vocal music for a newbie

R strauss' orchestral songs are one of my favorites. you basically have a soloist and an orchestra. the music is very assessible.EMI has a "great recordings of the century" series which includes a classic performance by elisabeth schwarzkopf & george szell which is highly regarded. i also enjoy them as sung by felicity lott w/jarvi on chandos.

i agree with Aida about brahms requiem, however i would recommend the otto klemper version. another EMI "great recording of the certury" item and most agree that it is just that. i have no other version that i listen to any longer.

excuse 2d post, my brain was in so-mo above. the choral piece that stands highest in my collection and regard is Faure's Requiem as performed by Herreweghe w/a chamber orchestra recorded by Harmonia mundi #9011771. This is without any doubt one of the most beautiful, intimate, requiems i have ever heard (except for an earlier herreweghe performance of the original version which is much smaller scale and in my opinion even more beautiful because of the scale. also on harmonia mundi 901292). in the latest edition you also get an excellent performance of Frank's symphony in d minor.