Best Classical Sound Quality

[Doc Sarvis]

For the moment, forget the performance. What are the best-sounding classical recordings - in terms of sonics - you have ever heard? I think many Head-fiers would appreciate a list.

Here's two to start:

Mahler - Symphony # 2 - Kaplan, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - SACD (also available on CD). Gilbert Kaplan has done two recordings; be sure to find the Vienna Philharmonic edition. Sonically, the best modern recording I have ever heard. I listened to it again last night and it blew me away once again. Nothing else comes close!

Chabrier - Espana, etc. Paray, Detroit Symphony. This will show you what Mercury Living Presence (and the "golden age" classical recordings) were all about at their best. Close-miked perspective, tape hiss, etc., but simply an astounding recording.

Others?

 

[Bunnyears]

OMG! There are so many to add to this list. For starters, the Christophe Rousset recordings of Bach's French Suites and English Suites (Ambroisie) have ravishing sonics. Harnoncourt's recording of the Mozart Requiem in SACD/Hybrid (DHM) and his recordings of Bruckner's 5th and 9th symphonies (DHM) SACD/Hybrid also sound wonderful as do the Beethoven symphonies 4 and 5 in SACD/Hybrid recorded by Paavo Jarvi with the Minnesota SO. That's only 3 recordings, I could go on and on with Rene Jacobs Le Nozze di Figaro, Slatkin's Mahler 2, et al.

 

[Masonjar]

I still love this one cd I bought back in the 80's.. it's called THE THREE HEROES.. it includes "Till Eulenspiegel" by Strauss, "Hary Janos" by Kodaly and "Lt. Kije" by Prokofiev. Performance by the Dallas Symphony under Eduardo Mata, on Proarte, on a gold cd. It just really sounds GOOD. Very natural sound over all the frequencies (great bass), wide dynamic range, great hall accoustics. I think it's still available under some other label. I've often regretted not buying more cd's from this label, as I believe they are OOP.

The Mahler Zander recordings I've heard so far (3 and 6) sound incredible.

Another Mahler cd I have that has great sound is a Mahler 1st by James Judd and the Florida Philharmonic on Harmonia Mundi (I see that it's now reissued on Classical Express). Pretty much everything I said about that Mata disc I could say about this one.. huge big dynamic range, great sound over the frequency spectrum, and huge bass. Stereophile agreed back in 1994:

http://stereophile.com/recordingofthemonth/877/

A couple others off the top of my head:

Shostokovich 8th, Haitink on London

Walton Symphony 1, Crown Imperial, Orb & Sceptre, Andre Previn, Telarc (The Orb & Sceptre March rocks, definately one to play to show off your system, besides being a very regal British march, it's downright JAZZY in spots)

Messiaen, Turangalîla-Symphonie - both recordings I have of this are fantastic:

Myung-Whun Chung, Bastille Opera Orchestra on DG
Riccardo Chailly, Concertgebow on Decca

I'm still looking for my ultimate Carmina Burana. So far, I haven't yet heard a recoring of the work that sonically completely levels me. A lot of great performances out there, but this must be one hell of a difficult work to record.
I've heard quite a few great ones, but still waiting for #1.

-jar

 

[Masonjar]

"Golden age"

Bruckner 7th by Bruno Walter & Columbia Symphony on CBS.

Maher 3rd by Lenny on CBS (Sony now)

Mahler 4th, Reiner on RCA

-jar

 

[bigshot]

Fiedler's Gaetie Parisienne on Living Stereo

See ya
Steve

 

[fante7]

I am not the most experienced voice, but man, Zander's recording of Mahler 5 sounds incredible.

 

[Masolino]

Most recordings by Kenneth Wilkinson, and, more recently,
Tony Faulkner.

 

[mbhaub]

There are several I use to show off my system:

Kurt Atterberg's 3rd symphony on BIS. A depth of sound that is amazing. YOu could take dictation from the recording. Huge dynamic range.

