How about Adrian Leaper's Sibelius on Naxos - four CD's. I bought it recently at a thrift shop for $4. I have other conductors on hand - I like Colin Davis with the BSO on Philips!
Well Recorded Classical Symphonic Recordings
I enjoy all genres of music but especially large scale Symphonic works. My audiophile journey has been an effort to reproduce that music convincingly. I remember my first Symphonic concert that I attended. It was the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Stokowski as a guest conductor back in the 1960s. At the time I had just purchased a small tube based separates system fromEJ Korvette in NJ. It was $99.00 and had two small book shelf speakers, a Garrard Turntable and a very small10 watt tube amplifier. Sounded great to me at the time. When I attended this concert I was struck by how silken the strings sounded and how warm and burnished the brass sounded. My small system was not anywhere close to this sound.Thus began my journey to get closer to the real thing.
Now that I have finally gotten significantly closer, at the age of 77, I am enjoying my recordings more than ever. I am always searching for well recorded Symphonic music. In my experience it is very difficult to properly record a large orchestra. There are too many variables: microphone placement, types of microphones used, the actual venue which has a significant effect and the tastes of the producer, etc. I find the variability frustrating. There are recordings from the early 60s before multi-track and multi microphones recordings that sound better than those recorded recently.
Anyway I have been able to discover many excellent symphonic recordings that I will share with you. You may disagree but I enjoy these very much and as my system has evolved with better equipment these recordings have revealed more and sound even better.
Tchaikovsky Symphonies - Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra on DG.This cycle offers the best recording I've come across and it gets better as your system does. Plus the performance is spectacular. Try the Capriccio Italian which is included for a sonic spectacular. Actually all of Pletnev's Russian National Orchestra recordings on DG are excellent.
Beethoven Symphonies - These works have been a challenge for me. It's has been very difficult to find an acceptable recording. With Qobuz I've recently surveyed many recordings. Most are either too closely recorded, have the balance off, or a weird interpretation. As an aside I rarely like live recordings as they are miked too close to reduce audience noise and restrict the stereo spread and depth.The exception has been recent live recordings by the Boston Symphony which have moved the perspective back and allowed the Orchestra to breathe. Plus they have an excellent venue. Back to Beethoven. Not surprisingly I found the best recording again to be Pletnev's cycle with the Russian National Orchestra. Perfect balance, perspective and soundstage depth plus another great performance. I think the venue they use for this Orchestra is excellent and it reminds me of those great analog recordings Decca did in Kingsway Hall.
Rachmaninoff Symphonies - Pletnev again for all the same reasons.
Tchaikovsky Ballets (Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker). Pavo Jarvi on the BIS label. Very well recorded and a blazingly exciting performance.
Prokofiev - For the Symphonies the cycle on Challenge Classics in HiRes with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic conducted by James Gaffigan ( not the Comedian). Prokofiev deserves a wide dynamic and spacious recording with a deep low end. These recording have it. For the Prokofiev Ballets: Romeo and Juliet with Ashkenazy on Decca and for Cinderella it's Pletnev again on DG. Both excellent recordings.
Finally for Mahler - I'm torn between the Boulez cycle on DG which is very well recorded and the various recordings on Telarc. Mahler needs a really dynamic and spacious approach to recoding his works. Both of these deliver but have different perspectives and sound quality. Both excellent but just different. I think I tend toward Boulez based on performance. His approach is the polar opposite of the classic Bernstein recordings which to me are overly dramatic.
Anyway my search continues.
