Here we have not only the (now "Royal") Concertgebouw ensemble in all of its idiomatic glory, magnificently recorded, but also Chailly at his most interpretively perceptive–and the result is absolutely stunning… As a bonus, Mahler's Bach Suite also receives its finest performance on disc. - David Hurwitz; Classicstoday.com

Hector Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique Op. 14; Berlioz Takes A Trip -
New York Philharmonic; Leonard Bernstein
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 344 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Sony Classical | Recorded: 1964, 1968 | Published: 1999 | Catalog number: SMK 60968

This is the most drugged-out performance of the work that you will ever hear, and it's accompanied by a delightful spoken essay (essentially word for word the same as appears in the "Young People's Concerts") that explores the highlights of the composer's opium-induced vision. –David Hurwitz; Classicstoday.com

This is playing in the grand manner… Ozawa and the orchestra are behind the soloist in all this and the deciso element is fully realized. But don't let me imply a lack of finesse; not only do lyrical sections sing with subtlety, the big passages also are shapely… In the gorgeously grisly Totentanz, both music and playing should make your hair stand on end. - C.H.; Gramophone

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovksy: The Nutcracker Ballet Op. 71 (complete)
London Symphony Orchestra; Sir Charles Mackerras, conductor
Classical | 2 CD | EAC Rip | 303 MB, 3% recovery | Flac+log+cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Telarc | Recorded: 1986 | Published: 1986 | Catalog Number: CD80137

Charles Mackerras is one of the most purely musical and versatile conductors around. In fact, he's never made a bad record, and this Nutcracker is outstanding… In short, a great performance. - David Hurwitz; Editorial Reviews - Amazon.com

Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35; Piano Concerto No. 2. in F major, Op. 102; Quintet for Piano and Strings in G minor, Op. 57 –
Yefim Bronfman (piano); Los Angeles Philharmonic; Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Julliard String Quartet
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 343 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Sony Classical | Recorded: 1999 | Published: 1999 | Catalog number: SK 60677

This is a splendid recording, featuring three of Shostakovich's major works involving his own instrument, the piano. They display all the mercurial, contradictory aspects of his style, from dance-hall banality to sophisticated counterpoint and inspired melodic inventiveness, from mournful desolation and bleak hopelessness to the wild, obsessive, sardonic humor of desperation…The resulting performances are brilliant, moving, and exciting; Bronfman's virtuosity is stunning and the solo trumpeter in the first concerto is terrific. The string playing is wonderful–rich and colorful in sound, rhythmically incisive, deeply expressive; the first violinist's tone soars radiantly in the many stratospheric passages. –Edith Eisler; Editorial Reviews; Amazon.com

Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26 & Béla Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 2, Sz. 95, BB 101 -
Lang Lang (piano); Berliner Philharmoniker; Sir Simon Rattle, conductor
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 343 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Sony Classical | Recorded: 2013 | Published: 2013 | Catalog Number: 88883732252

It is extremely hard for any new recording to compete with the stunning 1967 Berlin account that Argerich made with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Abbado… Lang Lang certainly equals the boldness, power and communicative quality of Argerich’s account. Under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle the Berliner Philharmoniker is highly persuasive and sympathetic. Not for the first time the woodwind excel - marvellous. - Michael Cookson; www.musicweb-international.com

Johannes Brahms: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in D minor Op. 15 –
Arthur Rubinstein, piano; Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner, conductor
1 CD | EAC Rip | 239 Mb | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Classical | Publisher: Sony Classical/ BMG | Recorded: 1954| Published: 2005 | Catalog Number 82876 66378 2

Rubinstein's heartfelt affinity and mastery of Brahms' burly piano writing is never in doubt, although the pianist's remake 10 years later with Erich Leinsdorf and the Boston Symphony benefits from his greater introspection and expressive simplicity in the first movement's lyrical second theme and the entirety of the slow movement. All told, the volatile Rubinstein/Reiner Brahmsian chemistry holds its own after more than half a century. –Jed Distler, Classicstoday.com

