So many suggestions and so little time!
1. +1 for the above recommendation for Bach's The Goldberg Variations, although I prefer Perahia's performance to Gould's. Excuse the pun, but for a nice variation on the keyboard performances, try Sitkovetsky's version for string trio.
2. Shostakovich's 24 Etudes and Fugues for Piano. I like Scherbakov's playing for Naxos.
3. Bach's The Well Tempered Clavier. (As you can tell, I like classical solo piano.). I have Jennifer Hewitt's version, although there are many good ones.
4. Handel's concerto grosso of Alexander's Feast. The concerto, not the oratorio. Just delightful!
5. Mozart's Piano Concertos, from #18 on up, esp. nos. 21-26, and even more especially the 2nd movement from no. 21 (aka the "Elvira Madigan" movement).
6. Beethoven's 9th Symphony, esp. The Ode to Joy in the fourth movement. Well, of course.
7. Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, esp. Partita #2, Fifth Part -- the "Ciaccona" (Chaconne"). Menuhin considered it to be the greatest work for violin. Many, many good versions; I like Milstein.
Have fun!
1. +1 for the above recommendation for Bach's The Goldberg Variations, although I prefer Perahia's performance to Gould's. Excuse the pun, but for a nice variation on the keyboard performances, try Sitkovetsky's version for string trio.
2. Shostakovich's 24 Etudes and Fugues for Piano. I like Scherbakov's playing for Naxos.
3. Bach's The Well Tempered Clavier. (As you can tell, I like classical solo piano.). I have Jennifer Hewitt's version, although there are many good ones.
4. Handel's concerto grosso of Alexander's Feast. The concerto, not the oratorio. Just delightful!
5. Mozart's Piano Concertos, from #18 on up, esp. nos. 21-26, and even more especially the 2nd movement from no. 21 (aka the "Elvira Madigan" movement).
6. Beethoven's 9th Symphony, esp. The Ode to Joy in the fourth movement. Well, of course.
7. Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, esp. Partita #2, Fifth Part -- the "Ciaccona" (Chaconne"). Menuhin considered it to be the greatest work for violin. Many, many good versions; I like Milstein.
Have fun!