My Top 10 Classical Recordings (LP and CD) - A Personal List

Spoilers below:
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10: Rachmaninoff Symphony #2, Temirkanov, Royal PO, EMI
9: Tchaikovsky 1812, Kunzel Cincinnati, Telarc
8: Moussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition, Richter Sofia, Philips and others
7: Puccini La Boheme, Beecham EMI 1956
6: Bruckner Symphony #8, Furtwangler, 1944/1949/1954, various labels
5: Beethoven Symphony #5/#7, Kleiber DG
4: Schubert Moments Musicaux, Egorov 1987
3: Chopin Nocturnes, Moravec Nonesuch
2: Brahms German Requiem, Giulini Vienna DG
1: Puccini Madama Butterfly, Scotto/Bergonzi/Barbirolli, EMI
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[@taffeylewis]

You know what Ed? Years ago, maybe 10 - 15, I had an MP3 with a really noisy recording of Pictures at an Exhibition. No idea where I got it from. I lost it due to a hard drive crash and have been searching for it since then. I played it to my dad back then as his first love was always classical, and he agreed that it was the best rendition he had heard. You, my friend, have pointed me to the Richter recording in Sofia. Coughing and all! I finally know what recording it was, and have now got it on order. I came for the astronomy and got music too :-) Thank you ever so much.

[@edting]

Nice!

[@ElliottMilesMcKinley69]

Greetings Mr. Ting! Great to see this list as friends have told me you are pianist as well as astronomer. I am a composer and now an Associate Professor of music composition and theory at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, living in the Boston area. My father was a very well-known composer and jazz pianist, William Thomas McKinley. I've known of you since I returned to astronomy as an adult in 2001 and would read all of your Scope Reviews. I got into astronomy big time, starting with an LX90 and then went up to a NightSky 18, Obsession 20, and had a lot of intermediate scopes as well (notably a great StarMaster 11 ELT shorty and a TeleVue 101 (not NP, but had a green tube). I've sold most of those, sadly... but I did pick up my one remaining visual scope in 2016, a StarMaster 10" F/6 with a rare f/6 Zambuto mirror. I think you said you also loved this particular scope. Only a handful were made, from what I understand. It's in what looks like a 12" structure (for the 12" EL). The views are outstanding. I also do astrophotography with a RedCat 51 and Edge C8 on an iOptron CEM 40 with a ZWO ASI2600. While stuck in light pollution, I also regularly go to Cherry Springs each summer each new moon for at least a week or two from the June -September period, time permitting. I sadly don't have any connection to local clubs here. Anyway, thank you for your sharing of your favorite recordings. I also know/have a few of the ones you mentioned. I, naturally, have some more 20th century pieces in my top 20 :).

[@edting]

Thanks for this! You've owned outstanding scopes. Did you like my Otto Klemperer impression?

[@Arahurah]

Thanks for sharing this, I'm just starting to listen to classical so I added all of them to my list. Happy holidays

[@orresearch007]

Thanks for sharing your list. Happy Holidays, Ed.

[@jrwestimate6953]

Thanks Ed. Merry Christmas

[@garthhowe297]

Thanks Ed. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@carstenaltena]

Merry Christmas and a happy 2024, Ed!

[@jeffrey-deitch]

Thank you Sir! I follow both your musical and astronomical endeavors.

[@RT65CB-SWL]

Same here!

[@melvyndavis2745]

What a wonderful surprise! I only now find you are a musician as well! And we share very similar tastes. Kleiber #7 in particular.

[@davidborger4604]

Great list. I'll be looking for these.

[@lynnrisser]

What a great gift! Thank you.

[@asdercks]

Thanks for sharing your list :)

[@johndolby2375]

Thanks for Youri Egorov's Six Moments Musicaux!

[@willrothfuss8470]

Thanks, Ed. I can't seem to get past #3, the Richter Pictures at an Exhibition. I have to keep going to listen to it!

[@galfraz]

Nice collection

[@stevengrey1948]

Warning this record could destroy your system.... "That is kind of wonderful in a way isn't it?" That gave me a delightful chuckle. Thank you for this list. My mother raised me on classical music and I grew away from it, but now that I am older I find myself able to appreciate it much more than I could when younger. This was a good list to allow me to explore deeper.

