Classical Best Versions
What Is The Very Best Version?
In a catalogue that lists over 200 recordings of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons", and even 60 versions of Orff's "Carmina Burana", which is the very best?
With the help of Gramophone, Penguin Stereo Guide, BBC Music, and our own ears, we have put together the definitive guide to the popular classics.
Here are a selection of recommended recordings that should find a place in everyone's collection.
Displaying items 1 to 20 of 225
JOHANNES BRAHMS / ANTONIN DVORAK / JOSEPH HAYDN
String Quartets: Brahms Nos.1-3; Dvořák No.12 'American'; Haydn Op.76/3 'Emperor' Amadeus Quartet [ Alto / CD - released 17/Feb/2023 ] "I'm struck afresh by the power, precision and sheer puissance of their music-making … The Brahms quartet recordings remain 'outstanding'; affectionate but free of affection, considered yet vitally spontaneous" [Dvořák]: "strongly conceived, full of... |
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS / HERBERT HOWELLS / FREDERICK DELIUS / SIR EDWARD ELGAR
Music for Strings John Wilson, Sinfonia Of London [ Chandos SACD / Hybrid SACD - released 3/Feb/2023 ] "I expect it has been said before, but the Sinfonia of London belongs in the Formula 1 class of orchestras, and in this repertoire sits in pole position." Gramophone Award Finalist 2023 - Orchestral |
J.S. BACH
Bach: Cantatas for solo bass (BWV 56, 82, 158) Peter Kooy (bass) La Chapelle Royale, Philippe Herreweghe [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 18/Nov/2022 ] These three cantatas for bass solo are based on episodes from the life of Christ (the healing of the lame man, the presentation in the temple, scenes from the Passion) with implications of the benevolence and consolation of death. |
SERGEI RACHMANINOV
Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 13 / Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 The Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin [ Deutsche Grammophon / CD - released 26/Feb/2021 ] "Indeed, [his] account of the troubled First Symphony is as surprising and as thrilling as any I have heard since the much-lauded Ormandy account...An altogether stunning album." Gramophone February 2021 Recording of the Month |
FRANZ SCHMIDT
Schmidt - Complete Symphonies Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi [ Deutsche Grammophon / 3 CD - released 5/Feb/2021 ] GRAMOPHONE Award WINNER 2021 - Orchestral BBC Music Magazine Award Finalist 2021 - Orchestral |
FAURÉ / POULENC / RAVEL / DEBUSSY
Chanson d'Amour Sabine Devieilhe (soprano), Alexandre Tharaud (piano) [ Erato Classics / CD - released 11/Sep/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award Nomination 2021 - Song BBC Music Award Nomination 2021 - Vocal |
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Shostakovich: Violin Concertos Nos 1 & 2 Alina Ibragimova (violin), State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia 'Evgeny Svetlanov', Vladimir Jurowski (conductor) [ Hyperion / CD - released 5/Jun/2020 ] GRAMOPHONE Award WINNER 2021 - Concerto BBC Music Award Nomination 2021 - Concerto |
CYRILLUS KREEK
Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel Vox Clamantis [ ECM / CD - released 8/May/2020 ] "The singing breathes with a collective, gentle inevitability…The final impression is abiding solace for these distracted times." BBC Music Five Stars. Choral & Song Choice July 2020 |
ERICH WOLFGANG KORNGOLD
Korngold: Violin Concerto / String Sextet Andrew Haverson (violin) / RTE Concert Orchestra, John Wilson (conductor) [ Chandos / CD - released 3/Apr/2020 ] "[The Sextet] gets an absolutely cracking performance here from key members of Wilson's newly reformed Sinfonia of London led by Haveron" Gramophone Editor's Choice May 2020 |
GEORG FRIDERIC HANDEL
Handel: Agrippina (complete opera) Joyce DiDonato, Elsa Benoit, Biagio Pizzuti, Franco Fagioli, Andrea Mastroni, Jakub Józef Orliński / l Pomo d'Oro, Maxim Emelyanychev [ Erato Classics / 3 CD - released 31/Jan/2020 ] "With DiDonato nonpareil in the title-role and a uniformly strong cast, this now becomes a first choice for Handel's Venetian masterpiece." Gramophone Awards 2020 WINNER - Opera |
