Classical Best Versions
What Is The Very Best Version?
In a catalogue that lists over 200 recordings of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons", and even 60 versions of Orff's "Carmina Burana", which is the very best?
With the help of Gramophone, Penguin Stereo Guide, BBC Music, and our own ears, we have put together the definitive guide to the popular classics.
Here are a selection of recommended recordings that should find a place in everyone's collection.
Displaying items 101 to 120 of 174
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: The Five Piano Concertos (3 CDs ) Murray Perahia (piano) / Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink [ Sony Music / 3 CD - released 12/Jul/2007 ] "Perahia, with Haitink a deeply sympathetic partner, gives masterly performances, as close to the heart of the music as any. The sound is full and well balanced...well worth it." (Penguin Stereo Guide) |
VERDI
Rigoletto (Complete Opera recorded in 1985) Neil Shicoff, Renata Bruson, Edita Gruberova / Santa Cecilia Acad. / Sinopoli [ Decca Grand Opera / 2 CD - released 20/Jun/2012 ] American tenor Neil Shicoff as the Duke heads up a starry cast which also includes one of the great Italian Verdi baritones as Rigoletto, Renato Bruson |
DOUGLAS LILBURN
Lilburn: The Three Symphonies New Zealand Symphony Orchestra / James Judd [ Naxos / CD - released 2/May/2002 ] "There's a freshness and enthusiasm in Judd's readings, and he takes care with the music, observing every detail. Throughout all three symphonies there is a greater breadth and warmth of emotion than we've heard before." - Sunday Star Times (May 2002 |
BIZET
L'Arlesienne & Carmen Suites / Symphony in C / La Jolie fille de Perth Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal / Charles Dutoit [ Double Decca / 2 CD - released 8/Sep/2003 ] "With playing that is both elegant and vivid, and with superb, demonstration-worthy sound, Dutoit's polished yet affectionate coupling of the L'Arlesienne and Carmen suites make a clear first choice." (Penguin Guide) |
DEBUSSY
Preludes I & II Pascal Roge (piano) [ Onyx Classics / CD - released 20/Jun/2005 ] "The recording is truly gorgeous, as is the piano sound." (MusicWeb June 2005) |
MESSIAEN
Oiseaux Exotiques / Couleurs de la Cite Celeste and other works for piano and ensemble Peter Donohoe / Netherlands Wind Ensemble / Reinbert de Leeuuw [ Chandos / 2 CD - released 1/Jan/1994 ] Reinbert de Leeuw and his crackerjack Dutch musicians negotiate these difficult scores with dazzling aplomb, not to mention pianist Peter Donohoe's razor-sharp timbre and rhythmic suppleness. The bright, close-up live recording captures the full... |
HENRY CHARLES LITOLFF
Litolff: Piano Concertos Nos 2 & 4 Peter Donohoe (piano) / Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Litton [ Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto Vol 14 / CD - released 17/May/2001 ] 'This entertaining Hyperion CD is one of the year's surprises and very much worth having' (The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs) |
J.S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas for solo bass (BWV 56, 82, 158) Peter Kooy (bass) La Chapelle Royale, Philippe Herreweghe [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 18/Nov/2022 ] These three cantatas for bass solo are based on episodes from the life of Christ (the healing of the lame man, the presentation in the temple, scenes from the Passion) with implications of the benevolence and consolation of death. |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13 / Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 The Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 26/Feb/2021 ] "Indeed, [his] account of the troubled First Symphony is as surprising and as thrilling as any I have heard since the much-lauded Ormandy account...An altogether stunning album." Gramophone February 2021 Recording of the Month |
W. A. MOZART
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos 17 & 20 Piotr Anderszewski (piano and conductor) / Scottish Chamber Orchestra [ Erato Classics / CD - released 1/Feb/2006 ] "In both these concertos everything is perfectly in proportion; the drama is never over-played in the D minor, while the slow movement of the G major is made that concerto's emotional heart" (Guardian) |
CHARLES GOUNOD
The Gounod Edition: Operas, Choral Works, Symphonies Placido Domingo, Regine Crespin, Alfredo Kraus, Nicolai Gedda, Mirella Freni, Marilyn Horne, Rolando Villazon, etc [ Warner Classics / 15 CD Box Set - released 25/Jun/2018 ] "Anyone wanting a share in these darling old steeds at a tempting price will be amply satisfied." Opera |
BEDRICH SMETANA
Smetana: Ma Vlast (My Fatherland), including Vltava (Moldau) The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Antoni Wit [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Sep/2000 ] "this new Naxos offering enshrines an interpretation of no mean stature and individuality: an undoubted bargain, I would say" - Gramophone |
JOHN RUTTER
Gloria and other sacred music Polyphony / City of London Sinfonia / Stephen Layton [ Hyperion / CD - released 10/Jun/2001 ] Editor's Choice - Gramophone Magazine (Aug 2001)- 'Delicious performances of Rutter's wonderfully approachable and finely crafted vocal writing. The sound, too, is outstanding. |
J.S. BACH
Violin Sonatas (Complete) Rachel Podger (violin) Trevor Pinnock (harpsichord) [ Channel Classics / 2 CD - released 15/Jun/2001 ] 2001 GRAMOPHONE AWARD FINALIST - Baroque Instrumental |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: String Sextets Nos 1 & 2 The Raphael Ensemble [ Hyperion / CD - released 11/Nov/2000 ] GRAMOPHONE CRITICS' CHOICE - 'Their performances can take their place beside any of the great chamber music recordings of the past, and will continue to set standards for years to come' (Gramophone) |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Complete Opera recorded in 1967) Renata Scotto, Carlo Bergonzi, Anna di Stasio, Rolando Panerai / Rome Opera, Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics The Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 25/Apr/2018 ] 'a performance that will remind you of the first time you fell in love with this opera' (Good CD Guide) |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss Heroines (Capriccio, Arabella, Der Rosenkavalier) Renee Fleming, soprano, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Christoph Eschenbach [ Decca Records / CD - released 21/Jan/2001 ] Rossette - Penguin Stereo Guide |
MAURICE RAVEL / HECTOR BERLIOZ
Ravel: Sheherazade / Berlioz: Les Nuits d'ete / with a recital of French songs (rec 1963) Regine Crespin (soprano) / Suisse Romande Orchestra / Ernest Ansermet [ Decca Originals / CD - released 20/Aug/2006 ] "Crespin is right inside these songs and ravel's magically sensuous music emerges with striking spontaneity. She is superbly supported by Ansermet who, aided by the Decca engineers, weaves a fine tonal web round the voice." (Penguin Guide Rosette) |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Pelleas and Melisande (Complete Opera recorded in 1978) Richard Stilwell, Frederica von Stade, Josa van Dam. Berlin Philharmonic / Herbert von Karajan [ Warner Classics Home of Opera / 3 CD Box Set - released 20/Jan/2017 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1901-1950) - "a very characteristically Karajan performance, deeply committed and full of beautiful things. The casting is excellent." (Gramophone) |
GILBERT and SULLIVAN
Gilbert & Sullivan: The Mikado (Complete Opera) Richard Suart, Donald Adams, Marie Mclaughlin, Anthony Rolfe Johnson / Welsh National Opera, Charles Mackerras [ Telarc Records / CD - released 7/Jul/2000 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1851-1900) Rosette (highest rating) Penguin Stereo Guide |
