Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours · 2016-11-21T02:00:02-05:00

***VERY INCOMPLETE / IN PROGRESS*** ***SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LISTS OF BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCES*** GREATEST CLASSICAL MUSIC WORKS OF ALL TIME Bold = Recently added Bold + Italics = Recently re-ranked ***Classical Work*** = Rating/Ranking is estimated/tentative/premature/lacks confidence. Needs further evaluation. 9.7/10 Symphony No. 9 in D Minor "Choral" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1824) 9.6/10 9.5/10 9.4/10 Symphony No. 9 in D Major - Gustav Mahler (1910) 9.3/10 Tristan und Isolde - Richard Wagner (1859) 9.2/10 Symphony No. 15 in A Major - Dmitri Shostakovich (1971) 9.1/10 Mass in B Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (1749) Der Ring des Nibelungen - Richard Wagner (1874) 9.0/10 Symphony No. 9 in C Major "The Great" - Franz Schubert (1826) Symphonie Fantastique - Hector Berlioz (1830) 8.9/10 Symphony No. 5 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1808) Symphony No. 4 in E Minor - Johannes Brahms (1884) Lulu - Alban Berg (1935) Requiem - Guisseppe Verdi (1874) 8.8/10 Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1822) Dolmen Music - Meredith Monk (1981) Pelléas et Mélisande - Claude Debussy (1898) Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World" - Antonin Dvorak (1893) Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major "Eroica" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804) Don Giovanni - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1787) Elektra - Richard Strauss (1909) Diamanda Galas - Diamanda Galas (1984) 8.7/10 Piano Quintet in G Minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1940) Aida - Guisseppe Verdi (1871) Symphony No. 41 in C Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1788) Symphony No. 6 in A minor "Tragic" - Gustav Mahler (1904; 1906) The Rite of Spring - Igor Stravinsky (1913) 8.6/10 Symphony No. 8 in B Minor "Unfinished" - Franz Schubert (1822) Symphony No. 3 in F Major - Johannes Brahms (1883) Piano Sonata No. 21 in B-flat Major - Franz Schubert (1828) Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor "Appassionata" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1805) Violin Concerto in D Major - Johannes Brahms (1878) Violin Concertos Nos. 1-4, Op. 8, "The Four Seasons" - Antonio Vivaldi (1723) Symphony No. 6 in B Minor "Pathetique" - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1893) 8.5/10 Symphony No. 8 in C Minor - Anton Bruckner (1892) Symphony No. 5 in B-flat - Sergei Prokofiev (1944) String Quintet in C Major - Franz Schubert (1828) Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1944) Symphony No. 7 "Seven Gates of Jerusalem" - Krzysztof Penderecki (1996) Symphony No. 2 in D Major - Johannes Brahms (1877) Symphony No. 4 in F Minor - Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1878) Symphony No. 1 in C Minor - Johannes Brahms (1876) Glagolitic Mass - Leos Janacek (1926) Symphony No. 5 - Gustav Mahler (1902) Messiah - George Frideric Handel (1741) St. Matthew Passion - Johann Sebastian Bach (1727) Missa Solemnis – Ludwig van Beethoven (1823) Symphony No. 7 in E major "Lyric" - Anton Bruckner (1883; revised 1885) 8.4/10 Einstein on the Beach - Philip Glass (1975) Otello - Giuseppe Verdi (1887) The Marriage of Figaro - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) Le Grand Macabre - Gyorgy Ligeti (1977) The Ascension - Glenn Branca (1981) Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1820) Piano Sonata No. 20 in A Major - Franz Schubert (1828) Das Lied von der Erde - Gustav Mahler (1909) Saint Luke Passion - Krysztof Penderecki (1966) La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ - Olivier Messiaen (1969) Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1827) Saint-Francois d'Assise - Olivier Messiaen (1983) 8.3/10 Sinfonia da Requiem - Benjamin Britten (1940) Tablet/Songs from the Hill - Meredith Monk (1979) Piano Sonata in B Minor - Franz Liszt (1853) Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major "Hammerklavier" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1818) Symphony No. 8 - Alfred Schnittke (1994) Symphony No. 2 in C minor "Resurrection" - Gustav Mahler (1894) Sonata in G minor for Piano and Cello, Op. 19 - Sergei Rachmaninoff (1901) Ein Deutsches Requiem - Johannes Brahms (1868) Grande Messe des morts - Hector Berlioz (1837) Symphony No. 8 in C minor "Stalingrad" - Dmitri Shostakovich (1943) Symphony No. 1 - Alfred Schnittke (1974) Symphony No. 7 in D minor - Antonin Dvorak (1885) Goldberg Variations - Johann Sebastian Bach (1741) The Art of Fugue - Johann Sebastian Bach (1750) Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta - Bela Bartok (1936) St. John Passion - Johann Sebastian Bach (1724; revised 1725, 1732 & 1749) The Three-Penny Opera - Kurt Weill (1928) From The House of The Dead - Leos Janacek (1928) Peter Grimes - Benjamin Britten (1945) The Magic Flute - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791) Symphony No. 4 - Charles Ives (1924) Symphony No. 2 in D Major - Jean Sibelius (1902) Faust Cantata - Alfred Schnittke (1983) 8.2/10 String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1825) Violin Partita No. 2 in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (1720) War Requiem - Benjamin Britten (1962) Symphony No. 10 in E Minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (circa 1951) Symphony No. 8 - Eduard Tubin (1966) Requiem - Gyorgy Ligeti (1965) Symphony in D Minor - Cesar Franck (1888) Polish Requiem - Krzysztof Penderecki (1983-2005) Concerto for Orchestra - Bela Bartok (1943) La Traviata - Giuseppe Verdi (1853) Parsifal - Richard Wagner (1882) Symphony No. 4 in E flat major "Romantic" - Anton Bruckner (1874; multiple revisions until 1888) The Well-Tempered Clavier (Books I & II) - Johann Sebastian Bach (1722; 1742) 8.1/10 Symphony of Three Orchestras - Elliot Carter (1976) Fratres (for Violin and Piano) - Arvo Part (1977) Piano Trio No. 7 in B-flat Major "Archduke" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) Symphony No. 7 in A Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) Symphony No. 8 in G major - Antonin Dvorak (1889) Symphony No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety" - Leonard Bernstein (1949) Fidelio - Ludwig van Beethoven (1805; revised 1806-1814) Symphony No. 4 "The Poem of Ecstasy" - Alexander Scriabin (1908) Requiem Mass in D minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791) Symphony No. 5 in E Minor - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1888) Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastoral" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1808) Violin Concerto "To the Memory of an Angel" - Alban Berg (1935) Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-sharp Minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1967) Symphony No. 40 in G minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1788) Cosi` Fan Tutte - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1790) Salome - Richard Strauss (1905) Symphony No. 7 - Roger Sessions (1967) Sinfonia - Luciano Berio (1969) 8.0/10 Lohengrin - Richard Wagner (1850) Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major "Kreutzer" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1803) Symphony No. 8 in E flat major "Symphony Of A Thousand" - Gustav Mahler (1906) Tabula Rasa - Arvo Part (1977) Symphony No. 1 in F minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1925) Symphony: Mathis der Maler - Paul Hindemith (1934) Symphony No. 3 in C Minor "Organ" - Camille Saint-Saens (1886) A Rainbow in Curved Air - Terry Riley (1968) Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1704) Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1788) Symphony No. 38 in D major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) Symphony No. 3 "Liturgique" - Arthur Honegger (1946) Symphony No. 11 in G minor "The Year 1905" - Dmitri Shostakovich (1957) Violin Concerto No. 2 - Bela Bartok (1938) Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1821) Symphony No. 5 - Carl Neilsen (1922) 7.9/10 Falstaff - Giuseppe Verdi (1893) The Creation - Joseph Haydn (1798) Symphony No. 8 - Vagn Holmboe (1952) Symphony No. 5 in E flat major - Jean Sibelius (1919) Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1785) Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major - Johannes Brahms (1881) Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major "Emperor" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1785) Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1875) Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor - Sergei Rachmaninoff (1901) Diabelli Variations - Ludwig van Beethoven (1823) Carmina Burana - Carl Orff (1936) The Nose - Dmitri Shostakovich (1930) Symphony No. 35 in D major "Haffner" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1788) Symphony No. 7 in E minor "Song of the Night" - Gustav Mahler (1905) Cello Concerto No. 2 - Dmitri Shostakovich (1966) Cantata Profana - Bela Bartok (1930) Petrouchka - Igor Stravinsky (1911) Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor "The Tempest" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801 - 1802) Concerto for Orchestra - Roberto Gerhard (1965) 7.8/10 Porgy And Bess - George Gershwin (1935) Violin Concerto in D Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) Piano Quintet in A Major "Trout" - Franz Schubert (1819) Piano Quintet in F minor - Johannes Brahms (1864) Symphony No. 3 "Collages" - Roberto Gerhard (1960) Symphony No. 4 - Michael Tippett (1977) Symphony No. 6 "Fantaisies Symphoniques" - Bohuslav Martinu (1953) Symphony No. 36 in C major "Linzer" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1783) Symphony No. 3 - Witold Lutoslawski (1983) Piano Quintet No. 2 in A major - Antonin Dvorak (1887) Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major - Johannes Brahms (1886) Cello Concerto in B minor - Antonin Dvorak (1895) Also Sprach Zarathustra - Richard Strauss (1896) The Planets - Gustav Holst (1916) Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor "Pathetique" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1798) Octet for Strings in E-flat major - Felix Mendelssohn (1825) Symphony No. 1 "Titan" in D major - Gustav Mahler (1888) Symphony No. 102 in B flat major - Franz Joseph Haydn (1794) Double Concerto for Harpsichord and Piano with Two Chamber Orchestras - Elliott Carter (1961) Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17 - Robert Schumann (1839) Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor "Quasi una fantasia" (aka, "Moonlight") - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801) Probably 7.8+… Revisit… Turangalila Symphony - Olivier Messiaen (1948) Symphony No. 3 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" - Henryk Gorecki (1976) Et Exspecto Ressurectionem Mortuoram - Olivier Messaien (1964) Symphony No. 7 in C Major "Leningrad" - Dmitri Shostakovich (1940) Symphony No. 4 in A major "Italian" - Felix Mendelssohn (1831) Symphony No. 8 in F Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) "UNOFFICIALLY" REVISED RATINGS BELOW 7.8 ... FOR NOW I AM ONLY ADDING WORKS THAT WERE RECENTLY 7.8+ BUT NOW SEEM 7.3-7.7/10 7.7: Carmen - Georges Bizet (1875) 7.7: Symphony No. 101 in D major "The Clock" - Joseph Haydn (1793-1794) 7.7: Symphony No. 4 in D minor - Robert Schumann (1841; 1851) 7.6: Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor - Johannes Brahms (1888) 7.6: Violin Sonata No. 3 in C major - Johann Sebastian Bach (1720) 7.6: L’Orfeo - Claudio Monteverdi (1607) 7.6: Cello Symphony - Benjamin Britten (1963) 7.6: Symphony in C - Igor Stravinsky (1940) 7.6: Symphony No. 2 in E minor – Sergei Rachmaninoff (1907) 7.6: Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise" - Joseph Haydn (1791) 7.6: Symphony No. 104 in D major "London" - Joseph Haydn (1795) 7.6: Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major - Johannes Brahms (1879) 7.5: Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano - Gyorgy Ligeti (1982) 7.5: String Trio - Alfred Schnittke (1985) 7.5: Twelve Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 - Arcangelo Corelli (1714) 7.5: Swan Lake - Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1876) 7.5: String Quartet No. 4 - Bela Bartok (1928) 7.5: Symphony No. 103 in E flat major "Drum Roll" - Joseph Haydn (1794-1795) 7.5: Symphony No. 100 in G major "Military" - Joseph Haydn (1793-1794) 7.5: Via Crucis - Franz Liszt (1879) 7.5: String Quartet No. 11 in F minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1866) 7.4: Symphony in Three Movements - Igor Stravinsky (1945) 7.4: Symphony No. 3 "The Camp Meeting" - Charles Ives (1910) 7.4: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major - Franz Schubert (1816) 7.4: The Nutcracker - Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1892) 7.4: A Midsummer Nights Dream - Felix Mendelssohn (1842) 7.4: Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in B minor - Johannes Brahms (1891) 7.4: Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Mussorgsky (1874) 7.4: Symphony of Psalms - Igor Stravinsky (1930) 7.4: Symphony No. 2 "Mysterious Mountain" - Alan Hovhaness (1955) 7.4: Symphony No. 4 in G major - Gustav Mahler (1900) 7.4: Symphony No. 3 "A Pastoral Symphony" - Ralph Vaughan Williams (1922) 7.4: La Damnation de Faust - Hector Berlioz (1845) 7.4: The Seasons - Joseph Haydn (1801) 7.3: Piano Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87 - Johannes Brahms (1882) 7.3: Piano Trio No. 3 in C minor, Op. 101 - Johannes Brahms (1883) 7.7/10 String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1826) Turangalila Symphony - Olivier Messiaen (1948) Symphony No. 3 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs" - Henryk Gorecki (1976) Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94a - Sergei Prokofiev (1942; re-arranged 1943) Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major - Cesar Franck (1886) Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Major, Op. 134 - Dmitri Shostakovich (1968) Et Exspecto Ressurectionem Mortuoram - Olivier Messaien (1964) Symphony No. 7 in C Major "Leningrad" - Dmitri Shostakovich (1940) String Quartet No. 14 in D minor "Death and the Maiden" - Franz Schubert (1824) String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major (Original Composition with Grosse Fugue) - Ludwig van Beethoven (1825) Quartet for the End of Time - Olivier Messiaen (1941) Symphony No. 4 in A major "Italian" - Felix Mendelssohn (1831) Symphony No. 8 in F Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) 7.6/10 Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) String Quartet No. 8 in C Minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1960) Trio in A minor "In Memory of a Great Artist" - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1882) Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra "Introitus" - Sofia Gubaidulina (1978) Concerto in C minor for Piano, Trumpet, and String Orchestra - Dmitri Shostakovich (1933) Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor - Sergei Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto in A minor - Edvard Grieg (1868) Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor - Ludwig Van Beethoven (circa 1800-1803) Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major - Franz Liszt (1861) String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1825) Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8 - Johannes Brahms (1854) Oiseaux Exotiques - Olivier Messiaen (1956) Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major "Waldstein" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804) 7.5/10 Piano Trio in D major "Ghost" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1809) Piano Concerto - Michael Nyman (1993) Piano Concerto in A Minor - Robert Schumann (1845) Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra - Alfred Schnittke (1979) Piano Concerto in G major - Maurice Ravel (1931) Piano Concerto No. 3 in E major - Bela Bartok (1945) Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major - Sergei Prokofiev (1921) Harpsichord Concerto No. 1 in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (1734) Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor - Johannes Brahms (1858) Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major - Franz Liszt (1849) Byzantine Concerto - Ljubica Maric (1959) Piano Concerto in D major for the Left Hand - Maurice Ravel (1930) Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor - Frederic Chopin (1829) Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1785) Harmonielehre - John Adams (1985) Cello Suite No. 6 in D major - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1717-1723) Requiem - Gabriel Faure (1890) Klezmer Clarinet and String Quartet "The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac The Blind" - Osvaldo Golijov (1994) Sinfonietta - Leos Janacek (1926) String Quartet No. 15 in G Major - Franz Schubert (1826) Vier Ernste Gesange, Op. 121 - Johannes Brahms (1896) Symphony No. 4 in B flat major - Ludwig Van Beethoven (1806) Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major "Les adieux" (1810) 7.4/10 Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major - Dmitri Shostakovich (1957) Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1717-1723) Cello Suite No. 1 in G major - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1717-1723) String Quartet No. 16 in F Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1826) Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major - Johann Sebastian Bach (1718) Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major "Triple Concerto" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1803) Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major - Johann Sebastian Bach (1721) Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major "Alla Turca" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (circa 1783) Piano Sonata No. 3 in F Minor - Johannes Brahms (1853) 7.3/10 Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-flat Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (circa 1788-1791) Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) Quintet for Clarinet and Strings in A major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1789) Violin Concerto in E Minor - Felix Mendelssohn (1844) Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor - Johannes Brahms (1887) Cello Concerto "Azul" - Osvaldo Golijov (2009) Violin Concerto in D Major - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1878) Piano Concerto in F - George Gershwin (1925) Piano Sonata No. 19 in C Minor - Franz Schubert (1828) Violin Concertos, Nos. 1-12, Op. 3 “L'Estro Armonico” - Antonio Vivaldi (1711) Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1784) Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1784) Piano Concerto No. 18 in B-flat major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1784) Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major "Coronation" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1788) Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat Major "Jeunehomme" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1777) Piano Concerto No. 15 in B-flat major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1784) Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1784) Fantasie in C Major "Wanderer Fantasy" - Franz Schubert (1822) Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1717-1723) Symphony No. 1 in C major - Ludwig Van Beethoven (1795-1801) Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor "The Funeral March" - Frederich Chopin (1839) Clarinet Concerto in A major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1791) Violin Sonata - Francis Poulenc (1943) UNDECIDED ON RATING/RANKING BUT MANY OF THESE ARE 7.0+ -- SEVERAL PROBABLY EVEN 7.3/10+ Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) Symphony No. 5 in D minor - Dmitri Shostakovich (1937) Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1775) Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major "The Turkish" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1775) Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1775) Violin