JohnK

Well, I am overcoming my reluctance to venture outside of chamber music and have put a number of the cds you listed on my Amazon wish list. I will probably own most of your list in a few months!

Judging from the Amazon reviews your picks are pretty good, indeed.

Given that this thread is 9 pages long, I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet or not, but I've really been enjoying the Mugzy's Move CD. It's big band music and was mentioned in the Audioholics review of the Axiom system.

Apparently it is one they use for demoing audio systems they review. I picked it up and find that it really shows off all of the best qualities of the Axioms. Admittedly, it's a far cry from chamber music, but IMHO it makes for very enjoyable listening if you enjoy Big Band music.

Now it's time for some stunning exotic Latin American musical adventures, including the Chavez Sinfonia India, Revueltas's Sensemaya and Ginastera's Estancia with its riotous concluding Malambo. Michael Tilson Thomas conducts an all-star student orchestra sounding absolutely world-class and in superb sound; available from several sellers on Amazon U.S. and Canada for about $10-$12.

I will add one - heard this on the radio and bought it right away. I have a real soft spot for violin and for Vivaldi - so take this recommendation with a grain of salt.

http://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Concertos-...08056600&sr=8-9

"Five Vivaldi violin concertos that have never before been recorded. Giuliano Carmignola, backed by the Venice Baroque Orchestra led by Andrea Marcon."

I just ordered:

Stravinsky: Rite Of Spring, Fireworks, Petrouchka / Ozawa, Tilson Thomas, Chicago Symphony (hope that was the one JohnK recommended)

Art of Segovia 2 cd set [Original recording remastered] since I enjoyed his remastered box set so much.

Funny - there was one cut in the box set that made my left Qs4 rattle - never heard that before or since. I think it was an old mono recording that wasn't done very well.

Don, this is the Stravinsky collection that I suggested.

Yes, I've enjoyed Carmignola's recording of the Vivaldi Four Seasons. As far as these being five Vivaldi concertos that have "never before been recorded", it reminds me of the composer who remarked a bit sarcastically that Vivaldi didn't write 500 concertos, but rather wrote one concerto 500 times!

Oooh, burn!

I ordered the right Stravinsky

I guess I like all of Vivaldi's many versions of the same concertos! Some of them do sound similar.

In keeping with Stunning recordings, how would one best put together a collection of the 9 Beethoven symphonies so I can put to rest the jokes of a good friend of mine who is on the board of directors for the PEI Symphony Orchestra. He says he will stop criticizing my measly classical collection if I at least get all 9 Beethoven's. I will then continue to criticize him for having only 1 Pink Floyd CD in his collection. After all, classics are classics. heh heh

Formats I can do are CD, DVD, DVD-A, and SACD.

I currently only have #9 in this board recommended version.
Beethoven: Symphony no 9 / Wiens, Hartwig, Lewis, Wand, etc

I believe this collection was once recommended as a low cost introduction to the complete collection.
Beethoven - 9 Symphonies and 1st Movement of 10

or would I be happier in gathering over time, individual recordings of one or two symphonies at a time on a more highly recommended disk.

I most interested in obtaining the best sound per recording. I am not classically educated enough to get into multiple interpretations of the same piece. That can come later as the library grows into enough of the essentials that I can begin to explore variations.

Thanks for your help.

Well, Andrew, your friend is apparently a bit more of a Beethoven enthusiast than I am, but this certainly is distinguished music. For a low-cost collection of all nine, the Mackerras set has fine performances and sound, rather than the set you list.

Sure, individual discs are better(but also more expensive). Your Wand 9th is excellent and the next individual pick should be the acclaimed Kleiber 5th & 7th (also on SACD). For 3 & 8 the Vanska SACD is suggested. 1, 2, 4 & 6 remain, and two really good sleepers are the Fey 1&2 and 4&6 .