[@morganbartfield5457]

What, no Holst Mr Ting? Just want to say, you do the best telescope reviews I've seen on youtube. thx.

[@wminer6567]

Thanks Ed .

[@michaelhollman9470]

What?? No recording of Holst's "The Planets"??? 🤣 I'm a Mahler fan (vs Bruckner), so I'd have Bernstein with the London Symphony Orchestra and Edinburgh Festival Chorus performing Mahler #2 in St. Giles Cathedral (Columbia Masterworks • M2 32681 • recorded in 1973) on my "short" list of, say 200 top classical recordings! Have a Merry Christmas!

[@c.j.wilkerson9112]

I've had the opportunity to play some really great pieces in band. But I would have to say Percy Granger's Lincolnshire Posy collection was my favorite. Jazz band.. different story there.

[@AstroSoundscape]

Hey Ed - I'm wondering watching this where you got your love of classical music from ? Interesting the older I get the more I listen to our classical radio station here in Australia. I love watching old recordings of pianists like Horowitz and Kemph. The way they play mezmorizes me. Great video Ed.

[@hbmike47]

I was just thinking what you said at the end. What... no Mahler? No Callas? No Karajan, Bernstein? Rostapovich? I don't know how you get to a top 10. I would have an impossible time. Maybe top classicsl solo artist, opera, Symphony, chamber music, choral music. But narrowing from there.. yikes. I'm a professional singer. I feel blessed to have sung so many concerts under so many batons in my career. One of my favorites was singing Beethoven 9th with LA Phil - Giulini conducting. It was just before he started as the LA Phil's new music director and conductor. It was a live broadcast (global as i recall) Won a Grammy I find out years later. There's a recording out here on YT now, I have it as well It was an an unforgettable experience. He had that energy you mentioned all the time. Puccini - I agree. His operas are incredible. MB is heart wrenching and based on truth. I've got quite an opera collection. If you're interested how can I get a list to you?

[@tkimble6210]

Thanks, Ed. These are hard choices to make. I always loved having my small church choir perform Brahm's Requiem. However, we must have some Bach: Johann Sebastian Bach - Herbert Von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic (1965)

[@djjoeykmusic]

Great video! Awesome Thank you so much

[@RT65CB-SWL]

Having an eclectic mix of music genres of recordings on vinyl LP’s/singles, cassette, CD/DVD, mini-disc, MP3, etc., ‘Madama Butterfly’ is one of my all time favourites. I have the Angela Gheorghiu recording and recordings of ‘Puccini’ & ‘My Puccini’ on CD.

[@antonigurgui9011]

Music of the spheres. It seems that you master both! Thanks a lot.

[@billducas]

I can relate completely. Being a "Weekend Warrior" musician, the emotional part of music is very real.

[@ftumschk]

Great choices, most of which I also own and love - especially the Bohème, Butterfly, Kleiber and Moravec, which probably wouldn't be in my Top 10, but they're superb recordings nonetheless.

[@user-qe9ji7hj4w]

Why am I not astonished you are a Classical Music buff? I wouldn't go without it... Top 10's are a matter of sensitivity as for choice of works just as much as of interpretations. My Top 10 would be Mahler 9th (Giulini); Strauss Four last Lieder / Schwarzkopf; Schubert piano Trio op100 / Trio Wanderer; Bruckner 8th / Wand; Brahms German Requiem / Klemperer; Mahler Der lied von der Erde / Klemperer; Bruckner 5th / Eugen Jochum; Shostakovich 4th / Kondrashin; Berg Colin concerto / Perlman; Bartok BlueBeard's Castle / Ferenkzic. How personal can one get...Thank you for your most interesting video.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Didn't know you lived in Cincy. The Pops here are amazing. I grew up going to Tanglewood with my grandfather who loved classical music. I'm told I was 5 years old sitting on the lawn in front of the shed when Leonard Bernstein conducted Beethoven's 7th for the very last time that summer. He passed not long after.

