Audiophile Classical cds?

Nikturner920,

The Kempe R. Strauss recordings on Brilliant are wonderful conductions. Recording quality is good for the time. The Jochum Bruckner and the Barshai Shostakovich, both also on Brilliant, are also really great. All three of these sets are among my favorites. As a bonus, the Barshai Shostokovich recording quality is quite good. Generally, I'd take the Archiv 10's for sound quality with a grain of salt. The reviewers may not have the golder ears typical of this group.

Several have recommended Zander. I concur! Don't overlook his latest, Mahler 1 which also includes 'Songs of a Wayfarer'. This is an outstanding recording, performance, and program.

Other 'audiophile' greats would include Barber/Menotti Violin Concertos on Reference Recordings.

Beethoven Sym #5 () by Carlos Kleiber on DG. What this lacks in absolute audiophile terms it more than makes up in performance. It is outstanding!

Copland 3rd Sym and Applachian Spring on Reference Recording.

Debussy's orchestral music on two disc's by Pierre Boulez. On DG. Outstanding performances and recordings. Not for folks looking for a romantic/warm/mushy Debussy.

Liszt's Dante Symphony and Tasso on Telarc. The Symphony is good, the Tasso is outstanding, and the recording is excellent.

Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition on Reference Recording.

Respighi's Pines and Fountains of Rome by Reiner on RCA Living Stereo. A classic recommendation.

Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade on Reference Recordings. Best sound - If you want the 'best' performance in very good sound, get Beecham's - its a lot cheaper too.

Stravinsky's Firebird and the Rite of Spring. Reference Recording.

FWIW, most all of the Reference Recording's catalog are easy picks if audiophile quality is your first priority. When you find some works that really turn you on come on back and I'm sure you'll have no problem getting folks to give you some suggestions on the more outstanding performances of your favorites.

If you like Mahler, don't miss the recent Mahler Ninth by Chailly and the Concertgebouw on Decca. It's not only a magnificent performance, but far and away the best-sounding Mahler Ninth ever recorded (and I speak as a Mahler nut who has many Ninths). Sound and performance are breathtaking.

Thanks, lots to try now.

HEh.. If you want to experiment and set your system through a test.. Check out Karlheinz Stockhausen's OKTOPHONIE. It is originally meant for 8 channel performence (meaning true 3d - actually 4d- sound). It is the most amazing 20th century electronic piece I have heard. I believe it is the instrumental version to the second act of one of his operas from the series called LICHT, one for each day of the week. It sounds like it may be some sort of fight scene between Satan and gabriel. Anyways, since hearing this, "classical" music doesnot interest me so much anymore. However, it is a fairly envolved listen, being 8 channels (mixed to stereo) of fantastic sounding drones, tape manipulations and electronic sounds, so it isnot everyones cup of tea. Plus it is fairly hard to get. I found it in Amoeba Hollywood, so if you are in a major city, you can find it, otherwise order it from Stockhausen himself. Just google Stockhausen. AND I guareenty you will NOT be able to download it. Period.