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Recommendations for a few high SQ classical CDs

I have a modest collection of classical music CDs, most of it symphonic works, maybe 20-30 CDs at most. Most of my musical interest is with rock, roots rock and blues but I do enjoy classical music but have limited knowledge and experience.

I am also a new audiophile with my first hifi system for about a month now.

I would like some specific recommendations on just a few symphonies (for now). What I am looking for at this point is good CD recordings rather than the nature of the performance/conductor/orchestra. In other words, I'm looking for SQ first and performance quality second. I know that might sound backwards but I don't have enough knowledge to have a major preference between performances but I can hear SQ. Certainly a great recording of a great performance is ideal.

To keep things limited I am specifically interested in these works:

Beethoven's 9th
Mahler's 4th
Dvorak's 4th
Brahm's 4th

Certainly open to other symphonies by these composers. I have the works listed above and other symphonies by them as well.

Thanks for any recommendations,

George


n80
daverz
487 posts
 
It's much more than you asked for, but the Belohlavek set of Dvorak symphonies and concertos with the Czech Philharmonic on Decca is beautifully recorded and there are good prices on Amazon Marketplace:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00JOX77GE/ref=tmm_acd_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new&...

There are also 24/96 downloads available.
n80 OP
2,116 posts
 
bdp24, I think Dave Edmunds did some solo work too. I love "Pictures at an Exhibtion". I'll look into Sabre Dance.

Would also like a reference for a good CD of "Pictures at an Exhibition."
It seems like it always has stuff I don't want tacked onto the CD with it.
daverz
487 posts
 
It may be a bit of nostalgia, but I’ve always been very fond of the old Leibowitz "Power of the Orchestra" on RCA, first on Lp and then in gorgeous sounding DSD.

http://www.elusivedisc.com/Leibowitz-The-Power-of-The-Orchestra-Moussorgsky-Hybrid-Stereo-SACD/produ...

(Oops, didn't see that it was a pre-order.  I guess the SACD is currently out of print.)
n80 OP
2,116 posts
 
daverz, I don't mind boxed sets of good recordings. I'm never going to be an aficionado or a serious collector of classical CDs. I'll probable never own many duplicates of any given works. So a well recorded box set makes sense. I'll look into that Dvorak set.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,717 posts
 
@n80, oh yeah, Edmunds has a lot of solo albums, and one as a member of the great Rockpile (with Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner, and Terry Williams). Dave just announced his retirement---he's in his mid-70's. He continued to perform "Sabre Dance" after going solo, usually as a set-closer. His playing on the piece is a real tour de force.
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