System Reference Recordings

Here are some orchestral recordings on LP that will let you hear how well a system is performing. I've tried to keep mostly to some reissues that should still be available through the usual mail order sources (marked with *).

Stravinsky, Firebird, Dorati/LSO, Mercury SR90226 (Classic Records reissue)

Stravinsky, Le Sacre du Printemps, Solti/CSO, Decca SXL 6691 (Mine is the original and I haven't heard the recent reissued by Speakers Corner, but given their track record it should be good)*

Larsson, Concertino for Double Bass & Str Orch, Wedin/OskarshamnEns, Fredin -db, Opus 3 8502

Chabrier, Espana, Argenta/LSO, Decca SXL 2020 (Speakers Corner reissue)*

Kodaly, Galanta Dances, Kertesz/LSO, Decca SXL 6136 (Speakers Corner reissue)*

Varese, Ionisation, Mehta/LAPO and LA Percussion Ensemble, Decca SXL 6550 (Speakers Corner reissue)*

Ravel, Works for Orchestra, Skrowaczewski/MinnO, Analogue Productions APC 007 (Vanguard recording)*

Bartok, Music for Strings, Percussion and Celeste, Decca 6111 (Speakers Corner reissue)*

Aliu, CD recommendations are more problematical for me since I listen primarily to vinyl. Hopefully, others will contribute. Here are a few orchestral CDs that I've found well recorded and reproduced:

Opus 3, COPU 8502, Concertos For Double Bass and Orchestra, (same recording as the LP I recommended above)

Dorian, DOR-90156, Prokofiev: Scythian Suite

Mercury, CMER 432005, Kodaly: Dances of Galanta

Water Lily, CWATD 66, Nature's Realm/Sawallisch/PhilO

Hope some of these may be of interest to you.