Brahms and Tchaikovsky

Libor
You make many points I also will make, don't get hung up on audiophile quality sound, all these sound good enough, seek the stellar performances.

TCHAIKOVSKY Piano 1 - must agree with Libor here, the Argerich/Phillips live recording conducted by Kondrashin is 1st choice for me, Argerich gives defining performance with tremendous energy and passion, explosive finale.

Also like the Wild/Chesky version conducted by Fistoulari. For budget price CD the Glemser/Naxos is preferred by me over many full priced versions and offers tremendous value.

You can try Kleiber's version of Brahms 4th recently reissued under the DG Originals label. The performance is exemplary (my other versions are/were Walter/Sony, Abbado/DG and Bernstein/DG) and makes up for only having 40 minutes of music on a CD. Sound is "good" -- I can't say for sure I take performance over sonic qualities all the time -- but I'm sure it will be quite sufficient.

Good luck.

Ahh, this is good stuff to know. One of my favorite pieces is Tchaikowsky's Piano Concerto No.1. I also enjoy Rachmaninoff, Scriabin and Mussorgsky as well. Thanks.

For an offbeat rendition of Brahms 3rd and 4th Symphonies, which is actually quite good, is The Transylvania Philharmonic conducted by Erich Bengel.

BRAHMS Sym 3 & 4
I think the Kleiber/DG Originals version of Brahms 4th is really strong contender for best 4th available, the sound qulaity is definitley not audiophile, but performance has great stature and almost universally praised by everyone.

Newest Abbado/DG version of Brahms 3rd is "close" to the best available and features excellent sound quality, here you have your cake and get to eat it to.

Also of note Klemperer/EMI version of Brahms 1st must be heard (and owned) The Mackerras/Telarc complete set is not my favorite performance but one of the few good period instrument performances available