JOHANNES BRAHMS
Brahms: The Final Piano Pieces Stephen Hough (piano) [ Hyperion / CD - released 31/Jan/2020 ] "'One of the finest accounts of Brahms's late piano works on record, one that stands head and shoulders above most contenders in an ever-growing catalogue." Gramophone Awards 2020 Short List - Instrumental |
MAURICE RAVEL
Ravel: Jeux de Miroirs Javier Perianes (piano) / Orchestre de Paris, Josep Pons [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 29/Nov/2019 ] "I loved this disc. The music is wonderful; within this programme we experience Ravel as poet, sophisticate, wit and, always, as the master craftsman." MusicWeb Recommended Feb 2020 |
PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY / ARNO BABAJANIAN
Tchaikovsky & Babajanian: Piano Trio Vadim Gluzman (violin), Johannes Moser (cello), Yevgeny Sudbin (piano) [ BIS SACD / CD - released 4/Oct/2019 ] "The playing is superb, Gluzman and Moser intoning the impassioned opening elegy [of the Tchaikovsky] with grave authority before Sudbin takes over with all his mercurial brilliance and the music takes flight...outstanding recording." - The Observer |
![Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas (rec 1964-65) [CD set plus Blu-ray audio] cover](https://images.marbecks.co.nz/_thumbnails/10114/10114200.jpg)
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas (rec 1964-65) [CD set plus Blu-ray audio] Wilhelm Kempff (piano) [ Deutsche Grammophon CD + Blu-ray audio / 9 CD Box Set - released 10/Sep/2019 ] "These are all great perfornmances, and the remastered recordings have all been enhanced to an extraordinary degree to give an uncannily realistic piano-image, helped by the immediacy of Kempff's communication." Rosette Recording Penguin Stereo Guide |
NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade / Capriccio espagnol London Symphony Orchestra, Igor Markevitch, with Erich Gruenberg, solo violin (Scheherazade) [ Decca Australian Eloquence / CD - released 14/Jun/2019 ] "This is, quite simply, one of the best-played and recorded accounts of Scheherazade ever made, right from the opening moment when the LSO brass uncompromisingly blast out Sultan Schahriar's ominously threatening theme" MusicWeb |
LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN
Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Choral Fantasy Alexandra Conunova (violin), Natalie Clein (cello) & David Kadouch (piano), Bertrand Chamayou (piano), Sandrine Piau (soprano) / Accentus [ Erato Classics / CD - released 10/Jun/2019 ] Conductor Laurence Equilbey is fascinated and inspired by the unconventional, hybrid character of Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Triple Concerto. |
DOMENICO SCARLATTI
Scarlatti: Keyboard Sonatas Mikhail Pletnev (piano) [ Erato Classics Red Line / CD - released 15/Oct/2018 ] "Pletnev establishes a firm pianistic approach...The performances throughout are in the very front rank." Penguin Guide, 2011 edition |
CHARLES GOUNOD
The Gounod Edition: Operas, Choral Works, Symphonies Placido Domingo, Regine Crespin, Alfredo Kraus, Nicolai Gedda, Mirella Freni, Marilyn Horne, Rolando Villazon, etc [ Warner Classics / 15 CD Box Set - released 25/Jun/2018 ] "Anyone wanting a share in these darling old steeds at a tempting price will be amply satisfied." Opera |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Complete Opera recorded in 1967) Renata Scotto, Carlo Bergonzi, Anna di Stasio, Rolando Panerai / Rome Opera, Sir John Barbirolli [ Warner Classics The Home of Opera / 2 CD - released 25/Apr/2018 ] 'a performance that will remind you of the first time you fell in love with this opera' (Good CD Guide) |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Songs 4 Lucy Crowe (soprano), Malcolm Martineau (piano) with Jennifer France (soprano) & Christopher Maltman (baritone) [ Hyperion / CD - released 2/Mar/2018 ] "In wonderful voice throughout, Crowe very much makes this repertory her own. Ascents into the stratospheres are all beautifully and securely accomplished, and those long melismas are tautly controlled and always expressive, never vacuous" Gramophone |
