looking for ideas on must have classical music

Four by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony on RCA Living Stereo worth acquiring: 1) Also Sprach Zarathustra - R.Strauss, 2) Concerto For Orchestra - Bela Bartok, 3) The Pines And Fountains Of Rome - Ottorino Resphigi, 4) Pictures At An Exhibition - Modest Mussourgski. Superb stereo recordings from '58-59 done by Lewis Layton (all tube gear!).

Julia Fischer with the Russian Symphony Orchestra  Tchaikovsky’s violin concerto in D on SACD.  This is a very moving interpretation which flows smoothly.  It is on the PentaTone label.  I find it more expressive than the Itzhak Perlman version.

Martha Argerich With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto #1 in B Flat on CD. A classic 1971 recording on the Deutsche Grammophon label.

As you can see, I am a definite Tchaikovsky fan.

So many suggestions and so little time!

1.  +1 for the above recommendation for Bach's The Goldberg Variations, although I prefer Perahia's performance to Gould's.  Excuse the pun, but for a nice variation on the keyboard performances, try Sitkovetsky's version for string trio.

2.   Shostakovich's 24 Etudes and Fugues for Piano.  I like Scherbakov's playing for Naxos.

3.  Bach's The Well Tempered Clavier.   (As you can tell, I like classical solo piano.). I have Jennifer Hewitt's version, although there are many good ones.

4.  Handel's concerto grosso of Alexander's Feast.  The concerto, not the oratorio.  Just delightful!

5.  Mozart's Piano Concertos, from #18 on up, esp. nos. 21-26, and even more especially the 2nd movement from no. 21 (aka the "Elvira Madigan" movement).

6.  Beethoven's 9th Symphony, esp. The Ode to Joy in the fourth movement.  Well, of course.

7.  Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, esp. Partita #2, Fifth Part -- the "Ciaccona" (Chaconne").  Menuhin considered it to be the greatest work for violin.  Many, many good versions; I like Milstein.

Have fun!

Forgot one.  Switched-On Bach by Wendy Carlos.  A classic album demonstrating the ability of the Moog synthesizer as a keyboard instrument.  

Wagner Overtures conducted by Sir George Solti. Holst The Planets conducted by just about anyone (I favour Sir Adrian Boult). Vivaldi Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) conducted by Trevor Pinnock. Beethoven Symphonies conducted by anyone of your choice. For modern Symphony Orchestra style Leonard Bernstein or Gunter Wand, for "period" style by John Eliot Gardner. Great performances in poor sound by Arturo Toscanini. J.S. Bach Brandenburg Concertos conducted by (again) Trevor Pinnock.