The Best Classical Music Recordings to Own
We’ve compiled a list of the best classical music recordings to own, so you can start building your collection today. From Bach to Beethoven, these are the recordings that belong in every music lover’s library.
The Best Recordings
If you’re looking for the best classical music recordings to own, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll recommend some of the best recordings of classical music, from well-known symphonies to lesser-known works. We’ll also tell you a little bit about each recording, so you can make an informed decision about which ones to buy.
The best recordings of Bach’s works
There are many different recordings of Bach’s works, and it can be difficult to decide which ones to buy. Here is a list of some of the best recordings of Bach’s works, according to critics.
-Bach: The Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould (1955)
-Bach: The Art of Fugue, Pablo Casals (1939)
-Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos, Gustav Leonhardt (1972)
-Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, András Schiff (1984)
-Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, Glenn Gould (1981)
-Bach: The Six Partitas, András Schiff (1984)
The best recordings of Beethoven’s works
There are many classical music recordings of Beethoven’s works, but which ones are the best? Here is a list of the best recordings of Beethoven’s works, according to professionals in the field:
-The Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 (1961): Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic
-The Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (“Pastoral”) (1963): Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic
-The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (“Choral”) (1966): Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic
-Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 (1968): Daniel Barenboim with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein
-Piano Sonatas Nos. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 (“Moonlight”) and 23 in F minor, Op. 57 (“Appassionata”) (1972): Glenn Gould
-String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132 (1973): The Juilliard String Quartet
-String Quartet No. 16 in F major, Op 135 (1974): The Juilliard String Quartet
-String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, op 131 (1977): The Kronos Quartet
-Piano Concerto No 5 in E flat major, op 73 (“Emperor”) (1978): Mikhail Pletnev with the Russian National Orchestra
The best recordings of Brahms’s works
There are many great recordings of Brahms’s works, but these are some of the best.
Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 is one of the most popular symphonies ever written, and there are many great recordings of it. But one that stands out is Leonard Bernstein’s recording with the New York Philharmonic, which was released in 1963. Bernstein was a legendary conductor, and this recording captures his energy and passion for the music.
Another great recording of Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 is by Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. This recording was made in 1981, near the end of Karajan’s life, and it shows his deep understanding of Brahms’s music.
Brahms’s Violin Concerto is one of the most popular concertos ever written, and there are many great recordings of it. But one that stands out is by Hilary Hahn and Leonard Slatkin. Hahn is a virtuoso violinist, and her performance is both technically impeccable and emotionally moving. Slatkin is a master conductor, and he gets the best out of the orchestra. This recording was made in 2004 and released in 2005.
These are just some of the great recordings of Brahms’s works. There are many others, so explore and find your favorites!
The Best Orchestras
There are many great orchestras in the world, but only a few can truly be considered the best. The best orchestras are those that have a rich history, a loyal fan base, and a high level of skill. Let’s take a look at some of the best orchestras in the world.
The best recordings by the Berlin Philharmonic
The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world, and it has made some truly incredible recordings over the years. If you’re looking for the best of the best, here are some essential recordings by the Berlin Philharmonic that you should own.
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9
This classic recording of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, is one of the most celebrated performances in history. The Berlin Philharmonic delivers a masterful interpretation of this timeless work, making it a must-have for any classical music lover.
2. Brahms: Symphony No. 1 & 2
Another conducting legend, Leonard Bernstein, leads the Berlin Philharmonic in this well-reviewed recording of Brahms’s first two symphonies. The playing is poetic and emotionally charged, making for a truly moving listening experience.
3. Mahler: Symphony No. 5
Under the baton of Daniel Barenboim, the Berlin Philharmonic gives a passionate performance of Mahler’s 5th Symphony that is widely considered to be one of the best recordings of this work. If you’re a fan of Mahler’s music, this is an essential recording to own.
4. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique” & Swan Lake Suite
This recording features two of Tchaikovsky’s most popular works, conducted by Lorin Maazel. The playing is simply gorgeous, and Maazel elicits powerful emotions from the orchestra that will leave you spellbound from start to finish.
