Famous and favorite recordings

Glenn Gould: J.S. Bach-"Goldberg Variations"

I would suggest getting the special release from 2002 entitled "A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)" It is very well done for a re-release and features an analog backup of the original digital recording from 1981 that is much better than the digital. This is a must for anyone getting into classical and should be a great piece to expose your budding virtuoso son to.

The 1955 recording is probably the most famous version of the Goldberg Variations.

I would also recommend the Perahia Beethoven Piano Concertos with Bernard Haitink conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra. You can get them as a set with all 5. They are a must as well.

I could go on and on. These should start you on your way!

Baroque Era:

--Bach,Brandenburg Concertos,Karl Richter and the Bach Orchestra of Munich.
--Bach,Goldburg Variation recording mentioned above.

Classic Era:
--Mozart,Symphonies 40 and 41,George Szell,Cleveland Orchestra
--Mozart,Piano Concertos 21 and 23 Clifford Cuzon
--Beethoven Symphones,George Szell,Cleveland Orchestra

Romantic Era:
--Chopin Preludes,Rubinstein

Modern Era:
--Stravinsky,Rite of Spring,Ormandy,Philadelphia

Many of classical music's composers taught private lessons and wrote music for their students. Here are some things that might appeal to an eight year old:

Bach,Anna Magnelina Notebook
Bach,2 part inventions
Mozart,Variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Beethovern,Fur Elise
Chopin,Preludes(two or three of them are for beginners)
Debussy,Children's Corner Suite

I might add a personal bias here as the first good music I learned as a piano student in my youth were from the magnelina notebook,the Mozart Twinkle variations,and several of the Chopin preludes.

Do you remember when you learned to read that you did so by watching the writing while someone read to you? Perhaps your eight year old would enjoy watching the scores while listening?

Thank you very much to both of you. Regarding the watching of the score - indeed god point- I will keep it in mind. Thanks again.

Here are four outstanding piano recordings in which the music, the performer, the performance and the recording are all perfectly matched...

Ivan Moravec playing Chopin's Ballades and Mazurkas, from the original Connoisseur Society recordings, VAIA 1092

Nomura Nojima Plays Liszt, Reference Recordings, #25

Nomura Nojima Plays Ravel, Reference Recordings #35

Michaelangeli performaning Debussy's Images I & II and Children's Corner, DG415372
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A little "age appropriate" orchestral music with a magical combination of music, interpretation, performance and recording...

Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" and Saint-Saens' "Carnival of the Animals" performed by the London Symphony conducted by Skitch Henderson, Decca/Polygram -- lots of alternative choices in this music, but these recordings are favorites of mine and hit a good balance. Many like the Bernstein; these are a bit less "over the top."

Britten's "Simple Symphony" and "A Young Person's Guide to the Orchesta", Britten/ECO, Decca

Prokofiev's "Classical Symphony" and Bizet's "Symphony in C" performed by Marriner and the Academy of St. Martins in the Field, Decca/Polygram (this appears to be out of print at the moment, but this links to what I believe is an available copy, used)
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Pictures at an Exhibition - Reiner and the CSO (I love the sound of the new SACD)

Beethoven Symphonies 5 and 7 - Carlos Kleiber and the VPO

Bach Two and Three Part Inventions - Schiff

Schubert's Trout Quintet and Mozart's Clarinet Quintet - Music from Marboro

Regarding The Trout I wish I could recommend the British TV film of the 1969 live performance by Jacqueline Du Pre, Daniel Barenbohm, Itzak Perlman, Pichas Zuckerman and Zubin Mehta, but it seems out of print. It's not the most polished performance, but the joie de vivre of the artists and the music makes as good an introduction to classical music as I can imagine.