Best recordings of all time ...

[SplatterTone]

I don't know how it rates now, but when Mahler 2 with Rattle/CBSO came out, it literally became the standard by which all others were compared. When reading a review of another performance, it was very likely that it would be compared to this one. The 1988 Peguin Guide gave it a rosette and has it at the top of the list.
http://tinyurl.com/6aodo9

Maybe not deserving of "best of all time" status, but for something off the beaten path ...
The 1985 recording of Janacek's Glagolitic Mass done by Mackerras/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra on Supraphon label received top reviews when it came out. It was among the first ten CDs I bought when decided to get on the CD bandwagon. Stereo Review gave it a best of the month. The 1988 Penguin Guide gives it 3 stars which is their highest rating short of a rosette. It might be out of print, but there are three listed on Amazon's used stuff.
http://tinyurl.com/5jmtud

This recording of Murray Perahia playing Handel and Scarlatti is genuine whupass good.
http://tinyurl.com/5fksms

Of course, Quadrophenia deserves a hallowed place in any music collector's heart.

[SplatterTone]

Those who are reasonably familiar with organ music know of the Fantasy and Fugue on the chorale Ad nos, ad salutarem undam by Franz Liszt. You can usually refer to it simply as the Liszt ad nos, and they will know of which you speak. This is a real ball buster of a piece that few organists can ever hope to master (although Virgil Fox could play it from memory while balancing his check book). I have three recordings of it by Simon Prestion, Zsuzsa Elekes, and what I think is the best by Hans Fagius.

Although the Fagius recording was done back in the vinyl LP (which I have) days around 1980, it was released on CD and is still available. I think that speaks well of the performance -- extremely well, actually. Here is an Amazon link to it.
http://tinyurl.com/5mkoh6
I think this is a wonderful recording and performance.

Of possible interest to organ buffs is that the organ, the history of which dates back to 1759, is at the Katarina Church, Stockholm. The organ and church were destroyed by fire in 1990, so this recording is probably one of the few (perhaps only?) remaining of the organ.

Here is an interesting link (with additional links) to the project to build a new organ for the new church. There are lots of pictures with descriptions. The amount of mahogany in the 32-foot Bourdon pedal pipes is awe inspiring.
http://vandenheuvel-orgelbouw.nl/instru ... tarina.htm

[jtuba]

Any votes for the San Francisco recordings done with Blomstedt and Tilson Thomas? Neilsen 4, Hindemith Mathis and Sym Metamorphosis, Sibelius 2 under Blomstedt. Klagende Lied and Romeo and Juliet under Tilson Thomas. Haven't heard the newer Tilson Thomas stuff because I can't bring myself to spend more than $25 for a SACD hybrid I don't have the equipment to play.

[TexTuba]

Ok, slightly off topic, but is there a recording of Carmina Burana that anyone recommends more than others?

Yes!

London Philharmonic Orchestra/Franz Welzer-Most

Trust me, you will NOT be dissapointed!!!

[Nick Pierce]

Ok, slightly off topic, but is there a recording of Carmina Burana that anyone recommends more than others?

Yes!

London Philharmonic Orchestra/Franz Welzer-Most

Trust me, you will NOT be dissapointed!!!

Thanks, will do.

[ztuba]

Zubin Mehta NY Phil ... Mahler 5

[tubaguy9]

I just heard an incredible live recording from 1954(?) of the BSO playing "Pines of Rome". You could almost hear the feet of the legions marching triumphantly into the city. I'm wondering what are IYHO the best ever recordings of:
Brahms Requiem
Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony
Feel free to add your favorite pieces, but don't to forget to mention the recording (orchestra, year, etc.). DVDs, CDs, Tapes & LP's accepted. 8-tracks est verboten!

In my opinion...
Brahms Requiem can't be harnessed on a CD. You have to see it live. There's rumbles from different instruments and hair raising moments that don't happen on CD.

[Tuba Guy]

We're performing it next month or so if anyone is interested in the Brahms. I tried getting the tuba player in the symphony (my private teacher) to call in sick, but he refused, so I'll be up there in the choir singing (b)***...oh wait, that's just what my intonation sounds like while singing...

