did a Tchaik 6 on Westminster where he holds the climax in the timpani. The growl, spit and fury they put into the 1st mvmts development sections is something I've never heard again, since. It's a treasure for that moment alone.

[@yundichen8332]

With the NY Phil?

[@barney6888]

Royal Philharmonic is the performance that goes over the top, in the 1st mvmt.

[@barney6888]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqWrZKiNariYmLM

[@yundichen8332]

@@barney6888 cheers. Trying to find it on youtube

[@barney6888]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqWrZKiNariYmLM@@yundichen8332

[@orientaldagger6920]

Is there any question the VPO owns Bruckner 8th?

[@Warp75]

I’ve seen you on TC & I thought you would be a basket case, but you not so fair play. I’ll enjoy going through your vids. Thanks

[@IntelligentArtefact]

Interesting that you should start your Mahler section with the pre-eminence of Barbirolli and go on to praise the Final Adagio of Horenstein's version of MAHLER 3. Deryck Cooke brought the news of Barbirolli's overnight death to the assembled LSO, recording engineer-Bob Auger, and Jascha Horenstein at the Fairfield Halls Croydon on the morning of Unicorn's last day of recording. It is not fanciful to suggest that the recording of that Final movement that morning (29 July, 1970) was their tribute to a much loved conductor.

[@GilZilkha]

Wow, I didn’t know that!

[@bomcabedal]

Hi Gil, thanks for this. There are of course some things I disagree with (I hate Barbirolli's approach to Dvorak with a passion, for one), some I agree with (Monteux' Franck D minor, yeah!), and some I think are just down to different tastes. I notice a certain preference for mid-century conductors, and for Karajan - whose obsession with string sonority does work well with 19th century Germans, but IMO not so much Tchaikovsky. You need to play Tchaikovsky straight because the emotion is to tangible; if you don't like Mravinsky, just don't bother. However, I love that you recommend Kajanus in the Sibelius 2. He not only knew his Sibelius, he knew Sibelius himself pretty well. There's even a painting with the both of them, Akseli Gallen-Kalela and Aare Merikanto.

[@JoelFinkel]

The 1928 recording of Beethoven's 5th with Richard Strauss conducting the Berlin State Opera Orchestra (find it in KZbin) is quite fun. The audio is challenging, and the playing is sloppy in some (many) places. But the interpretation Strauss was going for is clear. Would that the orchestra had been able to really pull it off. Still, quite fun. On another note, I won't let von Karajan into my house. Perhaps it is my loss.

[@ramon9373]

Excuse me, but in the commentary on Mozart's 39th symphony, the album you show by Böhm is not with Vienna but with the Berlin Philharmonic

[@GilZilkha]

Yes, that should have said Berlin PO, not Vienna

[@silviofernandez585]

Errata: He does mention Jochum on the 4th Symphony of Bruckner but not on the 8th. So I correct myself.

[@twood1uis]

The Beethoven/Eroica/Harnoncourt recording is not really a period instruments performance. The trumpets are natural/valveless instruments, but the remaining instruments are of modern disposition. Regardless, it’s a great Beethoven cycle.

[@janvanhaaren563]

Why did you leave out the wonderful symphonies of Robert Schumann?

[@orientaldagger6920]

Mahler 9th for sheer frightening experience Bruno Maderna.

[@olivierbeltrami]

I actually find the scherzo of the Mahler 6 superfluous. I usually listen to my curated version of the 6th with both outer movements and the adagio in the middle.

[@WalterSAllen]

Mahler didn't!

[@brospore7897]

Wow I truncate it even more and usually just listen to the 4th mvt! 😂😂😂

[@swcblad]

for brahms cycle, try Barbirolli with VPO.

[@barrysaines254]

Also Munch 8th and 9th

[@ivanlieramonterrubio7960]

Hay una séptima dé Beethoven con Carlos kleiber con la radio bávara en la marca Orfeo que es mejor que la deutsche gramophone, se encuentra en qobuz. Saludos.

