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Recommendations for a few high SQ classical CDs

I have a modest collection of classical music CDs, most of it symphonic works, maybe 20-30 CDs at most. Most of my musical interest is with rock, roots rock and blues but I do enjoy classical music but have limited knowledge and experience.

I am also a new audiophile with my first hifi system for about a month now.

I would like some specific recommendations on just a few symphonies (for now). What I am looking for at this point is good CD recordings rather than the nature of the performance/conductor/orchestra. In other words, I'm looking for SQ first and performance quality second. I know that might sound backwards but I don't have enough knowledge to have a major preference between performances but I can hear SQ. Certainly a great recording of a great performance is ideal.

To keep things limited I am specifically interested in these works:

Beethoven's 9th
Mahler's 4th
Dvorak's 4th
Brahm's 4th

Certainly open to other symphonies by these composers. I have the works listed above and other symphonies by them as well.

Thanks for any recommendations,

George


n80

Showing 4 responses by glupson

glupson
1,794 posts
 
Mahler’s 5th symphony by Frank Shipway. There are two sound carriers available, or at least they were, CD and Hybrid SACD. Go for SACD, just in case you ever get a SACD player. To me, SACD is way better than CD layer, but CD is very good, too.

https://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphony-No-5/dp/B00000ICOW

https://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphony-No-5-Gustav/dp/B000AAVCY8

I would also recommend Beethoven’s 2&7 symphonies by Vanska and Minnesota orchestra.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=462028

Mahler's 4th by Ivan Fischer sounds really great to me, too.

https://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphony-No-4-Gustav/dp/B001PBCZ92



glupson
1,794 posts
 
And, if you ever want to feel "less serious", but are in the mood for a guilty pleasure, New Year’s Concert 1987 with Karajan. However, you have to get Japanese K2 CD and not the regular one for $10 or so.

http://www.elusivedisc.com/Herbert-von-Karajan-New-Years-Concert-Numbered-Limited-Edition-K2-HD-Impo...

glupson
1,794 posts
 
n80,

Once upon a time, I heard a report on the radio that talked about popularity of opera among people who otherwise prefer punk rock. It talked about similarities between those two, what appears to be completely different, styles of music. I cannot repeat it now, but they dissected it and it made sense.

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=911160
glupson
1,794 posts
 
lowrider57,

You got the part about 1987 New Year's Concert right. It is far from the best sound quality that ever was. I, don't ask why, happened to have had a plain any-store copy Made in West Germany, one more like that Made in U.S.A. and now I have this Japanese K2. I bought K2 simply because it existed and those regular copies were getting on my nerves. Not that I listened to them more than once a year, or every two years. K2 is definitely better than ordinary CD, surely not four times better like the price might suggest but I think it is decent. Still, I suggested it as a decent-sounding material for some easy-classical listening. Kind of when we get tired of Mahler's attacks and need a break.

As far as actual Deutsche Gramophone recordings go, would it make a difference that this particular CD/concert was recorded live with whatever constraints the venue might have brought? I have no idea, but I do have some of the Deutsche Gramophone recordings you are implying and I think you are spot on about the imperfections of sound. It may be my ears, but I think that this particular New Year's Concert is a bit better to start with. To repeat, not great.
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