[@edting]

I have that recording of Bernstein's last concert. He was in poor health. The musicians said he seemed to be conducting with his knees,. Amazing that you were there.

[@MountainFisher]

I received for Christmas in 1984, George Szell and the Cleveland Philharmonic and all nine of Beethoven's Symphonies. Everyone likes the 9th and the last Movement The Choral, but the 9th' first movement is as magnificent as the 3rd movement. I loved Szell's version of the 6th Symphony or Pastoral. My late wife picked a good one when she bought that collection and I still have it. The recording is so good you can hear someone dropping their bow. I have The Moldau by Smetana done by Herbert Von Karajan which I think is the best rendition done of it with the Berlin Philharmonia and on the same album is La Cenerentola Overture, my favorite fun opera.

[@NN-df7hl]

"Everything he did sounds like Autumn." Haha! That's awesome and true. ;)

[@user-ow5ig7uf1s]

I love the Telarc label as well!

[@hectorbart]

Thank you for your videos Mr. Ting! Your clock on the piano needs a new battery.

[@edting]

It's a mechanical French carriage clock. I got an estimate to get it fixed and declined.

[@hectorbart]

@@edting Well, it does look great where it is.😊

[@ronmcmartin4513]

@@edting--"I got an estimate to get it fixed" ...And bought the Hubble(used, but Near Mint with all Service receipts, Local pick up only), instead!😳

[@ericfrizzell2450]

Hi! Ed but I think I'll stick to my moody blues and jethro tull. Clear skys!

[@cdavidhord]

I used the Telarc 1812 to demo 2 channel music to my friends on my B&W Series 80 801's back in the day. I bought every Telarc produced music I could find since then.

[@edting]

Dual used to put on that record in their displays. They had the entire turntable tilted up to demonstrate the tonearm would still track at that angle.

[@Oldwolf63]

I looked for the Puccini Madama Butterfly, Scotto/Bergonzi/Barbirolli, EMI (same cover ) now $91.72 used, wow can i suggest to you Subito Julia Hwang & Charles Matthews and the Midori recording of Sibelius: Violin Concerto, Op. 47 & Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46

[@otrondal]

Ohh this was painful, but I manage to see it all. What is your Top 10 Rock Recordings ? Meery Xmass.

[@rebsredone450]

J.S. Bach - Goldberg Variations - Glenn Gould (1981)

[@geogrammy3381]

Hello Ed, Wonderful . Thank you. Have heard some, will need to search out the others. A different can of worms. Do you care to speak a little about your audio equipment that you play these recordings on?

[@MichaelHrivnak]

We know all about your astro-gear... when will we see your hifi gear!? You obviously have discerning ears, and your appreciation for the finer details of optics leaves us to wonder how far down the rabbit hole of high-end audio gear you've traveled. I played horn with an ICSOM orchestra for 5 years after music school, so I was eyeing your pile of Mahler during this whole video. There are a couple of guys I hang out with at star parties who have similar tastes in classical music, and we always seem to end up talking about recordings and upcoming concerts between views at the eyepiece. If you ever make it down to the Staunton River Star Party, we'll have to all get together and compare notes, so to speak.

[@edting]

I'm working on a video of my audio gear. My equipment might best be described as "the low end of the high end." If I were able to save up enough to buy a really first-rate piece of audio gear, I'd probably buy another piano instead.

[@ronmcmartin4513]

@@edting--I'm looking forward to that video. I've been into High End Audio for 40 years. I'm not a dealer, because that would be "Work", and take the fun out of it. You've given me good advice on astronomy, because you recommend Value rather than "Buy this, because it has the Best Rock & Roll sound for the last 50 years." But I listen to Classical. "This is top-of-the-line from the Sears Catalog". Hopefully I can recommend some great stuff(based on your video) that won't break the bank.

[@anata5127]

I amazed you did not include Rachmaninov Piano concerto #3 by Argerich; and Edgar Greg concerto #1 by Richter. My top three Shestookovich 7 and 9 concertos conducted by Mravinski, and Wagner’s Das Rheingold.

