Best Schumann recordings

My preferred performances (mostly recent recordings, all available on CD): Cello -- P Fournier/Orch Suisse Romande/Fricsay (Cascavelle)
Piano: S. Richter/Warsaw Phil. Orch/ W. Rowicki (DG) -- OR -- Solomon/Philarmonia Orch./ H Menges (EMI) -- OR -- A. B-Michelangeli/Warsaw Phil./W. Rowicki (Melodram 2cds, NOT the "official" Teldec recording)
Try the violin concerto too: H Szeryng/can't remember the orch/A. Dorati (mercury). Another nice version is with T. Zehetmair (v) on Teldec -- but I can't remember the other players...

I'm not knowledgeable symphonies side -- I like the Bernstein/NY Phil. Orch (Sony cd) of the 4 symphonies.
Cheers

For CD performances of all 4 symphonies hard to go wrong with recent Gardiner/Archiv set, performance and sound quality both great here. For a good older set the Sawallisch/EMI has been remastered and released as part of "great recordings of the century" EMI series, these are still great performances by any standard.

For Piano concerto start with Kovacevich/Phillips set coupled with equally great performance of Grieg piano concerto. This has been remastered and released as part of Phillips "50 greatest" series, Colin Davis conducting.

i agree with Gregm on the symphonies by Bernstein, i find that his performances are anything but routine and are more exciting than any others i have heard. this may or may not be "musically correct", but then Lenny rarely was. i have had a hard time finding other Schumann symphonies that i really enjoy(and i own most), as i found them somewhat lifeless/dull. Megasam's recommendations are the prevailing common wisdom. But be sure to listen to Gardiner before you consider buying it, it is that much different in presentation. I agree with Megasam's recommendation on the Piano concerto. i don't know the cello concerto well enough to make a recommendation.

However, if you like schumann, don't overlook the best part of his music! that is his music for solo piano. I would suggest if your interested that you start with his Fantasia in C, Op 17. enjoy....