Concerto in G Minor - Max Bruch (1866) Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major - Johannes Brahms (1886) Piano Sonata No. 3 in B Minor - Frederic Chopin (1844) Piano Sonata No. 12 in F major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (circa 1783) Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1730) Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (1739) Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1717-1723) Fantasia in F Minor for Piano, Four Hands - Franz Schubert (1828) Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1706-1713) Keyboard Partita No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1725-1731) Keyboard Partita No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 826 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1725-1731) Keyboard Partita No. 3 in A Minor, BWV 827 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1725-1731) Keyboard Partita No. 4 in D Major, BWV 828 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1725-1731) Keyboard Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major, BWV 825 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1725-1731) Harpsichord Concerto No. 5 in F minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (1738) Piano Sonata No. 9 in F Major "Black Mass" - Alexander Scriabin (1913) Concerto for 2 Violins in D Minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1718-1720) Violin Concerto in E major - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1718) Violin Concerto in A minor - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1717-1723) Fantasy (Prelude) in A Minor, BWV 922 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1710-1714) Six English Suites, BWV 806-811 - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1715) Not Six French Suites - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1722-1725) Not Six Concerti Grossi, Op. 3 - Francesco Geminiani (1732; revised 1757) Christmas Oratorio - Johann Sebastian Bach (1734) Twelve Concerti Grossi, Op. 6 "Twelve Grand Concertos" - George Frideric Handel (1739) A Musical Offering - Johann Sebastian Bach (circa 1747) Symphony No. 29 in A major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1774) Mass in C major "Coronation" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1779) Mass in C minor "Great" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1783) String Quartets No. 17 in B-flat major "The Hunt" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1784) String Quartet No. 19 in C major "Dissonance" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1785) String Quartet No. 20 in D major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) Trio for Clarinet, Viola & Piano in E flat major "Kegelstatt" - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1786) String Quintet No. 4 in G minor - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1787) Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1787) Divertimento for String Trio in E-flat major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1788) Symphony No. 92 in G major "Oxford” - Joseph Haydn (1789) Symphony No. 96 in D major "Miracle" - Joseph Haydn (1791) Symphony No. 99 in E flat major - Joseph Haydn (1793) String Quartet No. 61 in D minor, Op. 76/No. 2 “Fifths” - Franz Joseph Haydn (1797-1798) String Quartet No. 62 in C major, Op. 76/No. 3 “Emperor” - Franz Joseph Haydn (1797-1798) String Quartet No. 63 in B-flat major, Op. 76/No. 4 “Sunrise” - Franz Joseph Haydn (1797-1798) String Quartet No. 64 in D major, Op. 76/No. 5 - Franz Joseph Haydn (1797-1798) Septet in E flat major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1800) Symphony No. 2 in D major - Ludwig Van Beethoven (1802) String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59/No. 1 - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) String Quartet No. 8 in E Minor, Op. 59/No. 2 - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59/No. 3 - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) String Quartet No. 10 in E-flat major “Harp” - Ludwig van Beethoven (1809) String Quartet No. 11 in F minor “Serioso” - Ludwig van Beethoven (circa 1810-1811) Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major - Niccolo Paganini (circa 1817-1818) String Quartet No. 13 in A minor "Rosamunde" - Franz Schubert (1824) Transcendental Études - Franz Liszt (1837; revised 1852) Kreisleriana - Robert Schumann (1838; revised 1850) 24 Preludes, Op. 28 - Frederic Chopin (1839) Nocturnes - Frederic Chopin (1827-1846) Symphony No. 3 in E flat major "Rhenish" - Robert Schumann (1850) A Symphony to Dante’s Divine Comedy - Franz Liszt (1857) Night on the Bare Mountain - Modest Mussorgsky (1867) Scheherazade - Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1888) Death and Transfiguration - Richard Strauss (1889) Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'un Faune - Claude Debussy (1894) Symphony No. 9 in D minor "Unfinished" - Anton Bruckner (1896) Symphony No. 3 in C minor "Le Divin Poeme" - Alexander Scriabin (1904) Madame Butterfly - Giacomo Puccini (1904) Violin Concerto in D minor - Jean Sibelius (1904; revised 1905) La Mer - Claude Debussy (1905) Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E major - Arnold Schoenberg (1906) Jeux - Claude Debussy (1912) Daphnis et Chloe - Maurice Ravel (1912) Pierrot Lunaire - Arnold Schoenberg (1912) Preludes (Books I & II) - Claude Debussy (1910; 1913) Symphony No. 2 in G major "London" - Ralph Vaughan Williams (1913) Symphony No. 4 "Inextinguishable" - Carl Nielsen (1916) Symphony No. 1 in D major "Classical" - Sergei Prokofiev (1917) Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord, Mass., 1840–60 - Charles Ives (1920; 1947) String Quartet No. 3 - Bela Bartok (1927) String Quartet No. 2 "Intimate Letters" - Leos Janacek (1928) Symphony No. 3 in C Minor - Sergei Prokofiev (1928) Violin Concerto in D major - Igor Stravinsky (1931) String Quartet No. 5 - Bela Bartok (1934) Violin Concerto - Arnold Schoenberg (1936) Romeo and Juliet - Sergei Prokofiev (1938) Violin Concerto - Benjamin Britten (1939) Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor - Bohuslav Martinu (1943) Vingt Regards Sur L'Enfant-Jesus - Olivier Messiaen (1944) String Trio - Arnold Schoenberg (1946) Symphony No. 6 in E flat minor - Sergei Prokofiev (1947) Symphonie Pour Un Homme Seul - Pierre Schaeffer (1950) Structures - Pierre Boulez (1951) Gesang der Junglinge - Karlheinz Stockhausen (1956) Catalogue d'Oiseaux - Olivier Messiaen (1958) Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major - Dmitri Shostakovich (1959) Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima - Krzysztof Penderecki (1960) Orient-Occident - Iannis Xenakis (1960) Klavierstuck IX - Karlheinz Stockhausen (1961) String Quartet No. 10 - Dmitri Shostakovich (1964) Piano Concerto - Elliott Carter (1965) String Quartet No. 12 in D-flat major – Dmitri Shostakovich (1968) String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat minor – Dmitri Shostakovich (1970) Mantra - Karlheinz Stockhausen (1970) Drumming - Steve Reich (1971) Double Concerto for Flute, Oboe and Orchestra - Gyorgy Ligeti (1972) Symphony No. 10 - Eduard Tubin (1973) Violin Concerto No. 1 - Krzysztof Penderecki (1977; revised 1987) Music for 18 musicians - Steve Reich (1978) Violin Concerto "Offertorium" - Sofia Gubaidulina (1980; revised 1982 & 1986) Repons - Pierre Boulez (1981; revised until 1985) Water Dances - Michael Nyman (1984) Ostrobothnian Symphony - Osvaldas Balakauskas (1989) Symphony No. 4 - Witold Lutoslawski (1992) Violin Concerto - Karel Husa (1992) Violin Concerto - Gyorgy Ligeti (1993) Violin Concerto No. 2 “Metamorphosen” - Krzysztof Penderecki (1995) Piano Concerto "The Quest" - Horatiu Radulescu (1996) Violin Concerto "Concentric Paths" - Thomas Ades (2005) GREATEST CLASSICAL MUSIC WORKS - BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCES These selections have been made from over 20 years of experience listening to Classical music. I've chosen them based mainly on the best combination of two factors: (1) how impressive the performance itself is. (2) the sound quality of the recording. Performance quality is certainly the more important of the two factors, though the sound quality should ideally be excellent, and should at least be good enough so as not to lessen the impact or expressiveness on display. This is particularly an issue with older recordings, especially pre-1950s. Some of these older performances are technically on par (and sometimes even superior) with many more recent renditions, however, their recording quality is usually such that their impact and expressiveness suffers and are therefore at a disadvantage versus most of the selections on this list. I've provided links to the best recorded performances on Spotify and YouTube when available. Spotify usually has better sound quality, therefore is more strongly recommended than YouTube in a majority of cases. Please note that Spotify has a rather weak search function. So, pay attention to albums that are titled in foreign languages and that may need to be entered as such to be found (ex: "Missa in h-moll" instead of "Mass in B Minor", etc). Also, there are cases where one enters the obvious title but Spotify still fails to find the correct album. Try different search words and/or secondary artists' names listed on the album cover (in some cases, even "Symphonies" instead of "Symphony", or vice versa, can be the difference!). General rule is, if I list a Spotify entry for the album, it exists there as shown in the image (unless it's since been removed). I do my best to provide the most recent and best sounding Spotify selection for a given recording. The ratings listed above various sections of the listed works (9.7/10, 9.6/10, 9.5/10, 9.4/10 ... etc) correspond to my ratings for the Classical work itself, not to be confused as ratings for the recordings. Within the individual listings, one will find the selections for "Best Recorded Performances" and their ratings for "Performance Quality" and "Sound Quality". As performance quality is more important than sound quality, the ratings are ranked with a weighted emphasis on this as shown below, from highest to the lowest rating eligible for this list. TIER #1 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 10 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 9.