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What are your TWO favorite Symphonic Recordings?

Only one would cruel and unusual punishment.

My first would be Joseph Krips 1958 recording of Schubert's 9th on London with the London SO.There was a CD of it as well
which is also OP I believe. If you can find either it or the record at anything under a $1OO its a good buy. Personally
I would give 2K for one if I didn't have a copy.
More than once I've read a critic claim this was the greatest record ever made. The LSO was at the top of its game and gave
this uber- powerful symphony a power-house performance.

My second is the 1976 recording of the Brahms 2nd by James Levine and the Chicago SO in the acoustically wonderful Medina Temple in Chicago. Originally it was on RCA but can be had on Amazon as part of Sony Classical 3 disc set of all Brahm'4 symphonies and his great masterpiece the "German Requiem" for less than 15 bucks ! Very nice sound as well.
Levine does a near-miracle in capturing the 2nd Symphonys combo of power , lyricism and harmonic stability all at the same time.
Of all the great Romantic composers Brahms was the most learned, he literally had the music of 4 centuries at his fingertips, knew every note of Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven. It took me 30 years of listening before I really
got a glimmer of just how great he is.

A few words of Brahms on Schubert;

"Where else is there a genius like his,that soars with such
boldness and certainty ...he is a child of the Gods...who plays in a region and at a height to which others can by no means attain .
schubert
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Nice thread idea, Schubert. My two, in no particular order:

-- Brahms Symphony No. 1, Toscanini/NBC Symphony, recorded in 1940. My favorite performance of my favorite symphony. Can be listened to or downloaded here. The primitive mono sound doesn't matter, although it is surprisingly listenable.

-- Dvorak Symphony No. 9, "From The New World," Horenstein/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Chesky CD31. Recorded in 1962, engineering by Kenneth Wilkinson. Great music, great performance, and probably the best sounding symphonic recording I have ever heard. Those who disdain the CD medium should hear this.

Best regards,
-- Al
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
Schubert, you are killing me, man. I have 7 kids and 2 grandchildren. Don't ask me to pick my favorite two.

I just can't do this based on musical or artistic grounds. I can make 2 choices based on sentimental grounds. My interest in symphonic music began 42 years ago. Two recordings of symphonic works remain in my library from that early period. LvB 9th, Toscanini, NBC Symphony orchestra. LvB, 3rd symphony, HvK and the Berlin Phil, the 1963 DG recording. These two recordings for me are like my first love. They still get a fair amount of playing time.
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
Al, we posted at almost the same time. I also have and love the Toscanini Brahms!
newbee
4,751 posts
 
Over the years Mahler 6's and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances probably got more play time than the other's. I guess that makes them 'favorites', but I really don't think of them as such. I've sort of grown unattached to big symphonic pieces. I'm finding chamber music and music for the solo piano especially rewarding now.
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