Favorite Recordings of (Orchestral) Audition Pieces

[michaelrmurrin]

Hi Everyone,

As before, I'm looking to compile a list. This time, it's a list of recordings. I'm trying to get a reference list of really, really good recordings of the orchestral pieces that may be found on auditions.

So, what do you think is the best recording of each or any of the following works? I'm looking especially for recordings of the most commonly asked pieces (Hungarian March, Ride, Prokofiev 5, etc.), but also for the ones that aren't quite as commonly asked.

When talking about the best recordings, I'm listening especially for: cleanness, intonation, togetherness, and musicality of the orchestra; cleanness, intonation, and musicality of the tuba playing; profoundness and emotional impact of the conductor's interpretation.

(And the point of this is I want to hear multiple opinions, unless there's only one recording of such-and-such piece that everyone agrees is THE best.)



Berlioz: Hungarian March from Damnation of Faust
Mahler 1 (Movement 3)
Prokofiev 5
Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries
Bruckner 7
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphoses
Stravinsky: Petrushka (Petrouchka)
Wagner: Die Meistersinger Overture
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Brahms 2
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet
Respighi: Fountains of Rome
Wagner: Lohengrin Act 3 Prelude
Holst: The Planets
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben
Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini
Berlioz: Le Corsaire Overture
Bruckner 8
Delibes: Coppelia (particularly the excerpt from Act 1 Mazurka)
Mahler 2
Mahler 5
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture
Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition
Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra
Strauss: Don Juan
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6
Verdi: La Forza del Destino Overture
Verdi: Nabucco Overture
Wagner: Eine Faust Overture
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
Berlioz: King Lear Overture
Berlioz: Requiem
Berlioz: Romeo and Juliet
Bruckner 4
Franck: Symphony in D Minor
Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite
Mahler 6
Prokofiev 6
Revueltas: Sensemaya
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7
Strauss: Alpine Symphony
Strauss: Death and Transfiguration
Stravinsky: Jeu de Cartes
Verdi: Sicilian Vespers (I Vespri Siciliani) Overture
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete)
Wagner: Gotterdammerung, Siegfried's Funeral Music; Siegfried's Rheinfahrt (rhine journey)
Wagner: Gotterdammerung (complete)
Wagner: Lohengrin (complete)
Wagner: both Dragon Solos (from Siegfried and Das Rheingold)
Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust (complete)
Brahms: A German Requiem
Brahms: Tragic Overture
Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
Bruckner 9
Copland: Symphony No. 3
Elgar: Enigma Variations
Gliere: Symphony No. 3
Hindemith: Mathis der Maler symphony
Mahler 1 (complete)
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije Suite
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2
Rossini: La Gazza Ladra Overture
Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9
Webern: 6 Pieces



I'll weigh in on the Ride:
The Ride of the Valkyries (OPERA VERSION): James Levine, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, 1988

Feel free to weigh in on one or a few.

Thank you!!!!!!!

Michael Murrin



(Search terms: recording, symphony, ballet, cd, album, record, great, quality, reference)

[k001k47]

[MacedoniaTuba]

Tchaikowsky 4th - Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Daniel Barenboim(one of my favorite all time recording)
Tchaikowsky 6th - Sir George Solti and again CSO:)))
Mahler 5th - CSO and Daniel Barenboim(also one of my all time favorite,i just love Daniel Barenboim and all the musicality he brings to the orchestra)
Mahler 2nd - Leonard Bernstein and NYPH and Alan Gilbert and NYPH
Gershwin "An American in Paris " - LAPhil and Gustavo Dudamel and NYPH with Leonard Bernstein.
Stravinsky "Rite of the Spring" - Belgrade Philharmonic and Vladimir Kulenovic,LAPH with Essa Peka Alonen and Berlin Phil with Simon Rattle
Verdi "La Forza del destino" - Marinsky and Gergiev and NYPH with Alan Gilbert.
Mussorgsky "Pictures at and exhibition" - Gergiev and Berlin Phil and Kubelik with CSO
G. Holts The Planets - LAPhil with Zubin Mehta
There are much more,but I am too tired to write them:)))
Good night:))

[rudysan]

From your list, there's my favorite versions (from what I have heard). I really like the Montreal Symphony Orchestra of the 80's, with Ellis Wean on tuba. He can put out one of the most powerful and even sound in the world, without becoming aggressive at all. Marche Slave, 1812, Francesca Da Rimini, Pictures, Fontaines and Symphonie Fantastique are good examples.