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 9 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 8.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 8 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 7.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 7 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 6.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 6 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 5.5 TIER #2 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 10 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 9.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 5 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 9 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 8.5 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 8 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 7.5 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 7 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 6.5 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 6 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 5.5 TIER #3 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 10 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 9.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 4.5 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 5 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 9 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 8.5 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 8 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7.5 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 6.5 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 6 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 5.5 TIER #4 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 10 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 9.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 4 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 4.5 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 5 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 9 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 8.5 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 8 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 7.5 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 7 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 6.5 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 6 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 5.5 TIER #5 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 10 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 9.5 Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 3.5 Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 4 Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 4.5 Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 5 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 9 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 8.5 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 8 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 7.5 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 7 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 6.5 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 6 Performance Quality: 9 / Sound Quality: 5.5 You will not find a lower rating than 9/5.5 on this list (or even eligible for it) -- though this is still a very high rating overall, so don't dismiss it! (NOTE: I may make exceptions such as when the only excellent recording available is lower than 9/5.5) Please note that a 10 in performance or sound quality is rare (VERY rare for "performance quality"). The higher the rating in performance quality the more it will be an account that: Expresses the work in a singular fashion (standing out from all others) without losing touch with the composer's idiom, and in such a way that most powerfully or compellingly illuminates its emotional/conceptual significance and ingenuity. The higher the rating in sound quality, the more it will be a recording that: Articulates all its elements vividly, at strong volumes and optimal balances/spatial dynamics, so as to bring the performance to its most expressive and life-like sensation, short of actually being there. A 10 indicates that such a performance or its sound quality seems quite unlikely to be surpassed. Recording technology tends to make a leap about every 10 years, (give or take) so sound quality ratings will tend to be more transient (though note that it isn't just the technical quality of sound being judged but also how well the different parts and details have been captured and illuminated, which isn't entirely up to recording technology alone). For performance quality in particular, there is typically only one recording, if any at all, that I've rated a 10 for a given Classical work, and in a majority of cases this will be permanent. A 10 means that the performance is tremendously special and has captured a truly extraordinary, even miraculous, document in time that reached the highest standards of the criteria described above and that is unlikely to be repeated or surpassed. It does not always mean "100% technical perfection" throughout its entirety, though it will surely be of a very high standard in this regard. More importantly it will demonstrate an extraordinary inspiration and expressiveness that separates itself. It is rare in the extreme and is only given out when a particular performance stands above all others and is of such a special quality and character that it is a singular embodiment of the work and its idiom. Where there is no 10, you will see a 9 or 9.5 for its top performance, or no selection yet. Where there are multiple top selections with the same performance quality rating, I will choose the one with the best sound quality as the tie breaker. All ratings are subject to change in cases where performance quality has been improved upon and as recording quality improves. In rare cases where a 10 in performance quality has been achieved but (due to poor recording quality) isn't actually the very top selection, I will still include it among the selections for that work (even if it is in too low a ratings tier to qualify). This is because it is the only 10 for that work, and it is usually much more the fault of time and old recording technologies (not the performers) that it was recorded that poorly. And the performance itself will tend to be so essential and astonishing that it must be heard and known by someone assimilating that Classical work. A plus "+" symbol with the Performance Quality rating (Ex: 9.5+) simply means it is higher than alike ratings (Ex: 9.5+ is higher than a 9.5 but not quite a 10). For each Classical work, my "Best Recorded Performance" selections will be ranked in numerical order. If they do not have a numerical rank to their left yet (#1, #2, etc) that means I am currently undecided as to their order, and this is still under review. How many selections I include will vary depending on the qualitative discrepancy between the #1 choice and the additional ones. The rule is that the additional selections must rate within two "tiers" of the #1 choice (see above ratings scale and its tiers). Ex: If the top recording is within "Tier #1", all additional selections for that Classical work must be no less than the lowest rating in "Tier #3". If the top recording is within "Tier #2", all additional selections for that Classical work must be no less than the lowest rating in "Tier #4". If the top recording is within "Tier #3", all additional selections for that Classical work must be no less than the lowest rating in "Tier #5". Regardless of the top selection, I will not select any recordings lower than "Tier #5" (I may make an exception if there is only one or very few available recordings for the work and the best one is still excellent). Recommendations and suggestions welcome. For my criteria and accompanying pages, go here: http://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=15503 For an excellent, largely alternative selection of recordings, particularly if you want to investigate many older, historically impressive and obscure renditions, I also recommend the following list: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/lesbianwalrus/a_detailed_discography_of_recommended_classical_recordings__a_work_in_progress_/ SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR COMPOSERS A-G (by last name): https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=463824#463824 SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR COMPOSERS H-Q (by last name): https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=463833#463833 SCROLL DOWN OR CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR COMPOSERS R-Z (by last name): https://www.besteveralbums.