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@drbond I have Vanska cycle on CD and I also stream it via Qobuz both standard definition. Sounds identical either way. I left LPs in 1998 when I sold my Linn/Koetzu and bought my first CD player. Never looked back. The system I now have is much better than any analog system I’ve had. But that’s my personal opinion. I know many feel differently but that’s ok. This is a very subjective hobby. | |
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Do you mean Zimerman Chopin conducted by Giulini? If so just the 1st is a Live recording and suffers from a poor balance. The 2nd is a better recording. However I find the Maria Pires DG recordings of both much better. More spacious and better balanced. They’re my favorite. I agree the Zimerman/Boulez Ravel on DG is an excellent recording. Piano Concerto recordings are very challenging to get the perspective and balance between piano and orchestra correct. Was recently listening to a Beethoven Piano Concerto on Challenge Classics with Jan Vriend conducting and it’s the first time I’ve heard a Beethoven Piano Concerto recorded with atmosphere and proper balance. Sounds like an excellent cycle. | |
Yes I was referring to that disc. A brain fart perhaps, that is why I deleted that post. But the reality is that I love Zimmerman! Solo and with orchestra. In addition to his Chopin and Ravel you can add Liszt’s PCs with Ozawa. Not shabby stuff. FWIW, while audio aspects of recordings are important to me I really tilt a lot more to the performances. Re Pires, are you referring to her performance with the COE? If so, how much of the COE’s presence affects your opinion do you think. I have a strong affection for romantic orchestra music adapted to smaller forces such as those used by Harnoncourt in Beethoven, and Mackerras in Schubert’s 8th and 9th (which I rarely listened to in older recording). I love the clarity it brings. | |
@newbee Actually the COE doesn't affect my preference.Unlike you I actually prefer larger Orchestras and prefer her recording of the 2nd Chopin over the 1st. I guess I like the larger soundscape that a full orchestra brings to the recording. Also unless the performance is really weird I'm not to sensitive to that. I need a clear and spacious recording that is well balanced or it's difficult for me to enjoy it. As for just Piano recordings I really enjoy YuJa Wang's recordings on DG. Her most recent recording "The Vienna Recital" is one of the most beautifully recorded solo Classical Piano recordings I've ever heard. What a balanced, warm, and life like recording! | |
The emphasis in the OP seems to be recording quality primarily so I will limit my recommendations to that. Beethoven Cycle-the Herrewighe SACD cycle is the most natural sounding digital Beethoven that I know of. A great sounding cycle from Heyday of Analog (HOA) would be Ormandy/Philly, particularly in Japanese reissue. Prokofiev- Andrew Litton/Bergen PO SACD Rachmaninov-ditto for above. Mahler-I actually think the Bernstein first cycle has pretty decent sonics. Chailly/Concertgebouw and also the Concertgebouw cycle featuring multiple conductors Sibelius-not a complete cycle but the Karajan Blu Ray Audio are outstanding. I also like Ormandy HOA and Blomstedt/SFSO. Shostakovich-Kitaenko/Colgne Gurzenich, originally SACD now High Resolution download
again, these recommendations are based on sonics only
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Buy Norman Lebrecht's book: "Why Mahler? How One Man and Ten Symphonies Changed Our World" He discusses multiple interpretations of each symphony. If you like the Telarc sound, see Zander's Mahler 5 with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Abbado's second recording of the Mahler 6th with the Berlin is one of my favorites. Don't overlook Tennstedt, one of the greatest of all Mahler conductors "the instinct conductor" Lebrecht calls him. I have both complete Bernstein sets, and sound be damned, nobody does the ghostly Mahler Seventh like he does. Buy the book, though, it is unputable downable. | |
I have to add: for sonics alone Mahler 2 and 3 with Solti and the Chicago. Their brass is astonishing, but don’t look for deeper meanings. On Telarc, get Maazel’s Shostakovich 5 coupled with Stravinsky’s "Rite Of Spring." It is a powerhouse. You mentioned Boulez. He has Bartok’s "Four Orchestral Pieces," the closest Bela ever came to writing a symphony. It’s constantly in my CD player. Finally, remember that many movie scores can qualify for your requirements. If you really want to shiver your neighbor’s timbers, get the soundtrack of Pirates of the Caribbean Dean Man’s Chest." It is the second in the film series. Track 12, a bonus, will blow off the roof. Hans Zimmer, the composer is a genius, overlooked because he works in the movies. | |
FWIW when I just want to pig out on acoustics I put on Copland's Symphony #3 on Reference Recording's CD by Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra, and the performance is quite good too. You mentioned Yuja Wang - you might like her recording of Ravel's PC's. They lack some of the 'clarity' of the Zimmerman/Boulez recording but I find them very attractive nonetheless. I can also recommend Zander's recordings on Telarc of Mahler's 1st (which includes some excellent leider) and 6th (my favorite Mahler symphony). Another very special recording, for me at least, is Dvorak's VC by Suwanai/Fischer/Budapest on Phillips. | |
@jomace The Maazel Shostakovich 5 is a dynamic recording but suffers from early digital (1980) problems. Sharp highs. Try the Levi Atlanta Symphony 1990 on Telarc for a more refined recording with improved soundstage depth. But right now the best Shostakovich Symphony recordings are Nelson’s on DG with the Boston Symphony. They are live recordings and I usually don’t like live recordings but Boston has a great venue and it’s recorded at a nice perspective. The Rite of Spring Maazel is probably the best available. I agree with you on that one. It bests the other two Telarc version also. The Boulez Bartok is a very dynamic recording that is a little on the hot side. Had to turn down my volume about 2 db. But it is an excellent recording. However Botstein on Telarc and the London Philharmonic receive a much more refined weighty recording. As for Pirates of the Caribbean Film scores are always well recorded and this one certainly is.
