I recommended this earlier in the thread as well. Since we both agree on this I think I will take note of your other recommendations as well.
The Mullova SACD is simply great in terms of both interpretation and sonic. There are few great SACDs of concerto works like this. IIRC it was another favorite of HP as well.
There are a lot of people who don't look at it that way. For me, there is no "single recommendable" or even "top two" of any piece, least of all of any truly major piece. In fact, pieces are major, for me, in part because they invite a multitude of interpretations. This isn't to say that I think all performances are equally excellent or desirable. But I'm always at least curious to hear what a conductor and orchestra do with piece X, Y, or Z. For instance, I like HIP, but I'm also intrigued by heavily Romanticized performances of, say, Bach or Handel from earlier in the 20th century. Or, I know I don't especially like Haitink's Mahler, but I pick up the records (if cheap) and try to hear what others hear in him. On the topic of this thread: I just got Furtwängler's 1944 (Vienna) and 1949 (Berlin) performances of Bruckner's 8th on Praga SACD. I don't know how you feel about this piece, but if it means to you half of what it means to me, you should get it. https://www.amazon.com/Bruckner-Sym...+sacd+8+praga&qid=1558813459&s=gateway&sr=8-1 Of course, we're talking about essentially pre-hi-fi, live recordings, so there are obvious limitations. But at least after a first listen, I find what Praga did here pretty amazing,
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/SICC-1027 Szell Conducts Wagner [Limited Release] George Szell (conductor) SACD Schumann: Complete Symphonies. Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 Italian & Midsummer Night's Dream [Limited Release] George Szell (conductor) SACD
I have this and would second the recommendation. Here is another one I really like: Beethoven*, Wiener Philharmoniker, Carlos Kleiber - Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7
Stravinsky: L' Histoire du Soldat suite / Dumbarton Oaks Concerto / Concerto in D / Suite Nos. 1 & 2 for Small Orchestra, etc. Paavo Jarvi Pentatone Music/Sacd
Peer Gynt Suites (BIS).... this 2006 double SACD set is one of the greatest performances and the sound is stellar. Music: 10/10 Sound: 10/10
I recommend ALL the BMG Living Stereo's except for Bream Spanish Guitar. I have several of AP Living Stereos as well all are also excellent with Rubinstein - Rachmaninoff Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini bring a stand out. Most of the Living Presence's are excellent as well especially Dorati Nutcracker The Peer Gynt Suites (BIS), mentioned by Claus, is reference grade. E Power Biggs Bach The Four Great Toccatas & Fugues (Sony). However it's been OOP a long time and pricey. I'm not a multi-channel audio fan but the quad mix is a great listening experience.
Yo-Yo Ma Plays Morricone SA-CD.net - Yo-Yo Ma plays Ennio Morricone Gorgeous playing by Yo-Yo Ma as he interprets some of composer Morricone's most popular movie themes, though it's proper to classify this more as orchestral suites than solo performances. The sound quality is smooth as butter with a lushly romantic tilt.
Older reissues: Mahler 9, Karajan/BPO (Universal JSACD) (the analogue, studio Karajan recording, remastered and, interestingly, remixed from the session tapes by EBS) Orff, Carmina Burana, Previn/LSO (Warner JSACD) Puccini, operatic arias, Maria Callas (Warner JSACD) R. Strauss, Four Last Songs etc., Schwarzkopf, Szell.LSO (Warner JSACD) Recent issues: Ravel piano music, Vincent Larderet (ARS Produktion) Bartok violin concerti, Arabelle Steinbacher, Janowksi/OSR (Channel) Enescu, piano sonatas etc., Luiza Borac (Avie) Faure, piano music, Hannes Minnaar (Challenge) Joby Talbot, The Path of Miracles, Nigel Short/Tenebrae (Signum) 2L, Challenge, and ARS Produktion are the labels of choice sonically.
I have the Beethoven symphonies with Böhm on SHM-sacd, and although I do not possess the original CDs, I find that they sound rather wonderful, certainly better than the original LPs which I do own. I listen mostly on headphones(Sennheiser HD800, Beyerdynamic T1) and although they are very expensive, I find that these SHM sacds in general are some of the best sounding discs in my collection. In particular Böhm's Brahms symphonies, Karajans Sibelius and Bruckner recordings are lovely and analogue sounding.
The only SACD releases I have so far are some of the RCA Living Stereo releases from a few years back which generally sound excellent to me. Recently I have acquired a few of the Blu-ray audio discs which are also exemplary. I have a Denon universal disc player ( one of the 100 year anniversary products they issued).
