Best CLASSICAL Compact Discs?

Any particular period or composer(s)?

No, my tastes are pretty eclectic, and I like to explore new interpretations of classic works. Just interested in the CD's you think are a good investment by virtue of both musical content and quality of recording. I do remember reading a thread whose author suggested that recordings produced in the last 5 years or so are generally superior to those previous.

I'll start you off with two 20th Century music discs, both from Reference Recordings with Oue and the Minnesota Orchestra, Bernstein's Candide and other pieces and Copland's Third Symphony. Quite frankly, anything from Mephisto and Company onwards from Reference with the Minnesota Orchestra will give you some of the best sound you'll ever hear on CD, and while you may find Oue's tempi a little slow, still satisfying performances. Also the Adams/Glass and Rosza violin concerto discs on Telarc are superb performances and recordings. Also check out Harmonia Mundi recordings produced by Robina Young, always well-recorded and played--the recordings with McGeagan and the Philharmonia Baroque, such as the Corelli Concerti Grossi and Handel Arias for Cuzonni, are exceptionally natural even though comparatively older recordings. Finally, while it is not the definitive performance, the Delos recording of the Mahler 2nd with Litton and the Dallas Symphony is probably one of the best full-scale orchestral recordings you'll hear of that piece (and even better on SACD). There are many more, but I'll leave them to others for now.

A few of my favorite: On the Decca label, their Legends Series, Vivaldi le quattro stagioni - The Four Seasons - Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, this CD is 96kHz 24-bit Super Digital Transfer. This version of the Four Seasons is more "alive and vibrant" than any other version that I've heard. Also on the Decca Label-Beethoven:The Symphonies-Christopher Hogwood, The Academy of Ancient Music, this is an excellent 5 CD set with the best version (IMHO) of #5 in C minor and a warm wonderful version of #9. An excellent 5 CD collection of Mozart is on the Philips Label-The Mozart Experience-Sir Neville Marriner, Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields. Every cd in this collection is a "gem." Next!