Another dazzling recording is the Roman trilogy by Respighi on Sony with Maazel/Pittsburgh. Great sound.

Then there's the Delos recording of Shostakovich symphony 10 with the Festive Overture in ear shattering sound -- what a bass drum!

Lastly, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring on EMI with Rattle.

 

[CSMR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Sarvis For the moment, forget the performance. What are the best-sounding classical recordings - in terms of sonics - you have ever heard? I think many Head-fiers would appreciate a list.

Mozart Clarinet quintet performed by "Tashi" (Stolzman, Kavafian, Stolzman, Phillips, Sherry) on LP (RCA). The most wonderful string sound. (Sadly I no longer have a record player and haven't found it on CD. Analog transfers are mostly poor anyway, and the sound remains with me.)

 

[blip]

I was blown away by the Harmonia Mundi Mozart's Requiem.

Also the Telarc Bach Toccata was a real revelation to me in terms of the kind of recording that you could make of an organ.

 

[PSmith08]

Daniel Barenboim's Teldec recording of Die Walküre (Bayreuth) is my favorite release of that score for sound quality.

Claudio Abbado's DGG disc of mostly Parsifal excerpts is another excellent disc.

Pierre Boulez' M3 on DGG is of excellent quality, and even better interpretation.

The Domingo "Scenes from the Ring" disc on EMI is also very good, if a bit gimmicky.

 

[Kevin Sinnott]

Debussy Images... Mata and the Dallas Symphony Telarc redbook CD. Sounds terrific. Even though I have a later Telarc SACD, the Mata is sooo good, I play whatever performance I wish to hear.

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blip I was blown away by the Harmonia Mundi Mozart's Requiem. Also the Telarc Bach Toccata was a real revelation to me in terms of the kind of recording that you could make of an organ.

Harmonia Mundi? Is that the Herreweghe Mozart Requiem on HM or the Harnoncourt Mozart Requiem in SACD/Hybrid on DHM -- Deutsche Harmonia Mundi that you referred to? Both are of outstanding quality both for sound and performance.

Telarc Bach Toccata? You realize that there are numerous recordings (16 at towerrecords) of the Toccatas on Telarc's label. A little more information, please!

 

[Doc Sarvis]

I need to add the Shostakovich Kitajenko SACD set to this list - it's a bit variable from work to work in terms of sonics, but when it's good it's up there with the very best.

I would dare say that, for the first time, recordings are being made today that rival the golden age for sonic quality.

 

[LFF]

As always, here are my recommendations for best sounding:

Durante - Magnificat, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Thomas Hengelbrock, conductor
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=classical

Durante - Misserere
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=classical

Mozart Requiem - Mackerras, Scotish Chamber Orchestra
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...582930-3686454

Mozart Requiem (String Quartet Version by Lichtenthal), Kuijken Quartet
http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....ber=CRSAM72121

Fennell conducting some Holst, Handel, Sousa and others - DEEP & LOW bass
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=UTF8&v=glance

Bach Suites for Solo Cello, Janos Starker
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=classical

or

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=classical

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1, Van Cliburn
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=classical

Chopin Ballades & Scherzos, Rubinstein
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=UTF8&v=glance

Fennell conducts Leroy Anderson, Eastman-Rochester "Pops" Orchestra (tracks 1-14), Studio Orchestra (tracks 15-23), Frederick Fennell, conductor http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....=MLPSAM4756942

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Hungarica (Serenade), Antal Dorati, conductor
http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....=MLPSAM4756623

Chabrier - Espana, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray, conductor http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....=MLPSAM4756183

Various Marches, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell, conductor
http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....=MLPSAM4756619

Herschel - Symphonies, London Mozart Players, Mathias Bamert, conductor
http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo....ber=CHASAM5005

Myslivecek - Symphonies, London Mozart Players, Mathias Bamert, conductor
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...sical&n=507846

Bach - Mass in B Minor, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Thomas Hengelbrock, conductor
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...ce&s=classical