What are your TWO favorite Symphonic Recordings?

That pleases me greatly !
When I first began to listen to Classical this was one of of the first dozen of records I bought at the University of Minnesota book store, a buck on close-out.

As I began to read (and READ) about Classical Music I kept reading these opinions that all Schubert's first 7 were juvenalia, lesser works etc. .Knowing how great the 9th was this seemed strange to me, I found a Beecham 2& 5th(which is in the league with Krips) and listened.
Even as a newbee I knew these critics were nuts.

Of course LvB symphonies, correctly, were always cited as among the very best.I compared over and over again Schubert's 2, 5. 9 with LvB's 2,5, 9 . In every case I could come to no conclusion other than, great a LvB's are, Schubert's were better.
Forty years ago Schubert didn't make every "top-ten" list. now he's usually in the top five.
Guess the creme does rise !

But LvB 7 is better than Schubert 7-LOL.

P.S.I read a article today that on 3 April 1897, the day of Brahms demise, every ship in the Kriegsmarine flew their 10 meter battleflags at half-mast.Surely a first , and last, as far as I know.
If you ever make a pilgrimage to Viennas Central Cemetery you'll find Schubert buried on a corner, right next to him lies Brahms(as he requested) next is Strauss the younger,Brahms buddy, next to him Hugo Wolff.
Mahler is buried around the corner from Schubert, perhaps 50 feet away. I often wonder if ,awaiting judgement day, the fellas ever have any conversations of an evening.

I don't know if you Schubert lovers know about the Bard Music Festival which takes place every summer at Annandale-On-Hudson in beautiful upstate NY. It is a remarkable music festival that, each year, focuses on one important classical composer. From Wiki:

**The Bard Music Festival is an annual classical music festival held during the month of August on the campus of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Founded in 1990, the festival was created with the intention of finding ways to present the history of music in innovative ways to contemporary audiences. To this end, each year the festival selects a single composer to be its main focus and presents performances in tandem with presentations on biographical details on the subject and links to the worlds of literature, painting, theater, philosophy, and politics that would have influenced the life and works of the featured composer. The effort to bridge the worlds of performance and scholarship often results in a variety of concert formats and styles that often depart from the typical recital and concert structure. Concerts are frequently presented with informative preconcert talks, panel discussions by renowned musicians and scholars, and other special events. In addition, each season a book of essays, translations, and correspondence relating to the festival’s central figure is published by Princeton University Press. The festival is currently led by Artistic Directors Leon Botstein, Christopher H. Gibbs, and Robert Martin.

The festival's first featured composer was Johannes Brahms in 1990.[1] The upcoming 2014 festival shall focus on the world and works of Franz Schubert.**

It is a wonderful opportunity for music geeks and lovers of a particular composer to spend two weeks (or any part thereof) immersed in the music and life of that composer. I hope this information doesn't come across as unabashed promotion, but thought it might be of interest. The American Symphony Orchestra (I am a member) is the resident orchestra and is a very fine ensemble; and the new hall is first rate. Alas, Schubert did not write for the bass clarinet or saxophone.

http://fishercenter.bard.edu/bmf/

Schubert, I will take a look for the Beechum. I have spent far too much trying to find Schubert that exposes the sublime beauty that is so clearly in his music.

Thanks Frog, health permitting I just might make that.
I'll tell all, having been all over the US and world, if there is a more beautiful place than Upstate NY, I'll kiss your butt on Main St. and give you 2 weeks to draw a crowd !

I did make the pilgrimage to the the Marlboro Festival in VT to see the sweat pour off the great Mitsuko Uchida playing Scubert's towering Sonata 21 in the hot summer sun.

From the little I've seen of Botstein it looks like he falls into the force of nature category?

Brownfan, I think there is a Beecham 3 and 5 on EMIs "Great Recordings of the Century". which is as good if not better, cheap and readily available om Amazon.