[@sansumida]

Cesar Franck is from Belgium😊

[@IntelligentArtefact]

And Mahler was born in Kaliště, Vysočina, Czechia ie now Czech Republic

[@sansumida]

@@IntelligentArtefact So what ? Franck was born in Liège (which at the time of his birth was part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands).

[@asheko]

Dear Mr. Zilkha ! Thanks a lot for this excellent video. I have only one little complaint : the way you pronounce "Karajan" and "Böhm" is really ( really ) bad. One the other hand "Klemperer" , "Furtwängler" and "Jochum" sound just right. best greetings from vienna

[@GilZilkha]

Haha well, I try. In American English we have ways of pronouncing foreign names that sound more natural to us but I am sure sound hideous to native ears. I think I said Böhm right the first time but then reverted back to the American way. I actually know an American with the last name "Boehm," and we pronounce it the "wrong" way over here. I am glad you enjoyed the video!

[@williamtonks944]

😅​@@GilZilkha

[@williamtonks944]

Please ignore this last item this was an error of mine. I am a very old music two classical music since taking an online course with Harvard University on classical music. I thoroughly enjoyed and admired a wealth and breadth of your knowledge I only wish this was available in written form .I certainly look forward the following your videos in the future the future, I wonder how many of your recommendations I can follow on my tidal subscription? Thank you William Tonks

[@drnickyp]

I approve of your choices and you’ve pointed me to some recordings I didn’t know….. It is however a shame you missed out Elgar No.1 considering you’ve included Rachmaninov…..

[@shawnhampton8503]

Harnoncourt's Beethoven is not really "Period". The winds, strings, and horns are all modern, but only the trumpets were valveless. COE is not a period instrument band. Kleiber is a go to for so many things.... interesting that one of the few concerts he did with the Berlin Phil was a Brahms 4th.... you can hear it on youtube. It is unbelievable in its overall impact, but the recording is not great at all.... sounds like someone sitting right behind the horns. The Bruckner 4ths I love are oddly - the Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and the Hallé Orchestra... hard to find now, and close second is a Klaus Tennstedt live recording the the Royal Concertgebouw. Both are just amazing, IMO. Glad you love the Boulez Bruckner 8th - it is just glorious. Another favorite is Lorin Maazel with Berlin Phil. The Thielemann Bruckners are really disappointing for me. Lately loving the Muti Vienna Phil Mozart symphonies. Great video, Gil!!

[@GilZilkha]

Agreed on that Skrow/Hallé Bruckner 4th, one of the better ones out there

[@andrewashdown3541]

Vaclav Talich for the Pathetique

[@classicfan7861]

Why nothing about Schumann???

[@barney6888]

I have 4000 cds but need to upgrade I live in a house. One good room. Please... system recommendations, parts or whole thanks!

[@eddihaskell]

There are too many questions that someone would need to know before providing recommendations. For example How big is your room? Do you just listen to CD"s? Do you also listen to vinyl LP's? What about sources like Amazon or Apple Music? What about multimedia (a tv-centric system with multiple channels?). What is your budget? Do you want to save any components? Or are you looking for a flat our recommendation for a new system? What if your WAF (humorously known as Wife Acceptance Factor from the old days). Is there someone who is concerned about aesthetetic value? For example, some stereophiles cannot have floor standing systems. Do you have neighbors who cannot tolerate bass? Can you have your walls shaking when you play percussion sounds? Do you use headphones? If all you want are, say, recommendations for a cd-centric system and can have floor standing speakers with a budget or $3,000 in a 15 x 15 foot open space room that could be done.

[@alecsachs9082]

How come you skipped Beethoven’s Symphonies 1,2,4, and 8?

[@GilZilkha]

Only covering the major symphonies in this video. I could have done all 9 Beethoven symphonies but wanted to fit in more composers. Plus it’s good for newbies to have a sampling of where to start.

[@alecsachs9082]

@@GilZilkha please do more videos like these.

