Best recordings for the following...

perlman,stern and zuckerman made a live,digital cd of vivaldi's 4 seasons.again the sonics and performances are great.these are the best players in the world.it was recorded circa 1983 and is on the ddg label.

the best "nutcracker" that i've heard is the 1998 recording by the kirov orchestra/valery gergiev.it's a digital recording and the sonics are great.the penguin guide also gave it rave reviews.

For the 4 Seasons my preference goes to the Philips recording of I Musici -- available separately (426 944-2) or, better still in a boxed Vivaldi Edition Vol.2 (456 186-2). IMO both volume 1&2 are excellent.

Praudio: The Dorati Nutracker on Philips is NOT the same as the Mercury one (which I currently prefer): the Mercury is with the London S.O. whereas the in Philips it's the Cenertgebouw.

For the Swan Lake my preference is M Tilson Thomas / London S.O. (Sony Classical). I also like the S Ozawa /Boston S.O. version on DG.

For the 4 Seasons my preference goes to the Philips recording of I Musici -- available separately (426 944-2) or, better still in a boxed Vivaldi Edition Vol.2 (456 186-2). IMO both volume 1&2 are excellent.

Praudio: The Dorati Nutracker on Philips is NOT the same as the Mercury one (which I currently prefer): the Mercury is with the London S.O. whereas the in Philips it's the Cenertgebouw.

For the Swan Lake my preference is M Tilson Thomas / London S.O. (Sony Classical). I also like the S Ozawa /Boston S.O. version on DG.

Yes, the Nutcracker on Telarc by Mackerras and London Symphony is very well played and one of Telarc's better recordings.

Dutoit and Montreal Symphony has a beautiful Swan Lake on Decca, with superb sound.

Four Seasons has been done to death, and I've tried many, but my current favorite is Tafelmusik on Sony. I normally abhor original instrument stuff because my ears just aren't accustomed to the thin sound, but this excellent recording and performance are enjoyable.

Dorati Nutcracker on Philips 6833 200, not sure if it is the same as the one on Mercury above.

This is a cut/copy from a thread I posted to a few days ago, which details a recording I like (uses period instruments):

I've got a really fantastic recording / performance of this, which is one of the few discs I use to test new equipment.

Archiv Produktion
Stereo 400 045-2
copyright 1982 Polydor INternational GmbH, Hamburg, Previously released as 2534 003
The English Concert
Simon Standage (violin), Trevor Pinnock

go to www.arhcivproduktion.com
skip the intro
click on catalogue
enter 4 seasons in the search for window
it is the 6th of 11 choices (grey cover, 1982, picture of a blue dude with huge hair blowing wind on the cover).
this is the best i've ever heard of this performance, particularly the violin soloist (simon standage), and also the quality of the recording is excellent.

happy listening.

"Four Season" best would be on Telarc #80070 with Seiji Ozawa with BSO and the one on Chesky. I forgot the conductor but they are both my favorite.
Recent one I would suggest you look into Tartini edition on DG with Anne-Sophie Mutter.

"Nutcracker"- Antal Dorati on Mercury living presence and again Telarc with Sir Charles Mackerras #80137

Hope that help, good luck

For the Four Seasons I like the Gil Shaham with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. For a wild ride the Nigel Kennedy recording is interesting (it is the recording that got him noticed despite having punk spiked purple hair at that time).