Berlioz: Hungarian March from Damnation of Faust : Montreal-Dutoit
Mahler 1 (Movement 3) : Boston-Ozawa
Prokofiev 5 : New York – Masur And City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra-Rattle
Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries : New York–Mehta AND Bayreuth Festival–Boulez
Bruckner 7 : NDR Symphony Orchestra-Wand
Gershwin: An American in Paris : Montreal-Dutoit
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphoses : Los Angeles-Salonen
Stravinsky: Petrushka (Petrouchka) : Israel-Bernstein
Wagner: Die Meistersinger Overture : Chicago-Solti
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique : Montreal-Dutoit
Brahms 2 : London Philharmonic Orchestra-Jurowski
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet : London Symphony Orchestra-Previn
Respighi: Fountains of Rome : Montreal–Dutoit, Chicago-Reiner, New York-Sinopoli, Pittsburgh-Maazel
Wagner: Lohengrin Act 3 Prelude : Royal Philharmonic Orchestra-Handley
Holst: The Planets : Los Angeles–Mehta, Chicago-Barenboim, Montreal-Dutoit, New York-Mehta
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben : Chicago-Barenboim
Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche : Chicago-Barenboim
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture : Montreal-Dutoit
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini : Berlin-Levine
Berlioz: Le Corsaire Overture : Montreal-Dutoit
Bruckner 8 : Chicago-Barenboim
Delibes: Coppelia (particularly the excerpt from Act 1 Mazurka) : Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Paris-Kessels
Mahler 2 : New York-Bernstein
Mahler 5 : Los Angeles-Mehta And Vienna-Bernstein
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture : Boston-Ozawa
Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition : Montreal-Dutoit And Chicago-Ozawa
Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra : Boston-Steinberg
Strauss: Don Juan : Chicago-Solti
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring : Berlin-Karajan
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 : USSR State Symphony Orchestra-Svetlanov And Chicago-Barenboim
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 : Philharmonia Orchestra-Muti
Verdi: La Forza del Destino Overture : London Symphony Orchestra-Levine
Verdi: Nabucco Overture : BBC Philharmonic Orchestra-Downes
Wagner: Eine Faust Overture : Don’t have.
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra : Montreal-Dutoit
Berlioz: King Lear Overture : Montreal-Dutoit
Berlioz: Requiem : Berlin-Levine
Berlioz: Romeo and Juliet : Montreal-Dutoit
Bruckner 4 : Chicago-Barenboim And Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal-Nézet-Séguin (on F tuba)
Franck: Symphony in D Minor : Montreal-Dutoit
Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite : Budapest Festival Orchestra-Fischer
Mahler 6 : Vienna-Bernstein
Prokofiev 6 : Don’t have.
Revueltas: Sensemaya : Chicago Brass Ensemble (arr. B.Roberts)
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 : New York-Bernstein
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 : Chicago-Bernstein
Strauss: Alpine Symphony : Tonhalle Orchestra-Zinman
Strauss: Death and Transfiguration : Tonhalle Orchestra-Zinman
Stravinsky: Jeu de Cartes : Belgian RTV Philharmonic Orchestra-Rahbari (The only one I have, but good tuba !)
Verdi: Sicilian Vespers (I Vespri Siciliani) Overture : Monte Carlo National Opera Orchestra-Frémaux
Wagner: Die Walkure (complete) : Vienna-Solti
Wagner: Gotterdammerung, Siegfried's Funeral Music; Siegfried's Rheinfahrt (rhine journey) : Vienna-Solti (with singing)
Wagner: Gotterdammerung (complete) : Vienna-Solti
Wagner: Lohengrin (complete) : Vienna-Solti
Wagner: both Dragon Solos (from Siegfried and Das Rheingold) : Bayreuth Festival-Boulez
Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine : Don’t have.
Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust (complete) : Montreal-Dutoit
Brahms: A German Requiem : London Philharmonic Orchestra-Nézet-Séguin
Brahms: Tragic Overture : Philharmonia Orchestra-Klemperer
Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra : Chicago-Ozawa
Bruckner 9 : Chicago-Barenboim
Copland: Symphony No. 3 : New York-Bernstein
Elgar: Enigma Variations : London Symphony Orchestra-Previn
Gliere: Symphony No. 3 : Don’t have.
Hindemith: Mathis der Mahler symphony : Boston-Steinberg
Mahler 1 (complete) : Boston-Ozawa
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 : San Francisco Orchestra-Blomstedt
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije Suite : Cleveland-Szell
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2 : Don’t have.
Rossini: La Gazza Ladra Overture : Don’t have.
Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 : Don’t have.
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 : Vienna-Bernstein
Webern: 6 Pieces : Don’t have.

[michaelrmurrin]

Bump.

Feel free to post regarding just one or two of these pieces.

Thanks!

Also thank you DP, MacedoniaTuba, and rudysan for your contributions!

[Billy M.]