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 to 9 – Helena Döse (sop.); Marga Schiml (mezzo.); Peter Schreir (ten.); Theo Adam (bass);
Staatskapelle Dresden; Herbert Blomstedt (cond.)
5 CDs | EAC Rip | 1,62 GB | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Scans
Classical | Label: Brilliant Classics | Recorded 1975-1980 | Published: 2012 | Catalog Number 94289

Herbert Blomstedt's Beethoven cycle with the Staatskapelle Dresden is one of the great ones, as much for the magnificent playing of this finest of all German orchestras as for Blomstedt's effortlessly musical interpretations.' - David Hurwitz, Editorial Reviews - Amazon.com

Cesar Franck: Symphony in D minor; Albert Roussel: Symphony No. 3 – Orchestre National de France; Leonard Bernstein
1 CD | EAC Rip | 345 MB | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Classical | Label: Deutsche Grammophon | Recorded 1981 | Published: 1994 | Catalog Number 445512-2GMA

Leonard Bernstein's rendition of the Franck Symphony, is typically larger than life, with a huge contrast of tempo and a typically generous emotional outpouring. What makes this disc even more special, however, is the inclusion of what is probably the best-ever performance of Roussel's fabulous Third Symphony. - David Hurwitz, Editorial Reviews - Amazon.com

Gustav Mahler: Lieder – Christian Gerhaher (baritone); Gerold Huber (piano)
1 CD | EAC Rip | 243 MB | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Classical | Label: Sony Classical RCA Red Seal | Recorded & Published: 2009 | Catalog Number 88697567732

This is sheer enjoyment from start to finish. It deserves the highest possible praise.
For RCA Red Seal these two artists have been splendidly recorded. There is an interesting essay by Gerhaher in the booklet and full texts with English translations are provided. Michael Cookson, Musicweb-International

Richard Strauss: Vier letzte Lieder; Die heiligen drei Könige aus Morgenland; Letzte Szene aus Cappriccio; Metamorphosen –
Anna Tomowa-Sintow; Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 344 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: DGG | Recorded: 1983 | Published: 1986

Karajan gives his soprano incandescent support and the playing, needless to say, is superb. This is a 'must' for all Straussians, and surely for many others.' - Alan Blyth, Gramophone

Giuseppe Verdi: Falstaff – Tito Gobbi; Luigi Alva; Rolando Panerai; Elisabeth Schwartzkopf; Anna Moffo; Fedora Barbieri;
Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus; Herbert von Karajan
Classical | 2 CDs + Bonus CD | EAC Rip | 636 MB (3% recovery) | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: EMI Classics | Recorded: 19563 | Published: 2011

None of the Falstaff recordings that have come along subsequently – 15 are listed on the current Gramophone Database, not including videos – has come close to what Karajan and his hand-picked cast achieved in Kingsway Hall, London, in June 1956. It will surely prove difficult to surpass its particular combination of virtues. - Gramophone

Piotr Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor Op. 36; Francesca da Rimini, Fantasia after Dante Op. 32 -
London Symphony Orchestra; George Szell; New Philharmonia Orchestra; Lorin Maazel
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 355 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: Decca Eloquence| Recorded: 1962;1971 | Published: 2005

George Szell's excellent Tchaikovsky Fourth Symphony, long absent from the catalog, has made a welcome return on several different labels, most recently Universal's not overwhelmingly successful Penguin Classics line. Here, it comes coupled with a sensational Francesca da Rimini that has Maazel and the New Philharmonia in razor-sharp form throughout. –David Hurwitz

Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G major – Edith Mathis, soprano; Berliner Philharmoniker; Herbert von Karajan
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 238 MB, 3% recovery | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Complete scans
Publisher: DGG/Universal | Recorded: 1987 | Published: 1990

…Such playing (though if I'm to be hyper-critical I don't care for some of the solo-violin playing), such excellent recording balance and, above all, such conducting, Karajan at his most relaxed and winning, making all the humorous and fantastic points in the score with such affection. - The Gramophone