[@alecsachs9082]

@@GilZilkhathis might be an obvious question. Do you have any recordings of the other Beethoven Symphonies or just the ones that are mentioned here?

[@GilZilkha]

@@alecsachs9082 If you want all the Beethoven symphonies, I recommend the Bohm/Vienna set mentioned in the video

[@alecsachs9082]

@@GilZilkha I have a couple sets already. One of them is Toscanini with the NBC Symphony Orchestra from 1949-1953

[@angryjalapeno]

Karajan's Beethoven 9th is cold, the 3rd movement is too slow, and the choir doesn't sing -- it barks. Try Igor Markevitch instead.

[@user-ys4og2vv8k]

I've never understood WHY most music critics still prefer old performances and recordings (mainly from the 50s or 60s) over new ones. Do we no longer have modern quality conductors, orchestras and studios today who could really compete with these old recordings? Or is it just nostalgia, saying things used to be better... What about, for example, Herbert Blomstedt and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig Brahms's complete symphonies on Pentatone, or his magnificent Beethoven cycle with the same orchestra... And there are many other conductors of the modern era with fantastic achievements, such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Andris Nelsons, Ivan Fischer, Riccardo Chailly, Cristian Macelaru, Jakub Hruša, Gustavo Dudamel, Osmo Vanska, Maxim Emelyanychev, Vasily Petrenko... Are they not worth mentioning?

[@corgansow6173]

Sure modern orchestras play better and more in tune but most of these conductors can't hold a candle to Furtwangler, Karajan, Bernstein, Szell, Klemperer just to name a few. Blomstedt, Fischer are exception.

[@user-ys4og2vv8k]

@@corgansow6173 is it because the water was better before the World wars? This is just ridiculous!

[@corgansow6173]

@@user-ys4og2vv8k that's like saying newer model Ferraris and Aston Martin will always be better than the older ones which is also ridiculous. If you like those new generation conductors and recordings good for you.To each of his own

[@user-ys4og2vv8k]

@@corgansow6173 but let me remind you - you are the one who claims that old Ferraris are always better than new ones, and not the other way around...

[@corgansow6173]

@@user-ys4og2vv8k So you're also saying newer model cars will always be better than older cars? But take the Ferrari F40. It's voted the most popular Ferrari model of all time and it's made in 1987 and stopped production at 1992. Point being? Also sorry, very few people takes seriously names like nezet seguin, dudamel, maceleru and Jacob hrusa. They're as interesting as visiting a dentist 😂😂

[@WalterSAllen]

Love what you've done here! The only problem is your mispronunciation of the names of some conductors. Forvo will do that for you online,

[@mswdesign9164]

Do you drive a cair?

[@paulhenner8914]

We all have our own taste but yours sure as hell NOT mine ! On Mahler you bypassed two of the greatest Mahler conductors in Gielen and Bertini

[@orientaldagger6920]

There are at least a dozen great Mahler conductors.

[@paulhenner8914]

Well after care listening you can have my share of all but the three I mentioned Oh I forgot make that four I didn’t list Kondrashin. !

[@ron101346]

Almost 4 hours for an "essential" collection? I would rename this video a "comprehensive review" of classical recordings. As a real essential colleciton for newbies, I would suggest 1 modern, and/or 1 most famous and, optionally 1 historic example of each composition.

[@laurentd8358]

Great video indeed with a lot of interesting suggestions. Classical music is discussed in many places on youtube, but generally much more from a pieces point of view rather than a recordings point of view, so thank you for sharing your knowledge. Mark Ward (@musiconrecord6724) has an interesting channel as well, but more oriented towards LP collectors. Nice cat and piano by the way.

[@GilZilkha]

Thanks for watching! I appreciate the comments. Yes, Claude has a great sense of timing, coming in right as I am about to finish Tchaikovsky.

[@172541jrm]

IS THIS GUY, RELATIVE OF BERNSTEIN?

[@Anvanho]

Great video!