Phenomenal Classical Recordings

One thing to consider, the RCA Living Stereo classical recordings are being released on SACD. These are acknowledged as being very good to exceptional analog based recordings. The best part is there are two LP's (read variety) on one SACD for $11.98 or less (try Tower). Probably the most popular one (of those released) is Mussorgsky-Pictures at an Exhibition. This piece is what got me going on classical many, many years ago (as done by Emerson, Lake and Palmer no less!). Mercury Living Presence classical recordings are also being released in SACD but they are little more pricey at $17.98. You're in for a real treat, just approach with an open mind.

The "old masters" of classical music are always a good place to start: Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, Haydn, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, etc. To expand your horizons, however, I suggest that you buy either or both of the following books, which will give you an excellent introduction to the major classical composers and the better recorded versions of their work:

1. Essential Canon of Classical Music, by David Dubal (North Point Press, 2001).

2. The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection, by Ted Libbey (Workman Publishing, 1999).

Both books are very readable and contain excellent information that will really enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the classical music repertoire.

Mozart is the most easily appreciated of classical composers, and a good place to start. If you jump into Mahler, or even some Beethoven, you might drown.

I used to enjoy some radio programs where the music, often several renditions by different performers, was accompanied by a lecture about the music, and comparing the different interpretations.

I just checked the acoustic sounds web site for RCA Living Stereo and they listed this hybrid SACD set for $110, would this be a comprehensive set to get going with? I noticed it listed one of pmotz's recos. I also will get the books mentioned by sdcampbell. It's backordered though.

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Saint Saens: Symphony No.3 ''Organ'/Charles Munch'
Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloe/Charles Munch
R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra/Fritz Reiner
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
Beethoven: Violin Concerto In D/ Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor/Jascha Heifetz,violin/Charles Munch
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1/ Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2/Fritz Reiner
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition & Other Russian Showpieces/Fritz Reiner
Verdi & Puccini Arias/Leontyne Price
Chopin: Ballades/Arthur Rubinstein
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 ''Pathetique''/Pierre Monteux

Most of the set is good. Not all, unfortunately. Many of these recordings are by now considered as "classic". However, bearing the title of this thread as "phenomenal recordings", I would leave out the Beethoven/Mendelssohn (for recording quality, although the performance is great) and the Tchaikovsky's Pathetique (uninspired performance).
There's another remastered-to-Hybrid-SACD (albeit in stereo) Mussorgsky's Pictures that is in demo class and better than the RCA. It's the Mobile Fidelity version with Slatkin.

I will post a list soon. But for now, you can also browse Gramophone Recommended Recordings to keep you occupied. I generally agreed with this list about 75% of the times.

You may also want several of the newly remastered to Hybrid-SACD's by Mercury Living Presence. They are very special indeed.