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I'm surprised no one mentioned Daniel Barenboim's complete cycle. He did it twice: once around his late twenties, one much later, and both are excellent. His first complete cycle is impressive inasfar as it's very composed.

If you're after a cool, impeccable series, this one is the right one

Took me a second to get it, but nice one

Mahler 2 is a total catharsis - completely overwhelming. True. Too bad you have to go through the entire symphony to get there :) At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Mozart's Exsultate Jubilate manages to offer a beautiful ending to a very short piece. Simple, elegant, and unforgettable.

Oboe Concerto in A minor, by Vivaldi, with André Lardrot at the oboe. Sometimes, the simple pleasures are the best

I played the violin for almost 15 years, but haven't had the time of late. What my favourite piece is would be a tough question; I've played quite a few baroque pieces (especially Bach and Vivaldi, sometimes as the soloist, sometimes as part of the orchestra), and I do love them dearly - and what ki...

I love Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet - I even got to see it at the Marinsky - but... Lorin Maazel? I shudder at the thought

As for me, I'm listening to a few Lieder of Schubert's by Elly Ameling (Baldwin, Gage and Demus at the piano depending on the piece).

Not only does it depend on the person, it also depends on the interpretation. Typically, Beethoven's 9th or Mozart's requiem are both extraordinary enough to make anyone say "thsi is the best composer ever"; however, when I hear the 9th by Maazel, or the Requiem by Abbado, I cringe. This i...

Just listened to KA Hartmann's Eighth Symphony, one of my favorites of his. It has a fantastic opening. His Sixth also opens with probably the second best bassoon solo in 20th century music (After Le Sacre of course). I will dare to challenge you on that. What about Ravel's Mother Goose Suite (cont...

Mozart's 38th symphony, conducted by Karl Böhm - definitely one of my all-time favourite Mozart condudctors.

In a very different genre, I've just recently discovered Pierre Cochereau's interpretation of Bach's famous Toccata BWV 565.... Breathtaking

Well, if you're looking for something EPIC, and if you have a decent solo soprano and baritono, then Brahm's requiem is what really jumps to my mind. The 2nd and 6th movements are enough to drive any music-loving crowd crazy.

Yes, Haitink is definitely good. His interpretations of Mozart's piano concertos with Murray Perahia are always a pleasure to listen to, as are his interpretations of Beethoven's symphonies. As for Mahler, I suggest you give Michael Gielen a try (his recordings of Mahler's 1st and 4th symphonies are...

A top 5 (or even 10, or even 100) is something I find not only difficult to do, but also very dependent on my mood. Regardless, here are 5 pieces I find absolutely fabulous. - Mozart, Don Giovanni : quite simply put, the best opra ever written (to me at least :P). - Brahms, Eine Deutches Requiem . T...

I do agree that - especially for the public, at a performance, as opposed to listening to the piece at home - ending the piece at the death scene would be, for lack of a better word, brutal. Then again, the finale is rather dramatic, so I don't feel it would have been out of place for Mozart to just...

In no precise order: Best Openings Beethoven: Symphonies nr. 3, 5 and 9, piano concerto N°5 Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (of course), all his main operas really, Piano concerto nr. 23 Bach: h-moll mass (KYYYYYYYYRIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!) Schubert: 8th symphony Mahler: 1st symphony Smetana: Ma vlast (the M...

allegroamabile wrote:
Dvorak is a god, hands down.

I very much agree. His 8th symphony, in particular, is absolutely fabulous (recently heard it at a concert, amazing). His cello concerto is also astounding.

As for right now, I'm listening to Mahler's 1st Symphony (Michael Gielen interpretation).