Berlioz: Hungarian March from Damnation of Faust - Boston Symphony, Ozawa
Mahler 1 - Boston Symphony, Ozawa
Prokofiev 5 - London Symphony, Previn
Wagner: The Ride of the Valkyries - Cleveland Orchestra, Szell
Bruckner 7 - Chicago Symphony, Haitink or Stuttgart Radio Symphony, Sanderling
Gershwin: An American in Paris - Boston Pops, Fiedler
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphoses - San Francisco, Blomstedt or New York, Bernstein
Stravinsky: Petrushka (Petrouchka) - Boston Symphony, Ozawa
Wagner: Die Meistersinger Overture - Cleveland Orchestra, Szell
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique - New York Phil, Bernstein or San Francisco, Tilson-Thomas
Brahms 2 - Cleveland, Dohnanyi
Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet - Cleveland, Maazel
Respighi: Fountains of Rome - Boston Symphony, Ozawa
Wagner: Lohengrin Act 3 Prelude - Philadelphia, Ormandy
Holst: The Planets - Montreal, Dutoit or Boston, Steinberg
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben - Chicago, Reiner or Dresden, Kempe
Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche - Cleveland, Szell or Dresden, Kempe
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture - Minneapolis, Dorati
Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini - BBC Symphony, Davis
Berlioz: Le Corsaire Overture - Boston Symphony, Munch
Bruckner 8 - Berlin Phil, Maazel
Delibes: Coppelia (particularly the excerpt from Act 1 Mazurka) - Minneapolis, Dorati
Mahler 2 - Budapest Festival Orchestra, Fischer
Mahler 5 - German Youth Orchestra, Barshai or Philadelphia, Levine
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture - Boston Symphony, Ozawa
Mussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition - Philadelphia, Ormandy or Chicago, Reiner
Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra - Boston, Steinberg; Dresden, Kempe or Chicago, Reiner
Strauss: Don Juan - Dresden, Kempe
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring - Boston, Tilson Thomas
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 - Leningrad, Mravinsky or Philadelphia, Muti
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 - Same as above
Verdi: La Forza del Destino Overture - Berlin, Abbado
Verdi: Nabucco Overture - Berlin, Abbado
Wagner: Eine Faust Overture - Cleveland, Szell
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra - Boston, Kubelik
Berlioz: King Lear Overture - Boston, Munch
Berlioz: Requiem - London, Davis
Berlioz: Romeo and Juliet - Boston, Munch
Bruckner 4 - Vienna Phil, Bohm
Franck: Symphony in D Minor - Chicago, Reiner
Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite - Cleveland, Szell
Mahler 6 - Philadelphia, Eschenbach
Prokofiev 6 - Boston, Leinsdorf
Revueltas: Sensemaya - New World, Tilson-Thomas or Los Angeles, Salonen
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 - New York, Bernstein
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 - Chicago, Bernstein
Strauss: Alpine Symphony - Dresden, Kempe or Czech Phil, Ashkenazy
Strauss: Death and Transfiguration - Dresden, Kempe
Stravinsky: Jeu de Cartes - Concertgebouw, Chailly
Verdi: Sicilian Vespers (I Vespri Siciliani) Overture
Wagner: Ring Cycle - Bayreuth, Bohm or Bayreuth, Solti
Wagner: Lohengrin - Vienna Phil, Kempe
Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine - San Francisco, Tilson-Thomas or Bournemouth, Alsop
Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust (complete) - Boston, Ozawa (even though the chorus and soloists are a little weak)
Brahms: A German Requiem - Philharmonia, Klemperer
Brahms: Tragic Overture - Cleveland, Dohnanyi
Britten: Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra - London, Britten
Bruckner 9 - Dresden, Jochum
Copland: Symphony No. 3 - New York, Bernstein (DG)
Elgar: Enigma Variations - London, Slatkin
Gliere: Symphony No. 3 - Buffalo, Falletta
Hindemith: Mathis der Maler symphony - Boston, Steinberg
Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 - San Francisco, Blomstedt or Danish National, Schonwandt
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije Suite - Chicago, Abbado or Cleveland, Szell
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2 - Boston, Ozawa
Rossini: La Gazza Ladra Overture - Philharmonia, Giulini
Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 - San Francisco, deWaart or Philadelphia, Ormandy
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9 - New York, Bernstein
Webern: 6 Pieces - Cleveland, Dohnanyi

Happy listening!

[michaelrmurrin]

Thank you to those of you who have contributed! Any more input would be great!

[jeopardymaster]

For Vaughan Williams and Elgar I've always tried to emulate Fletcher (one of the nicest compliments I ever got was being told after a performance of VW 1 that I sounded like him; not sure it was deserved but it sure felt good). For most everything else my mind's ear goes first to Chester Schmitz, then Mike Thornton, then Joe Novotny.

[MTFULRUTUBA]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/111917600/Slo ... yers-1997