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@newbee The Copland 3rd on Reference has been one of my references for years. Also try Robert Farnon’s works on Reference especially this Rhapsody for Violin I agree the Zimerman Ravel is a slightly better recording than Wangs but she is spectacular. And you can’t go wrong with any Telarc Mahler recording. Will listen to the Dvorak VC you mentioned. | |
Another one for your list to check out. Aaron Copland's Billy the Kid/Rodeo by Leonard Slatkin and the St Louis SO. Early 80's EMI digital but IMHO it does not suffer much by the new medium. If you haven't heard this it's big joyful/exciting American music and this, IMHO, is also an outstanding performance. These are the complete versions of the original ballets. | |
@audphile1 Familiar with Tutti. Have most of the Telarcs. The Shostakovich is a decent Live recording but like most live recordings lacks air, soundstage depth and scale. Try the Levi / Atlanta on Telarc for an expansive large scale experience and also Nelson’s live recordings with the Boston Symphony. Either offer a much more exciting audio experience. | |
Shostakovich Symphony No. 1, Bernard Haitink, London Philharmonic Orchestra On Qobuz, it is on a set of the complete Shostakovich symphonies.
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@mspot The Haitink cycle is an excellent recording. It’s especially spacious which is unusual for Decca. Very nice wide soundstage and depth. Good instrument separation. The only criticism I’d give is the Woodwind section especially flutes is sometimes too prominent. Minor issue. However I still place the Nelson Boston Cycle on DG over this one for recording quality. The Boston sound while not quite as spacious is more refined, warmer in the midrange and has a much deeper impactful low end. Just more to my preference. But I could live with either. | |
@rvpiano Yes those Barbiroli recordings have been excellently up sampled especially the 5th and 9th. That 9th was my favorite in my Analog days. Bartok Concerto for Orchestra Rimsky-Kosakov Sheheradade These are the best of that series so far that have been released in HiRes. They equal modern day Digital recordings. | |
I agree with your assessment of Pletnev, and second most anything Vanska has done with BIS, and the Haitink / Shostakovich cycle. In the same vain on CD/SACD, I have at the top of my listening list... Shostakovich cycle w/ Kitajenko / Gurzenich Koln in sacd...raw and clear eyed. Beethoven cycle - Gardiner - Orch-Revolutionairre et ....different but for me enjoyable alternative Debussy - Deneve-Royal Scottish... I need help with Brahms...any suggestions?
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@littleman Thanks I will check out your suggestions As for Brahms I too have struggled to find a really good recording of his Symphonies and other large works until recently. Try the Live Boston Symphony recordings with Nelsons on DG. Beautiful recording. For Brahms Piano Concertos try Schiff with Age of Enlightenment Orchestra on ECM. For the Seranades for Orchestra try Marin and the Gavle Symphoniorkester on Ondine. These are all beautiful recordings Brahms dense orchestration is a challenge to record. | |
FWIW, to deal with the orchestration 'issues' in Brahms symphonies one might try Berglund's and Mackerras' (on Telarc) versions. I've really enjoyed both, not necessarily at the exclusion of others but as an alternative. I like Berglund's Sibelius as well. Whether or not they qualify as recordings prized by the OP I don't know but they are OK on my system. :-) RV, I haven't found a reduced orchestration version of Schumann that I liked at all, but performance wise, surprisingly perhaps, I have really enjoyed Bernsteins. | |
Pretty much anything engineered by the late great Michael Bishop. Here's a sample: Vaughan Williams: Dona nobis pacem; Symphony No. 4; The Lark Ascending
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These are are vinyl recommendations- Bernstein- playing Beethoven 9 - live at the Berlin Wall - ode to freedom on deutsche gramophone. Also ravel bolero on telarc and lastly Tchaikovsky 1812 played by the Cleveland symphony orchestra - they fire real cannons at the end and I have to lower volume so as to not blow out my speakers. Don’t know the label but the cover has a mounted Russian soldier on the cover ! Fantastic fidelity recordings | |
@jomace mentioned Solti and The CSO. It’s probably the best record I own. Great sound. Great performance. It flat out rocks. | |
Some new ones (for me) that I have been very impressed with in terms of combination of good recording and performance both on Qobuz are: Beethoven, Blomstedt, Gewandhausorchester Schubert, Jan Willem de Vriend, Residentie orkest of The Hague. If I recall correctly, the Beethoven was recommended by some music critic I found online but I honestly can’t remember where I might have seen it. |
