I'm a bit confused - are you referring to "definitive recordings" to mean the quality of the recorded sound, or did you mean the performance with out regard to the sound, or did you mean a combo of both? If you are concerned with audio quality, as opposed to performance, some of the best recommendations will come from members of audio forums who are focused on that issue (and who might also have some expertise, or good taste (:-)). Its good to know where your advise is coming from - some books and critics basically ignore audio quality.
If you are looking for the "defining" performance I agree with others - it doesn't exist. However, I believe that your first selection is very important and should be made carefully, with the knowledge that there are other excellent, but different, performances available What occurs for many folks is that 1st recording, good, bad or indifferent, will become a benchmark for judging other performances later on. I would acquire several of the guides mentioned above and operate off the consensus. Eventually you will develope an affinity for particular artists, conductors, or orchestras/groups, and be able to wade thru all of the critics and their reviews and make your on choices. With regards to the guides, I find the guides which are published in England quite useful BUT beware of the fact that they can be just as provincial, that is, placing undue emphasis on the quality of some English conductors, and the tendency to ignore some very high quality American conductors, composers, and orchestras.
If you are looking for the "defining" performance I agree with others - it doesn't exist. However, I believe that your first selection is very important and should be made carefully, with the knowledge that there are other excellent, but different, performances available What occurs for many folks is that 1st recording, good, bad or indifferent, will become a benchmark for judging other performances later on. I would acquire several of the guides mentioned above and operate off the consensus. Eventually you will develope an affinity for particular artists, conductors, or orchestras/groups, and be able to wade thru all of the critics and their reviews and make your on choices. With regards to the guides, I find the guides which are published in England quite useful BUT beware of the fact that they can be just as provincial, that is, placing undue emphasis on the quality of some English conductors, and the tendency to ignore some very high quality American conductors, composers, and orchestras.