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Best recording labels for orchestral music

I am in the process of building my music library. Some of my favorite composers are Holst, Copland, Gershwin, and Ravel to name a few. The problem is I'm not sure which recording label to go with on these and other artists. For example I have a recording of Holst's Planets performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by John Williams. The recoding label is Decca. This has got to be one of the best recordings I've heard of this piece of music.
My question is this: Are there specific recording labels to stay away from and which in your opinion are the better ones to look at?

Thanks.
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mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
record labels to consider:

klavier
harmonia mundi
glossa

you will hear excellent sound and good performances.
rja's avatar
rja
2,356 posts
 
My favorite classical labels are:
Hyperion
Chandos
Glossa
Alia Vox
But there are many, many more with fine sound and performances.
tobias
1,534 posts
 
Mrtennis, just a thought. I've found some of my Glossas to be on the bright side. One of Guerrero motets is the most noticeable. In your opinion, do Glossas seem to be balanced a bit brighter than the Klaviers and Harmonia Mundis, or is there no difference you can hear?

For the OP: among my own label preferences are ASV and sometimes Bis. Two Norwegian labels are also excellent: Simax and 2L.
rja's avatar
rja
2,356 posts
 
I have a bunch of old Lyrita CDs that sound very nice. I see that this label has recently been resurrected.
Also have some old Unicorn Kanchana CDs, don't know if they're still around.
I agree with you Tobias, many nice things on ASV and Bis.
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,467 posts
 
He belongs to the very small group of composers, who devoted his music to the tragedies of his own time.

I agree - but he often couched his tragic themes in military music that was acceptable. If you listen to the Lorn Maazel version if his Fifth you will know what I mean about fun - it has a furious tempo....and the finale, wow!!
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