[goldtuba]

Berlioz Requiem - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra; Robert Shaw
Any Beethoven Symphony from Berlin Phil with Karajan conducting, some of the best orchestral recordings available
Stravinsky Firebird - Chicago; Giulini
Stravinsky Rite of Spring; Ozawa
Mahler 2 - Either the Chicago one with Abbado conducting or the New York Phil with Bernstein
Tchaikovsky 2 - CSO with Abbado
Bruckner 4 & 7 - CSO with Barenboim
Tchaikovsky 4 & 5 - CSO with Barenboim
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto 1 - CSO Barenboim
...i guess that i like the CSO with Barenboim
Shostakovitch 7 - CSO with Bernstein
Till Eulenspiegles lustige Streiche - CSO with Solti. If it wasn't for the dirty eighth notes towards the end, this would be the perfect recording to me
Anything done by Dennis Brain or Brian Bowman
Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral - Eastman Wind Ensemble with Fennell
Tchaikovsky Symphonies - Leningrad Phil with Mravinsky. If you have a good turntable, listen to records
Vaughan Williams Symphony 5 - London Symphony with Previn
de Meij Lord of the Rings - London Symphony with David Warble. Check it out on iTunes
Planets - LSO with Jeffrey Simon. Found this one in the bargain bin years ago and it's still my favorite. The cleanest and loudest recording that I've found, and i've listened to a lot of recordings.
Berlioz Hungarian March - CSO with Solti
Wagner The Compact Ring - MET Orchestra with Levine
Barber Adagio for Strings - New York Phil with Bernstein
Mahler 5 - New York Phil with Mehta
Grainger Lincolnshire Posy - UNT Wind Symphony with Corporon, particularly Lord Melbourne
Kalinnikov 1 - Royal Scottish Philharmonic with Neemi Jarvi
Tchaikovsky 6 - Russian Philharmonic with Mikhail Pletnev
Hindemith Mathis Der Maler - San Fran with Blomstedt
Neilson 4 - San Fran with Blomstedt
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet - San Fran with MTT
Bruckner 7 - Staatskapelle Dresden; Eugen Jochum
Any Beethoven symphony from Vienna Philharmonic with Carlos Kleiber conducting. Man, that finale from #5 is pretty spectacular

I think that's more than enough for one day. Some of y'all may not agree with me, but I listen based on clarity of recording quality, volume, volume of brass, and conductors' interpretations. I wish that i could find some of those older recordings previously mentioned on record and in good condition, but that is a huge task

[Kory101]

Tchaikovsky 6 NYP Bernstein from the 80's

[TexTuba]

I don't think anyone has mentioned these:

Tchaik 4 5 6

Montreal/Dutoit

Their recording of six is my favorite out of all of the ones I have of the sixth.

[goldtuba]

i just acquired the montreal/dutoit recordings of the tchaikovsky symphonies, and i have to agree. their recording of hamlet is pretty fun too. pretty much all of the montreal recordings are fun

[Dave Roberts]

That Frisco/Hindemith/Mathis De Mahler is lights out. Floyd is unbelievable.

[ztuba]

I like the boston recording of the berlioz requiem better than the shaw one

[pattonsj]

Without a doubt, 1971 LA Phil, Tommy Johnson and Roger Bobo playing the bass tuba in unison...

[Alex C]

I love the people who respond to 'the best ----- of all time' and list a dozen of something. Some folks must have missed what 'best' means.

Okay, best.... hard to do but it was supposed to be. I guess it could mean 'what made the biggest impression on me...

The vinyl pressing of Reiner & the CSO playing Alexander Nevsky. When Jake entered with that wonderful bit in the Battle on Ice that Sergei scored for tuba, I couldn't believe it. The sound was positively alive. I have loved a hundred recordings since then but nothing has impressed me so much, it was so alien to what I heard any other tubist sound like.

Apologies to those of you who bought this on CD, forget it. The engineers have rolled the bass response down so much that the effect is impossible to hear, gone forever. This was the last vinyl recording I played (fifteen years ago), just to hear it one last time.

[Chuck Jackson]

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Cool. Might I also add:

"Nighthawks at the Diner"-Tom Waits
"Rain Dogs" Tom Waits
"The Essential Liam Clancy"
"Smash, Clap"- Naftules Dream
"The Dream of the Golden Dreydl" Naftules Dream
"Automatic for the People"-REM

Chuck"summer listening time"Jackson

[Chuck Jackson]

Have you ever heard the recording of Blue Skies by a Bay Area group called Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers? Funny name - serious recording. It is on her album "One Hour Mama." Excellent stuff to investigate for your Summer listening enjoyment.

I will look for it tomorrow. Might I suggest:

Hot Club of Cowtown- "Dev'lish Mary"

A good time will ensue after partaking of this fine entertainment. Best served with a steak and a cold beer or 7.

Cheers

[ace1719]

The Gergiev/Kirov recording of Poem of Extacy is really something else, though the MSO recording of the organ symphony (Saint-Saens 3) with Dutoit is pretty amazing as well.

[ztuba]

Has anyone listed the Mahler 5 recording with Mehta and the New York Philharmonic yet?