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=463844#463844 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Best Works: 7.8/10: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor "Pathetique" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1798) 7.1/10: Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major "Quasi una fantasia" (1801) 7.8/10: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor "Quasi una fantasia" (aka, "Moonlight") - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801) 7.9/10: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor "The Tempest" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801 - 1802) 8.0/10: Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major "Kreutzer" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1803) 7.6/10: Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major "Waldstein" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804) 8.8/10: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major "Eroica" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804) 8.6/10: Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor "Appassionata" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1805) 7.6/10: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) 8.9/10: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1808) 7.5/10: Piano Trio in D major "Ghost" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1809) 7.5/10: Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major "Les adieux" (1810) 7.9/10: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major "Emperor" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) 8.1/10: Piano Trio No. 7 in B-flat Major "Archduke" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) 8.1/10: Symphony No. 7 in A Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) 7.7/10: Symphony No. 8 in F Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) 8.3/10: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major "Hammerklavier" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1818) 8.4/10: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1820) 8.0/10: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1821) 8.8/10: Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1822) 9.7/10: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor "Choral" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1824) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827) Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor "Pathetique" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1798) Gilels 1968 Live Moscow 9.5+ maybe 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUJw7lhInzY&list=RDBUJw7lhInzY&start_radio=1 Annie Fischer London 1958 probably 9.5+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U69Ib2_wJs0&list=RDU69Ib2_wJs0&start_radio=1 Gilels 1980 probably 9.5+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ftbVi28TU Annie Fischer 1977-78 CD version probably 9.5+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1ozzPfvWuE&list=RDR1ozzPfvWuE&start_radio=1 Arrau 1963 probably 9.5+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0SZn4yi6sI&list=RDU0SZn4yi6sI&start_radio=1 Serkin (Sony) probably 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ2d_wgumfE&list=RDKQ2d_wgumfE&start_radio=1 Richard Goode probably 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFmeNsp0M5E&list=RDTFmeNsp0M5E&start_radio=1 Kempff (DG) probably 9+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN5cnVk85uo Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor "Quasi una fantasia" (aka, "Moonlight") - Ludwig van Beethoven (1801) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Annie Fischer (1977-1978) Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPsS-b-sCb0 Arthur Rubinstein 1962 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEnDZpM3cYg&list=RDrEnDZpM3cYg&start_radio=1 Kempff Gilels Horowitz prime years Stephen Kovacevich https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsRg3h99uXQ&list=RDEsRg3h99uXQ&start_radio=1 Stewart Goodyear Radu Lupu (1972) Serkin Barenboim Arrau Fischer 1959 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL3lfYSDc8s&list=RDuL3lfYSDc8s&start_radio=1 Géza Anda (Testament) ______ TEMPEST Alfred Brendel, 1977 / 9.5+? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh09S518hl0 Richard Goode, 1993 / 9.5? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6IUH61XmHw&list=RDM6IUH61XmHw&start_radio=1 Radu Lupu Live 1994 / 9.5? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWmfobHVIVo&list=RDkWmfobHVIVo&start_radio=1 Igor Levit, 2013 / 9+ or 9.5? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti-G6p32LW4&list=RDti-G6p32LW4&start_radio=1 Annie Fischer, 1977-78 / 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s48Zs1dkQOs&list=RDs48Zs1dkQOs&start_radio=1 _____ Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (circa 1800-1803) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Gilels/Szell (1969 - Live) (Orfeo) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8-lDuVoHJ8 BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Arthur Rubinstein - Erich Leinsdorf - Boston Symphony Orchestra (1965) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: (1st Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxdXCR6fU1w (2nd Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsF6yD_p8Tc (3rd Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8einxwsiG6g Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C major "Triple Concerto" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1803) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: David Zinman - Truls Mørk; Yefim Bronfman; Gil Shaham - Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra (2005) Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 9.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: (1st Movement) https://youtu.be/-5vZHQsreTc (2nd Movement) https://youtu.be/ovys2_034iI (3rd Movement) https://youtu.be/ARcyn5mL_JM Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major "Kreutzer" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1803) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Kogan/Gilels Live 1964 Performance Quality: 10? 9.5+? / Sound Quality: 6 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC7qA9NRBNo&t=1758s BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Augustin Dumay - Maria-Joao Pires (2002) Performance Quality: 10? 9.5+? / Sound Quality: 8.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJvSjmYteJU BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Isabelle Faust/Melnikov Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Oistrakh/Obirin Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Perlman/Ashkenazy Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Grumiaux/Haskil (Philips) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Schneiderhan/Kempff (DG) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Perlman/Argerich (EMI) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Joseph Szigeti/Bela Bartók 1940 Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: LISTEN TO: Repin/Argerich; Adolf Busch/Rudolf Serkin / REVISIT: Josef Suk/Jan Panenka; Ferras/Kempff 1959; Yehudi Menuhin/Wilhelm Kempff Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major "Waldstein" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804) Annie Fischer (1977-1978) Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 7 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoOP1uTuZzA Add... Richard Goode Bruce Hungerford Brautigam (Forte piano) Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major "Eroica" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1804) Manfred Honeck - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 9.5 YouTube: Harnoncourt/Chamber Orchestra of Europe Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 9 YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: George Szell - Cleveland Orchestra (1957) Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 7.5 Youtube: 1: https://youtu.be/O9lF1-POT7I 2: https://youtu.be/woLkei45TuE 3: https://youtu.be/nE5iMJWiEtQ 4: https://youtu.be/LgdHxhE6kYM BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Klaus Tennstedt/NDR Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Pierre Monteaux (Philips) Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Otto Klemperer Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: REVISIT: Karajan (1962); Erich Kleiber 1950; Toscanini; Jarvi; Wand/NDR; Furtwangler Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor "Appassionata" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1805) Needs to be updated... #1. Gilels live Moscow 1961 / 9+ / 6.5 #2. Gilels early CD recording 1952 / 9 / 6-6.5 #3 or 4 (undecided). Probably Richter RCA / 9.5 / 7.5 / double check, revisit Richter live performances too as I'm sure I'm missing some #3 or 4 (undecided). Probably Annie Fischer album recording / 9.5 / 7 #5. Probably Arrau live 1970 video / 9.5 / 6.5-7 #6. Serkin? Sofronitsky's peak, individualistic rendition(s), such as this, deserve strong consideration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzIR56WobUI (perhaps a half-tier less tense, vigorous, powerful than Arrau, but 1st movement especially is something of a precursor to Arrau's "architectural" take on this sonata and the nimbleness and rather nuanced, unique emphasis of articulation in the finale is quite impressive) Barenboim's early, famous (very romantic) rendition? (revisit, been a long time... used to be one of my top selections...) Arrau 1960 ICA? Edwin Fischer's peak... Maybe some later Gilels ... also some of his earlier (under 20 mins) renditions, while probably "too" fast (losing some lyricism, articulation, import of note), may deserve placement as some of the most furious, vigorous, purely intense, ever. peak Horowitz surely? Revisit classic recordings, especially some of the extra fast/individual/wild/romantic renditions like Gieseking, for instance may still hold up among these even if comparatively weak recording quality (look for enhanced remastered versions too) ... ... ... ... BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Richter (RCA) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Annie Fischer Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Richter - Live - Prague - 1959 Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Claudio Arrau (Live Recital - 1970) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdg-DT8rTUQ BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Peter Serkin Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: REVISIT: Barenboim; Gilels; Kempff; Arrau's other renditions Violin Concerto in D Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Perlman/Giulini Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Tetzlaff/Zinman Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Oistrakh/Cluytens Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Pinchas Zukerman/Mehta (RCA) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Szeryng/Haitink (Philips) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Grumiaux/Colin Davis Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Heifetz/Munch/Boston (RCA) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Josef