First off I am a big fan of Rimsky Korsakov and particularly his mid and far eastern tone poems and orchestral works, he really made his mark with me from a very young age.
I have copies of the Reiner CSO on both Chesky and Acoustic
Sounds vinyl and RCA SACD and a Classic Record release on CD, great performance
and excellent sound quality on both but the debate between vinyl and CD really
becomes clear as an aside to the question. I also have a CD recording of the
1962 Ormandy recording with Philadelphia. Also a Telarc cd with MacKerras and
The London Symphony.
All excellent recordings and interpretations but the one that moves me the most
and is the one to own, ALONG with the 1960 Reiner Chicago version of the ones listed is the
Beecham & Royal Philarmonic on EMI classics, sure wish I had the vinyl! The tonal colors of the orchestra are
absolutely brilliant and outside a live performance I can’t imagine a performance
and recording of a full orchestra better than this one.