It can be tough to find TRULY well-engineered recordings, but I have found that anything recorded by Tony Faulkner, a British engineer, is a cut above the rest. His recordings just sound better IMO. I agree that Dvorjak is very accessible (his 7th is brooding and intense, 8th is joyful, and 9th is beautiful). Also, Wagner's overtures make great introductions, as do any of the Brahms 4 symphonies. Dvorjak's cello concerto is sublime and powerful, Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra is quirky and intense (but may sound dissonant to new ears), and of course, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is standard for any new listener. Tchaikovsky's 4th is loud and bombastic (except for the plucked strings 3rd movement), and his Romeo and Juliet and 6th Symphony are softer and less abrasive. So many to choose from, but these will get you started.
Man in need of new music
All audio enthusiasts (OK, audiophiles) recognize that recording quality makes as much difference as component quality. I have eclectic tastes in music, and I would like to explore classical. I know NOTHING about classical music. I would like to buy a SACD, CD or LP that is well recorded (i.e. SOUNDS TERRIFIC) as an intro to the genre. I would like something with a lot of dynamics; percussion, violin, piano... things that will make my coveted components shine! Recommendations welcome. Thanks.