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
Frogman, thanks very much for alerting us to the Schubert festival at Bard. I've just purchased tickets to the 8/17 1:30 p.m. performances of the D.959 sonata, various songs, and the D.951 piano duet. Albeit at the presumably lesser hall, Olin, but being able to take in the scenery during daytime drives to and from the area was a factor in that choice. (It's about an 80 mile trip for me from here in CT, btw).

Schubert, I too have and love the immortal 1947 performance of the Alto Rhapsody by Kathleen Ferrier, Clemens Krauss conducting the LPO, on an imported Decca LP I purchased during the 1980s.

Best regards,
-- Al
Excellent! And you are most welcome. The scenery is indeed beautiful and neighboring historic Rheinbeck is worth the ten minute drive for terrific restaurants. Also, be sure to stop by one of the local farmers markets for the best peaches anywhere; they will be in season. Regards.
Frogman. I just recalled that Schubert's last song , "Der Hirt auf dem Felsen' (D965) has a lovely written Clarinet obbligato .