The best recordings by the Vienna Philharmonic
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the most popular and well-respected orchestras in the world. They have been featured on numerous recordings, both live and studio, and their catalog is vast. Trying to determine which are the best recordings by the Vienna Philharmonic can be a daunting task, but we’ve compiled a list of 10 essential recordings that any fan of classical music should own.
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 – Carlos Kleiber (conductor)
2. Brahms: Symphony No. 4 – Carlos Kleiber (conductor)
3. Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 – Carlo Maria Giulini (conductor)
4. Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” – Leonard Bernstein (conductor)
5. Mahler: Symphony No. 5 – Leonard Bernstein (conductor)
6. Mozart: Requiem Mass in D minor – Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
7. Ravel: Bolero – Leonard Bernstein (conductor)
8. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra – Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
9. Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite – Herbert von Karajan (conductor)
10. Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries – Wilhelm Furtwangler (conductor)
The best recordings by the New York Philharmonic
There is no shortage of great recordings by the New York Philharmonic. The orchestra has been fortunate to have had a number of exceptional Music Directors over the years, and they have worked with some of the world’s greatest conductors and soloists. The following is a list of what we consider to be the best recordings by the New York Philharmonic.
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 – Leonard Bernstein
2. Brahms: Symphony No. 4 – Leonard Bernstein
3. Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” – Leonard Bernstein
4. Mahler: Symphony No. 5 – Leonard Bernstein
5. Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 – Leonard Bernstein
6. Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite – Leonard Bernstein
7. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 – Leonard Bernstein
8 . Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg – Leonard Bernstein
The Best Conductors
Classical music fans will know that there are many great recordings of the same piece of music. It’s often the conductor that makes the difference. Here are some of the best conductors that you should look for when buying classical music recordings.
The best recordings by Herbert von Karajan
Herbert von Karajan was one of the most popular, controversial and internationally acclaimed classical music conductors of the 20th century. He was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic for 35 years and also held leadership positions with the Vienna Philharmonic, Salzburg Festival and Deutsche Grammophon.
Karajan’s recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic include Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral” and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 “The Great.” Other notable works in his catalogue include Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique” and Wagner’s The Ride of the Valkyries from Die Walküre.
Karajan recorded extensively with Deutsche Grammophon, leaving behind a legacy of more than 500 albums. His partnership with the label spanned more than four decades and yielded such classic recordings as Verdi’s La traviata, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
The best recordings by Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein is one of the most important and influential classical music conductors of the 20th century. He was born in Massachusetts in 1918 and died in 1990. He is best known for his conducting work with the New York Philharmonic, but he also composed music, wrote books, and taught music. He was a true renaissance man of music.
If you are looking for the best recordings by Leonard Bernstein, you have come to the right place. This list includes both his live and studio recordings. It is organized chronologically, starting with his earliest recordings and ending with his last.
1951 – “Beethoven: Symphony No. 5”
This is a live recording of Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic in a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. It was originally released as part of a box set called “The Leonard Bernstein Collection.”
1954 – “Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique”
This is a studio recording of Bernstein conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a performance of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. It was originally released onLP by Columbia Records.
1958 – “Mahler: Symphony No. 2”
This is a live recording of Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic in a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 . It was originally released as part of a box set called “The Leonard Bernstein Collection.”
1960 – “Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake”
This is a studio recording of Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake . It was originally released on LP by Decca Records.
The best recordings by Wilhelm Furtwängler
Although Wilhelm Furtwängler is not a household name like some of his contemporaries, he is considered by many to be one of the greatest conductors of all time. A protégé of Richard Strauss, Furtwängler was music director of the Berlin Philharmonic for more than two decades and his recordings with the orchestra are some of the most highly prized in all of classical music.
Furtwängler was known for his highly expressive conducting style, which often drew criticism from those who accused him of overly “interpretive” conducting. Nevertheless, his recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic are widely regarded as some of the finest ever made, and his interpretations of the works of Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner and others are considered definitive.
Some of the best recordings by Wilhelm Furtwängler include:
– Symphony No. 2 in D major (1942)
– Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major (1947)
– Symphony No. 4 in C minor (1950)
– Violin Concerto in D minor (1951)
– Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor (1952)
