Recommendations for a few high SQ classical CDs


I have a modest collection of classical music CDs, most of it symphonic works, maybe 20-30 CDs at most. Most of my musical interest is with rock, roots rock and blues but I do enjoy classical music but have limited knowledge and experience.

I am also a new audiophile with my first hifi system for about a month now.

I would like some specific recommendations on just a few symphonies (for now). What I am looking for at this point is good CD recordings rather than the nature of the performance/conductor/orchestra. In other words, I'm looking for SQ first and performance quality second. I know that might sound backwards but I don't have enough knowledge to have a major preference between performances but I can hear SQ. Certainly a great recording of a great performance is ideal.

To keep things limited I am specifically interested in these works:

Beethoven's 9th
Mahler's 4th
Dvorak's 4th
Brahm's 4th

Certainly open to other symphonies by these composers. I have the works listed above and other symphonies by them as well.

Thanks for any recommendations,

George


n80

Showing 2 responses by johndoe21ro

For Mahler: Ivan Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra from Channel Classics or Ricardo Chailly, Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Decca.
For Beethoven: Osmo Vanska, Minnesota Orchestra, BIS Records.
For Dvorak: Nicholas Harnoncourt, RCO, Teldec or Leonard Bernstein, NYPO from Sony Classical. 
There are also reference interpretations!
@ ronkent: For the Rite of Spring I'm gonna say Ivan Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Channel Classics once more! :)