Mozart Piano Concerto 21.

I'm in a bit of a rush today, so I'm going to state unsubstantiated opinions for now (yeah, what else is new!?).

Buxter:
I agree with your peach analogy completely vis-a-vis Hahn.

Yes, more of the US Serkin (I agree with the impression of sterility). I have none of the Busch recordings, I'm afraid.

I really like Akiko's Dvorak! I listened to it again last night and loved it. Hmmm... I did not like the Philips engineering, however. One of their worst efforts.

When I said that Joshua Bell was "slipping," I meant exactly what you state. I saw him on A&E (or was it PBS?) sometime this winter and it was embarassing. I had to change the station. Saw Shlomo Mintz in Chicago a year or so ago. He had great "presence."

Lipatti/HvK is head and shoulders above all other recordings I've heard of #21. One of the all time great Schumann piano concerto recordings on the same disc just makes it a no brainer, despite the relatively poor sound.

If you must have a stereo recording, Annie Fischer/Sawallisch/Philharmonia Orchestra is my 2nd favorite.

Regarding violinists, I absolutely concur with Tweekerman on Oistrakh/Cluytens/French N.O. on the Beethoven VC. Incandescent performance and I'm not a big fan of Oistrakh generally. I find his playing too willfull and mannered. I will also second Buxter66's high regard for Szigeti. His 1928 recording of Brahms' VC stopped my search for the perfect recording of my favorite violin concerto. I have over a dozen recordings of this piece and only Heifetz/Koussevitzky/BSO comes close. One caution when you look for Szigeti recordings - he developed an intonation problem as he got older, so I'd stick with his earlier output, with few exceptions.

Oh, and if you've read this far Buxter66, check out Gilels playing Beethoven PC #4 and 5 with Kurt Sanderling conducting Leningrad Phil on Monitor label. His only competitions are Michelangeli and Kovacevich. I agree some of his later recordings, especially with Szell were pretty atrocious, but most of his Beethoven piano sonata recordings on DG are comparable to Schnabel's. His Rachmaninov PC #3 on Testament also belongs with Horowitz's first 2 recordings of it as one of the greatest ever.

Haven't seen Buxter for a long time. But, Gileon, I agree with you. There are those who don't seem to like Russian peformers, period. I really like much of Gilels, Oistrakh, and others.

I've heard a few comments here "Oistrakh not my favorite, or first choice...". I could certainly point you in the direction of some recordings of Oistrakh that would change your opinion very quickly. I own just about everything in print of Oistrakh, very enjoyable to listen to.

Tweekerman

I own and have listened to many Oistrakh recordings. I like him in few pieces (Beethoven VC, Prokofiev VCs...) but in general, I prefer Heifetz, Kogan, Milstein, Szigeti and Grumiaux. But if you have a suggestion for Oistrakh that you think I might enjoy, I'm certainly willing to give it a listen.