Suk/Konwitschny Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Bronislaw Huberman/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/George Szell 1934 Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Mela Tenenbaum/Richard Kapp/Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: Ida Haendel 1957??? Also, other Oistrakh... such as Oistrakh/Kondrashin live 1950s... Also revisit Walter 1932 performance (orchestration is too minor sounding but the violin performance is among the best ever) ... revisit/re-check other classic performances along this line that may be better recorded for fuller orchestra... There may be a missing "10" from this key period more than likely late-40s, 1950s maybe 60s Fidelio - Ludwig van Beethoven (1805; revised 1806-1814) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Levine/Mattila/Ben Heppner (DG, Jurgen Flimm Prod, Met) Performance Quality: 10? / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Bernstein/Janowitz (DG) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Klemperer/Ludwig/Vickers (EMI) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Nielsen/Winbergh (Naxos) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1806) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Arrau/Dohnanyi (1959) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Fleisher/Szell Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Claudio Arrau - Sir Colin Davis - Staatskapelle Dresden (1984) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: https://i.pinimg.com/236x/31/85/dd/3185dd5c20feea5f46b4ecedb8650952--e-flat-major-conducto rs.jpg Available on Youtube: (1st Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbTBHUVUHwU (2nd Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H99R0hXxWKY (3rd Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPpebQA5d-0 BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Yevgeny Sudbin - Osmo Vanska Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: Symphony No. 5 in C minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1808) Gardiner 2016 BBC video Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 9.5+ Youtube: Honeck/PSO Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 9.5 Youtube: Wand/NDR Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 8.5 Youtube: Harnoncourt/COE Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 9.5 Youtube: Carlos Kleiber Performance Quality: 9+ / Sound Quality: 8 Youtube: Add? ... Gardiner (5 & 7 release), Karajan 60s, Szell, Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastoral" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1808) Pierre Monteux (very tough call between Walter's and Monteux...) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Walter Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Norrington (SWR) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Karl Bohm - Wiener Philharmoniker (1979) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Wand/NDR Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Fey (Hanssler) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Osmo Vanska Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Harnoncourt/COE Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Gardiner Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: Piano Trio in D major "Ghost" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1809) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Daniel Sepec, Jean-Guihen Queyras and Andreas Staier (2008) Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 10 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFeD2za2DYg Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major "Emperor" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) Note: Arrau is as ideal a pianist as possible for this concerto. Arrau/Davis would have been #1 "10" as Davis is perhaps the best of all orchestral accompaniments and if at Arrau's peak (but it's not, even though still very great). So look further for perhaps a "hidden" live performance of Arrau during his mid-50s-early 70s recording peak, with as great or approaching this accompaniment. I've heard there exists a performance (recorded?) of Arrau/Dohnanyi for this, is this actually true? Also, need to revisit Rubinstein as he just as (or very close to) ideal as Arrau for this and perhaps attracted more ideal orchestration ... just been a while since I listened to his versions... Gilels too, maybe there is an even better, lesser known one than w/ Ludwig (which already has a good argument for #1 as it is) Bronfman/Zinman (revisit some more, but possibly #1 if there is no true "10" ... may actually even be a 10 itself, but Arrau, Rubinstein, Gilels (possibly a few other candidates) seem a little more ideal and more likely to deliver this if it exists) 9.5+ / 9.5 BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Fleisher / Szell Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Ashkenazy / Solti Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 8 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Mindru Katz - Hallé Orchestra - Sir John Barbirolli (1959) Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Arrau / Davis Performance Quality: 9+ or 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7.5 (double check the last movement, which the pianist maybe falls slightly behind, otherwise or if better than I remember, this may actually be #1 even with Arrau slightly slower, slightly less vigorous than his peak, with maybe some minor (very) brief misses here or there; nevertheless this is so minor it is basically negligible and his "architectural" pianism, lyricism, insight is incredible and in top form here + Davis' orchestral accompaniment may be the best ever for this concerto) Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifDfv9VKJPc&list=PL_-zrhZVF69Og2zPFOxojmjacRVLS_VFv BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Gilels / Ludwig Performance Quality: 9.5 or 9.5+/ Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: REVISIT: Arrau/Munch; Arrau/Haitink; Sudbin/Vanska; Uchida/Sanderling; Gilels/Sanderling 1957; Bronfman/Zinman; Horowitz/Reiner; Gieseking; Schnabel; Solomon; Kempff Piano Trio No. 7 in B-flat Major "Archduke" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1811) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Alexander Melnikov - Isabelle Faust - Jean-Guihen Queyras (2014) Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 9.5 Available on Spotify as follows: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Beaux Arts 1979 (Philips) Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Kempf Trio Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: REVISIT: Heifetz/Rubinstein/Feuermann; Istomin/Stern/Rose; Cortot/Casals/Thibaud; Edwin Fischer/Schneiderhan/Mainardi; Perlman/Harrell/Ashkenazy; Kempf/Szeryng/Fournier; Solomon/Holst/Pini Symphony No. 7 in A Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Bernstein - Vienna Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: 8 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Kleiber Live... Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Osmo Vanska Performance Quality: 10? 9.5+? / Sound Quality: 9.5 or 10 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Manfred Honeck - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (2015) Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 9 Available on Spotify as follows: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3xjpbXxeps/VjIpEZzI_JI/AAAAAAAABU8/KrsG1W0RAhI/s1600/FR-718_Cov BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Daniel Barenboim - Staatskapelle Berlin (Warner) Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 9 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: George Szell - Cleveland Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Blomstedt/Staatskapelle Dresden (Berlin Classics) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Wand/NDR Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Carlos Kleiber (Concertgebouw Video) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: REVISIT: Dohnanyi; Kleiber/Vienna (DG); Karajan DG and video(s) during his peak; Harnoncourt/COE Symphony No. 8 in F Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1812) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Riccardo Chailly - Gewandhausorchester (2007-2009) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Uas5ZQJEM BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Haitink/LSO Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Szell/Cleveland Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Bernstein (DG) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Barenboim (Teldec) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Harnoncourt (Teldec) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Wand (RCA) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Jarvi Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major "Hammerklavier" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1818) Annie Fischer, 1977-78 / 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBlg0RL9a1Q&list=RDDBlg0RL9a1Q&start_radio=1 Claudio Arrau, 1964, Philips / 9.5+ 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fARbdzC5Vco&list=RDfARbdzC5Vco&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qsjjg90MBM&list=RD6qsjjg90MBM&start_radio=1 3rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHjp6HPT-w&list=RDEkHjp6HPT-w&start_radio=1 4th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVArVoJYKRo&list=RDTVArVoJYKRo&start_radio=1 Peter Serkin, 1985, Pro-Arte (Graf forte piano) / 9.5+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHV0haw3vMU&list=RDvHV0haw3vMU&start_radio=1 Igor Levit / 9.5 Late Sonatas 28-32: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPGRP3jZslD9e3ExuogwC0NpwTcZ72fEI Murray Perahia / 9.5 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eqZoayWbS8&list=RD7eqZoayWbS8&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmrBqs7w3qw&list=RDtmrBqs7w3qw&start_radio=1 3rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQR8U6X3VBQ&list=RDXQR8U6X3VBQ&start_radio=1 