[@edting]

You have good taste. I could have put ANYTHING by Argerich on that list. I am amazed by the Tchaikovsky PC1 with Kondrashin on Philips. The Mravinsky Tchaikovsky 4,5, and 6 on DG is so scary good I don't play it.

[@anata5127]

@@edting I lived many years in Moscow and London. Additionally, I travel many times to Leningrad and Milan to attend concerts. Unparalleled cities, if someone likes classical music, opera and ballet. I have heard and seen many legends: Richter, Ashkenazi, Kisin, Van Cliburn, Kogan, Kramer Gidon, Oistrach (daddy and son), Mravinski, Svetlanov, Teriverdiev, Barenboim, Solti, etc.

[@blutey]

Should have had a clip of each piece of music as you introduced it although I guess you left them out due to copyright reasons.

[@larrychristianson2244]

Do you have a favorite for the Beethoven piano sonata cycle? How about a favorite Debussy interpreter?

[@edting]

For Beethoven, I find there isn't any one pianist who can do justice to both the early works and the late stuff. They tend to be good at one or the other. Everyone lists Kempff and he's probably my pick. He's a little light in the later works. I wish Richter had done them all. There would be clunkers in the group, but they would be glorious clunkers.

[@larrychristianson2244]

@@edting Thanks. I think you're right, there's a lot of changes in style as you go through them. I had some old recordings by Rudolph Serkin that I really liked, and Ian Hobson did a set which I think is excellent (IHMO) on average. In the 100 Greatest Pianists set there are a good variety of performers of some of the sonatas, it's interesting to hear the interpretations and contrasts of the performers.

[@ADF_Cable]

Ah original master recording.... My dad has that OMR pressing of Dark Side of the Moon.... Only been played less than 10 times......

[@edting]

That's a collectible. If you find more of those, grab them.

[@ADF_Cable]

@@edting thank mate, would love to see the 11-20 list of all the recordings you had to leave out.... Appreciate you and enjoy the holidays and new year ❤️

[@giggitygoobrick]

Were the Goldberg Variations #11? 😅

[@johnbarry5036]

whats with the mountain of Mahler in the background, but no Mahler in the vid? Np, Bruckner guy myself. That said, I love Mahler's 6th.

[@edting]

I know, sacrilege, right?? I am partial to the Horenstein and Bernstein DG 3 myself.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Can Mr. Ting play the piano?

[@johnbarry5036]

whats your fav version of "The" 9th? I know 70's Karajan is highly regarded. Ive always liked Munch +BSO, a bit faster and tighter. U seem like a total romantic... let me take a guess, Friscay?

[@edting]

You mean the Beethoven, Bruckner, or Mahler 9? For the Beethoven, I like a lesser-known recording by Giulini on EMI. He is electrifying. There is a 1944 Furtwangler Bruckner 9 that is stunning. For the Mahler, the last Karajan is a standard recommendation, but I like the Berlin Bernstein on DG (not the Concertgebouw). Karajan passes to the next realm peacefully, Bernstein goes down swinging. As an alternate I like the Walter. He takes a similar approach as Karajan, but I think he's much, much better.

[@johnbarry5036]

@@edting Yes, I meant LVB. I dont think Ive heard the Giulini, Ill give it a listen right now actually, thanks. You should do more classical reviews.

[@melvyndavis2745]

More music and less Dobs please ;)

[@edting]

Ha! I wasn't sure anyone was going to watch this. I have a few more of these music-based videos in various stages of editing. We'll see how this goes...

[@blutey]

Your clock's stopped!

[@ronmcmartin4513]

But he only checks the time, twice a day. In another reply, he wrote "I got an estimate to get it fixed and declined."

[@theoldar]

Lose the Tchaikovsky, add some Schumann. ;-)

[@edting]

Not a bad idea. I really like Bernstein's CBS Schumann Symphony cycle.

[@davids2000]

You have heavy scopes and heavy music. Have you heard the Klemperer Brahms? A few Chopin suggestions would be Cortot and Friedman. Im a concert pianist and astronomer as well. If you are ever in Ontario perhaps we could get in touch. I have some great scopes and am trying astrophotography.

[@kenschwarz8057]

+ Friedman. He had lots of devoted fans in his day for good reason!