Phenomenal Classical Recordings

WOW!! Thanks. This is more then enough to get me rolling. I really appreciate the help. It is always better to have a direction and a head start like this.

I would like to be exposed to a cross section so I can learn as much as possible. I have enjoyed Mozart orchestral and concerto recordings. I am not very familiar with chamber music but would like to give it a try. As to my neophyte beginnings, melodic is most likely best. If you may be familiar with Secret Garden's awakening, that includes a violin and piano with orchestra, that is appealing. Thanks for the refinement of the question, I look forward to hearing your advice.

I just checked the acoustic sounds web site for RCA Living Stereo and they listed this hybrid SACD set for $110, would this be a comprehensive set to get going with? I noticed it listed one of pmotz's recos. I also will get the books mentioned by sdcampbell. It's backordered though.

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Saint Saens: Symphony No.3 ''Organ'/Charles Munch'
Ravel: Daphnis Et Chloe/Charles Munch
R. Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra/Fritz Reiner
Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra/Fritz Reiner
Beethoven: Violin Concerto In D/ Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor/Jascha Heifetz,violin/Charles Munch
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1/ Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2/Fritz Reiner
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition & Other Russian Showpieces/Fritz Reiner
Verdi & Puccini Arias/Leontyne Price
Chopin: Ballades/Arthur Rubinstein
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 ''Pathetique''/Pierre Monteux

Although my schedule has been pretty hectic lately, I have purchased the Bach Brandenburg Concertos and have really enjoyed my listening sessions so far. I plan to hit it pretty hard here over the holidays.

The following should arrive any day now:

Arturo Delmoni Songs My Mother Taught Me
Igor Stravinsky: L'Histoire Du Soldat Suite
Johannes Somary Handel: Royal Fireworks Music/ The Water Music

Thanks for the input and guidance so far. A place to start is so important.