Best Brandenburg Concerto recording CD

Recording quality would be more important for demoing the speakers, but of course a great performance is appreciated also. Thanks for the suggestions.

I also appreciate the above suggestions. My own copy of this music...sucks.

If you are auditioning only the tweeters of the speakers, then by all means choose from the above. If you want to hear some mids and bass as well (ie. the “whole” speaker), then try Benjamin Britten's recordings with the ECO on Decca. Karl Richter on DGG (an older recording) is also worthy of a listen.

(Boys, I think the frenzy for “original instruments” has mercifully past.)

Rufus

what pearlman/boston baroque do you prefer?
thanks

Rufus, I think you're exagerating a little, but I do see your point. Britten's recordings with Decca are nice, full-bodied and definitely a different sound than the leaner sound we've almost become acustomed to with the period instruments performances that have been dominating the new releases. Alpass, the Pearlman I'm referring to is the Telarc version, the only one of which I'm aware.