4th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiMnKLezeh8&list=RDqiMnKLezeh8&start_radio=1 Charles Rosen / 9.5 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KbM3fW77jk&list=RD2KbM3fW77jk&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl_pvuxB1cM&list=RDPl_pvuxB1cM&start_radio=1 3rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URh2S54NqDY&list=RDURh2S54NqDY&start_radio=1 4th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ88r-bq-7M&list=RDXQ88r-bq-7M&start_radio=1 Rudolf Serkin, Sony Classical / 9.5 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLs6uhW9_n8&list=RDkLs6uhW9_n8&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_3FtBv9RcY&list=RDS_3FtBv9RcY&start_radio=1 3rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZvfrrqPRlM&list=RDiZvfrrqPRlM&start_radio=1 4th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAIU-vhLCM0&list=RDAAIU-vhLCM0&start_radio=1 Solomon Cutner, 1952, EMI/Testament / 9.5 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkXACJwTSBE&list=RDIkXACJwTSBE&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6MIt6ThhWQ&list=RDq6MIt6ThhWQ&start_radio=1 3rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZMfn5Ln144&list=RDsZMfn5Ln144&start_radio=1 4th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0JMAkiER6o&list=RDB0JMAkiER6o&start_radio=1 Sviatoslav Richter, Live 1975 Blythburgh Church / 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pol_68onYC0&list=RDpol_68onYC0&start_radio=1 Schenck / 9.5? Richard Goode / 9.5? Ronald Brautigam (on forte piano), 2005 / 9+ or 9.5 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cLoUbkHiH4&list=RD-cLoUbkHiH4&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZKZr6ott0&list=RDGcZKZr6ott0&start_radio=1 3rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANoFZ5PbSCU&list=RDANoFZ5PbSCU&start_radio=1 4th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP8Cho8WYGs&list=RDKP8Cho8WYGs&start_radio=1 Maurizio Pollini 1977 / 9+ or 9.5? Sviatoslav Richter, 1975, Prague / 9+ Alfred Brendel, 1983, BBC Broadcast, Queen Elizabeth Hall / 9+? Kempff 1950s and/or 60s/70s (revisit) / 9+ 1964: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5jBD_vxy8w Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Live unreleased rendition(s) I've noted but need to find and double check... / 9+ Stewart Goodyear / 9+ Marc Andre Hamelin, 2023, Hyperion / 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bugtxIs25uw&list=RDbugtxIs25uw&start_radio=1 Sviatoslav Richter, 1975, Aldenborough, BBC / 9 Sviatoslav Richter, Live 1975, Royal Festival Hall / 9 Alessio Bax / 9 Beatrice Rana / 9 or above? Revisit... Piano Sonata No. 30 in E Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1820) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Annie Fischer Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Claudio Arrau (Recital circa 1969-1977 - Music & Arts Programs of America) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 6 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Bruce Hungerford Performance Quality: 9.5+ 10?/ Sound Quality: 8.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Claudio Arrau (Video Recording, 19??) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 7 Available on Spotify as follows: (NOTE: In progress on seeing if this performance is available on Spotify or not) Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koqAdGcty3k BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Claudio Arrau 1965 (Philips) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ibOIZ-MxeE BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Richter 1963 Live Leipzig Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Ishay Shaer Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Brendel (Vox Box) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1821) Claudio Arrau, Live 1960 / 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvgKodBkHSY&list=RDZvgKodBkHSY&start_radio=1 Claudio Arrau, 1965 Philips / 9.5+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUY8dg2DZdY&list=RDaUY8dg2DZdY&start_radio=1 Angela Hewitt / 9.5+ 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz6mDbhHR24&list=RDmz6mDbhHR24&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k38IaAFJ84&list=RD8k38IaAFJ84&start_radio=1 3rd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2vZ7MsbbUw&list=RDZ2vZ7MsbbUw&start_radio=1 Serkin / forgetting which one at the moment as he has several... but one or two of his are 9.5 or 9.5+ Igor Levit Sony Classical / probably 9.5 Richter 1971? 1973? Etc / probably 9.5, maybe higher ... has a top tier or nearly so in there somewhere, just forgetting which are his peak(s) performances of 31st Probably below 9 -- 1965 Moscow is interesting, has a lesser 2nd mov, probably isn't the one unless I warm up to its (imo, mis-played, although impressive 1st and last mov) idiosyncracies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiYMos_lnIc&list=RDkiYMos_lnIc&start_radio=1 Revisit 1963 Leipzig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9UJat60BRk&list=RDO9UJat60BRk&start_radio=1 Revisit 1971 Moscow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyrY3oBWaiA&list=RDLyrY3oBWaiA&start_radio=1 Richard Goode, 1993 / probably 9.5 Claude Frank late 60s / probably 9.5 Solomon / probably 9.5 Pollini / probably 9.5 Paul Lewis / probably 9.5 Hungerford / probably 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq5qtpEXDAw&list=RDBq5qtpEXDAw&start_radio=1 Kempff 1951 / 9+ or 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sL-qa7cOLs Koroliov ./ probably 9+ Annie Fischer 1977-78 / probably 9+ Ashkenazy remake (released 1992 originally) / probably 9+ Jonathan Biss / probably 9 Dina Ugorskaja / TBD Hieyon Choi / TBD Brendel / need to revisit and determine which is his best (probably middle or later rendition either 9+ or 9.5s...) Schnabel TBD Youra Guller TBD Piano Sonata No. 32 in C Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1822) Claudio Arrau, 1970, Paris, EMI Video Recording / 10 Bilibili: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Hs411W73Y/ Angela Hewitt, 2022 / 9.5+ YouTube: 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bzsoyiw-Q7c&list=RDBzsoyiw-Q7c&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrbIPgezii0&list=RDHrbIPgezii0&start_radio=1 (perhaps even more impressive than even Pollini's in nimbleness, clarity, nuance, technique and moreover above possibly everyone in the amazing variety of strikes and tones, the sheer breadth of expression and pianism applied, while being also among the most emotionally vivid and breathtaking ... truly truly extraordinary...) Alfred Brendel, live concert (year?) / 9.5+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUxFLvCVbVM&list=RDIUxFLvCVbVM&index=2 (Note: Unbelievable... I have not determined 100% that this is Brendel's top rendition, but it seems like it right now ... it also may be sort of like "whichever the last one I heard is the best" because his best are so consistent and so close in quality, they each are rich with rewards, nuances, but overall the differential is minute...) Alfred Brendel, 1996, Philips / 9.5+ 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usn2A3EgVfU&list=RDusn2A3EgVfU&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmkqyV9gJp4&list=RDEmkqyV9gJp4&start_radio=1 Claudio Arrau, 1960, Live, Stockholm / 9.5+ 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjwUcXZBbjo&list=RDMjwUcXZBbjo&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vpZ_NLVE-M&list=RD1vpZ_NLVE-M&start_radio=1 Claudio Arrau, 1960, BBC Television Studios London / 9.5+ (note: only about 5 out of 10 for sound quality though, hopefully this gets remastered because it is otherwise stunning, featuring one of his most vigorous 1st movements and a 2nd that is more rapturous, slightly less "spacious", more vibrant than his later ones) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu2LXcb_Pko Annie Fischer, 1963 / 9.5 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKjcq4dJy9M&list=RDzKjcq4dJy9M&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNUhGuYK5tc&list=RDYNUhGuYK5tc&start_radio=1 (of the somewhat shorter renditions available (than Arrau, Serkin, for instance, and the more elongated ones of Pogorelich, Hewitt...), this has what may be the most monumental and powerful of first movements while also boasting a momentous, "legato" infused and singing 2nd movement that keeps rising above itself in beauty and transcendence of outpouring to the end ... it has some very minor mistakes here and there but these are more or less negligible from how emotionally invested and powerful her playing is and within a couple of the more volatile passages that are so involved and idiomatic of Beethoven's character and the way he reportedly played and how much more important the expression was to him than getting every note exactly perfect, a fact also that he himself said and famously quoted) Alfred Brendel, 1971, Philips / 9.5 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifndJT_q-WU&list=RDifndJT_q-WU&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoLmIIL0lJo&list=RDUoLmIIL0lJo&start_radio=1 Boris Giltburg, 2021, Beethoven 32 Project / 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqRs-bh7Hu0 Maurizio Pollini, 1977, DG / 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ6B9CW0Veo&list=RDaQ6B9CW0Veo&start_radio=1 (perhaps the most technically impressive of all, and not just technique but still very powerful... every note is honed and cut like a perfect diamond down to the finest nuances in tone and expression of each key, passage ... really amazing, would probably be an "easier" choice for #1 than almost any other because it is so technically clean and flawless but even though it reaches stars for sure, I'm not sure if it quite reaches that extra transcendent level that the above 9.5+ to 10 renditions reach... still, it approaches and is probably the most perfectly recommendable for a top notch rendition that any one should be able to appreciate and to get a firm grasp on the whole piece and that one should have no misgivings about no matter their expectations of this work) Gary Graffman, 1976 / 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia_h7DWR70A&list=RDIa_h7DWR70A&start_radio=1 Richard Goode, 1993 / 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBf8maYAxpU&list=RDkBf8maYAxpU&start_radio=1 Aldo Ciccolini, 1989 / 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_t2NWWAB9g&list=RDC_t2NWWAB9g&start_radio=1 Maria Jaoa Pires, 2015, Live Recital / 9.5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8GqdG4X3CA&list=RDx8GqdG4X3CA&start_radio=1 Rudolf Serkin / 9.5? Igor Levit / 9+ 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTacIGgt3UU&list=RDPTacIGgt3UU&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc6UhirVWJc&list=RDnc6UhirVWJc&start_radio=1 Andras Schiff, Live / 9+?