10 Great Classical LP's

Mike, glad to hear it! And it's a slippery slope. For orchestral, keep going and also head to the Decca and EMI catalogs. If you find you also enjoy Baroque and pre-Baroque music, then it's off the the Harmonia Mundi, Accent, Astree, CRD and Telefunken catalogs. Then you discover opera is not as bad as you once thought and it's off to the Decca archives once again. Then organ music and you're off to the Vista, Proprius, Erato catalogs. Great fun! Makes it hell to make recommendations. :-)
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You have started down a path that will undoubtedly bring you much to enjoy for the rest of your life. It's hard to get bored with classical music, as it has been composed and performed for hundreds, if not a thousand years or more. There is always something you haven't heard before, unlike too much popular music these days. Enjoy the journey!

Regards,
Dan

I love the following classical LPs
1. antil Corroboree, OASD 7603. Everest is a lot cheaper
2.Carmina Burana , Telarc DG10056/57
3.Water Musick, Handel, Nicholas Mcgegan Harmonia Mundi HMU 7010
4.Ein Staussfest, Erich Kunzel , Telarc DG10098,
5. Falla, Nights in the garden of spain Decca SXL 2091
6. Kornet Har sin vila Proprius 7853, beautiful choir
7, Misa Criolla, Jose Carreras, my favourite opera
8. La Fille Mal Gardee Decca SXL 2313
9. Maseenet le cid, HMV Greensleeve ESD 7040, cheap and good
10. The Planet, Holst, Zubin Mehta. CS 6734

A lot more and not cheap but exhilarating

I have been listening to classical probably for a couple of years. I buy all sorts of stuff, some from suggestions, some from liking the look of the cover, some by composers I like and some because it is cheap! One thing about classical is that there are mountains of classical records in charity shops all over the world at about $1 a record - if you have a turntable this is a great place to explore. You buy the record, if you don't like it you can chuck it away since you only paid $1.

As for suggestions, I would agree with Vivaldi - very listenable, in terms of Beethoven the 5th symphony is almost a cliche it is so well known but it is a great piece of music and the 7th symphony "rocks" for want of a better phrase. I really like the emotion you get from classical, for anger you would be hard pressed going past Shostakovich, 5th and 8th symphonies are my favourites - he's not for everyone but worth a try. Tchaikovsky's 1812 is a common favourite as is his first Piano concerto. I've been buying a few Bach records of late and The Well Tempered Clavier is nice piano music. There is a hell of a lot out there, classical music has been going for such a long time there is an enormous range. Like popular music you cannot really say you "like" classical music - some of it you will like, some you will abhor - there is a huge range (and I still don't like opera I'm afraid!).

So, my advice is to find cheap second hand classical records or CDs and have a listen. Go with people's suggestions as we all like the music we listen to for a reason, but take a chance sometimes and start giving us your suggestions.

DS

Since you are just beginning to explore classical music and the "best recordings", I suggest you buy a copy of "The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection", by Ted Libby. The book is very informative, easy to read, and contains recommended recordings of some 350 classical compositions. It also has sections on "The Best of the Best", top period-instrument groups, how to become a better classical music listener, and other helpful topics. The book is published by Workman Publishing, and the price is about $18.