Must have classic recordings

Very good point Musicnoise. I only truly appreciated the Ninth, even though it was my "first love" of classical music, once I had got several copies. I now have 11 different versions but that's nothing - I have come across people who have over 50!
It is important, for me at least, to hear interpretations from the artists / conductors that I admire the most. (The reason I stay within known confines is that there are a standard group of the latter whom I know I can trust with just about anything. I can explore other interpretors at a later time if necessary). Only when you hear a few versions can you really get some understanding of what a piece can do for you. And only then can you know what to look for when seeking out the "ultimate recording" - if there is such a thing. Let's for the sake of this argument assume there is :)

Then the Peguin Guide book, however, just like Grammaphone, very biased toward preferring British recordings.

Its probably because the Brits tend to do things better than other 'nations' musically,lol...............

I think the British reviewers/critics haven't figured out yet that now-a-days the sun does set on the British Empire. Some might say that it not only sets but no longer rises! :-)

Re request, you might like to look at some old threads posted in this forum that are listed for easy reference under the category 'Best Of'.

Another pulp reference without the British slant is the "All Music Guide to Classical Music". It has recommendations for good recordings as well as biographies of the composers, conductors, performance, and orchestras. Music recommendations are mostly for performance I think, but it is surely a good place to start looking for straight ahead performances and incidental information.

Orff - Carmina Burana -
Bizet - Carmen - (opera)

The globetrotting days of a ALL once great empires does indeed come to an end, sometimes a very sticky end, take note America!lol.
Seriously though, I have bought many a recommendation from the Grammophone catalogue, and I must say that many a recording are indeed from 'International' companies rather than be biased from one particular country.
As classical recordings are usually very good, I also agree that it maybe best to choose between performers rather than labels.