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie2xYOMVL3U&list=RDie2xYOMVL3U&start_radio=1 Wilhelm Kempff, pretty sure this link is the 1965 DG rendition? / 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MRG1K4qVFY&list=RD0MRG1K4qVFY&start_radio=1 Youra Guller / 9+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAucdaYcpvI&list=RDWAucdaYcpvI&start_radio=1 Richter, 1963, Live, Leipzig / 9+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEU1noNlnCU&t=3756s (other Richter's) Russell Sherman / 9+? (TBD) 1st: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNdnPRqghic&list=RDuNdnPRqghic&start_radio=1 2nd: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoS1tqMLexE&list=RDuoS1tqMLexE&start_radio=1 (perhaps the most controversial selection along with if I add Pogorelich, and I've only heard this once, but I do recall being quite taken by it ... in the end he may take too many liberties of rhythm, interpretation (losing his way with "Beethoven"?) and I could end up changing my mind on this one, but as of now I recall the volatility being well intentioned (quite Beethoven-esque) and sensical -- could even move up? Hans Richter-Haaser, 1959 / 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ge5lOKNs84&list=RD8ge5lOKNs84&start_radio=1 Wilhelm Kempff, 1952 DG mono recording / 9 Full set of 32 sonatas: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGotn8LeP0cC91-9mmpBk34YrWTZA7Gz Jonathan Biss / 9 Ernst Levy / 9? too idiosyncratic to decide as of yet, need to revisit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDptiUVYuwE&list=RDXDptiUVYuwE&start_radio=1 Claudio Arrau, 1965, Philips / 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FIdtWSM4e0&list=RD_FIdtWSM4e0&start_radio=1 Diabelli Variations - Ludwig van Beethoven (1823) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Andreas Staier (2012) Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 9 Available on Spotify as follows: http://alexrossmusic.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451cb2869e201630572d507970d-pi Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqtgTDCkYlM Missa Solemnis - Ludwig van Beethoven (1823) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Otto Klemperer - New Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus (1965) Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9MIiIo0dUA BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Harnoncourt Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Bernstein/Concertgebouw (DG) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Shaw (Teldec) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Herreweghe (Harmonia Mundi) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: REVISIT: Levine; Karajan 1966 (DG); Gardiner (Archiv) / DVD: Harnoncourt Symphony No. 9 in D Minor "Choral" - Ludwig van Beethoven (1824) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Herbert von Karajan - Berlin Philharmonic (1968 - Video Recording) Performance Quality: 10 / Sound Quality: 8.5 Note: This is not one of Karajan's album/CD releases. It is only available on video. Also the rating above is for the musical performance alone, not the visuals or editing or other filmic aspects accompanying it. This is the correct issue: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCZeSmY62Sk BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Gunter Wand - NDR Sinfonieorchester (1996) Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 8 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: (1st Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKGkwmilwDY (2nd Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WEWy1bh5-Q (3rd Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2isB_U6y24 (4th Movement) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8JxVyQ9F24 BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Herbert von Karajan - Berlin Philharmonic (1962) Performance Quality: 9.5+ / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtIo2RSi_YA LISTEN TO: Karajan/BPO Live 1963; most recent Gardiner live video / REVISIT: Szell; Fricsay; Bernstein; Chailly; Furtwangler 1942, 1951, 1954; Toscanini; Vanska; Munch String Quartet No. 12 in E flat major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1825) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Alban Berg Quartet (1984) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UklsIaKocgo String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major (Original Composition with Grosse Fugue) - Ludwig van Beethoven (1825) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Alban Berg Quartet (1984) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Vegh Quartet (Naïve) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youbtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Yale Quartet (Vanguard Classics) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youbtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Emerson (DG) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youbtube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Kodalay (Naxos) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youbtube: LISTEN TO: Cleveland Quartet (Telarc) / REVISIT: Takacs String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1825) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Cleveland Quartet (Telarc) Performance Quality: 10? 9.5+? / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Alban Berg Quartet (1984) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 8 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiVbMB6iLPc BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Takacs Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 9 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Vegh (Naive) Performance Quality: 9.5 / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor - Ludwig van Beethoven (1826) BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Alban Berg Quartet (1984) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 8 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ8B_DlAshE BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Vegh (Naive) Performance Quality: 9.5+? 10? / Sound Quality: 7.5 Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: BEST RECORDED PERFORMANCE: Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: Available on Spotify as follows: Available on YouTube: String Quartet No. 16 in F Major - Ludwig van Beethoven (1826) Alban Berg Quartet (1984) Performance Quality: / Sound Quality: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnMGP1maBBk

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AfterHours Profile
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mianfei wrote:

A few days ago, when I bought Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s box set The Warner Recordings, I was particularly impressed by his recording of Charles Ives’ Piano Sonata No. 2 (Concord) – a piece I had not actually heard of before and was not what I bought the set for.

I am curious as to what recording of Ives’ Concord Sonata you would recommend yourself? I had a listen to Herbert Henck’s 1980s recording and was impressed to consider it myself, but there are so many recordings available that I want to ask.

Good question!

I haven't revisited Ives' Concord sonata in quite some time, but Hamelin's is probably the best I know of.

This one:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

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^^^ Posted more because I enjoy Gardiner's insights than as a full endorsement of the 9th on period instruments (though Gardiner's renditions of the 9th have great merit in their context, I think there is no question that Beethoven was pointing to the future in the various instruments, the orchestra as a whole, and in voice, intentionally pushing beyond the limits of his period's capabilities towards a weightier, more monumental vision and sound world than what period renditions seem to be able to deliver)
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DommeDamian Imperfect, sensitive Aspie with a melody addiction Profile
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Thoughts on Erik Satie and also how his beautiful Gymnopédie No.1 is everywhere now?
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DommeDamian wrote:

Thoughts on Erik Satie and also how his beautiful Gymnopédie No.1 is everywhere now?

I am not familiar enough with Satie to say anything worthwhile. Same for lots of modern Classical. I need to catch up some day!
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DommeDamian Imperfect, sensitive Aspie with a melody addiction Profile
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AfterHours wrote:

I am not familiar enough with Satie to say anything worthwhile. Same for lots of modern Classical. I need to catch up some day!

To clarify, Gymnopédie No.1 is everywhere in reels and youtube shorts right now. People are using it as background royalty free classical music. I don't know where the era begins for modern classical but he died 101 years ago.

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DommeDamian wrote:

I hadn’t listened to any Satie in a while and offhand I was thinking it was one of his later works, post Mahler/Rite of Spring which (technically pinpoint or not) is a pretty good way to think of the inception of Modernism, even if it shows its beginnings a bit earlier.
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