Here are a few - all except number 5 listed below are absolute must haves - at least the work, I have listed the conductor or performer and label of the versions that I find to be outstanding. With classical music you will find it enlightening to have more than one performance (i.e. different artist or conductor). Many listeners to classical music have upwards of 10 versions of a piece. Additionally, I have listed one opera because Wagner is such a classic that a collection without the Ring would perhaps be considered incomplete - but do not shy away from other opera - for example some of Mozart's best output was opera and Verdi, Puccini, Rossini wrote incredible music in pretty much only that sub genre.
1. Bach's mass in B minor - Robert King on Hyperion and John Elliot Gardiner on Archiv. Absolute must have - do not let the fact that it is a mass have any effect.
2. Beethoven's Ninth Symp. Furtwangler from 1951 on EMI and Von Karajan's 1961-62 version with the BPO on DG.
3. Beethoven's Third Symp. - many good modern recorings
4. Mozart 35, 38, 40, and 41 symph. Mackeras
5. Schubert trios no 1 op 99 and no 2. op. 100 - Guarneri Trio Prague (just a personal favorite - maybe not a 'must have')
6. Beethoven's piano sonata's 14 (Moonlight), 8 (Pathetique), 21 (Waldstein), 23 (Appasionatta) Paul Lewis on Harmonia Mundi.
7. Mahler Symp 1 - Michael Tilson Thomas
8. Wagner's Ring Cycle - Keilberth on Testament records
1. Bach's mass in B minor - Robert King on Hyperion and John Elliot Gardiner on Archiv. Absolute must have - do not let the fact that it is a mass have any effect.
2. Beethoven's Ninth Symp. Furtwangler from 1951 on EMI and Von Karajan's 1961-62 version with the BPO on DG.
3. Beethoven's Third Symp. - many good modern recorings
4. Mozart 35, 38, 40, and 41 symph. Mackeras
5. Schubert trios no 1 op 99 and no 2. op. 100 - Guarneri Trio Prague (just a personal favorite - maybe not a 'must have')
6. Beethoven's piano sonata's 14 (Moonlight), 8 (Pathetique), 21 (Waldstein), 23 (Appasionatta) Paul Lewis on Harmonia Mundi.
7. Mahler Symp 1 - Michael Tilson Thomas
8. Wagner's Ring Cycle - Keilberth on Testament records