recommended redbook classics

Three that come to mind spontaneously are the Haydn cello concertos by Truls Mork/Iona Brown, on Virgin ; the Bach sonatas & partitas for solo violin played by James Ehnes, on Analekta, and Handel arias sung by Karina Gauvin with Tafelmusik, also on Analekta. Great performances, beautifully recorded. Oh, and IMHO the best Brandenburgs are conducted by Benjamin Britten.

But then, you may be more interested in Romantics than in Baroque. I like Backhouse playing the Beethoven piano concertos (Decca), Louis Lortie playing Liszt and Ravel (Chandos) and Anton Kuerti playing piano sonatas by both Haydn and Beethoven (Analekta again). Andras Schiff on Decca is my favourite for Schubert piano sonatas.

Thanks for the chance to remember these great discs I already have. Thanks to everyone who posts for new ones to try.

You each are so wonderful to take the time to do this. I am glad that you are enjoying the thread. There are already many great suggestions. I do love Baroque as well as Classical and Romantic - Mozart 40th anyone? Pacabel Cannon, Albinoni Adagio, Rodrigo Fantasia Para Un Gentlehome, Chopin Rondo for Piano Op14 Krakowiak, Liszt Transcendental Etudes, Schuberts Unfinished and 5th Symphonies, Tchaikovsky's Piano Conc #1 and Symphony #5?

After starting this thread last night, while listening to a Schubert Symphony, I was filled with appreciation for all the instrument makers, all the lessons and years of work for the musicians, the composers and teachers, and all the technical people involved in just the act of my appreciating Schubert in my living room. Most work for love and could earn more in another field. Many could not afford the equipment with which we enjoy thier life's work. We indeed have a rich musical heritage to chose from and join a magical family of devoted people when we spin our discs and are transported.

Gammejo, before making any more recommendtations, a rhetorical question. As opposed to spending more money buying a better(?) recorded performance of the stuff with which you are familiar, why not explore other music by your already favorite composers (not to mention the great number of composers you have yet to be exposed)? Just something to think about.

Mozart 40th - Bruno Walter (How about his PC's?)
Chopin - Krakowiak (with both piano PC's etc) Arrau for a leisurely approach on Phillips or Ohlsson on Arabesque for a more masculine approach (I also like Ohlsson's complete traversal of Chopin's music for solo piano.)

Lizst Transcendental Etudes - Bolet (on these or any other Lizst works). How about Lizst's Annees de Perlerinage? (Bolet or Lazar Berman)or the Sonata in B?

Schubert Sym #5 and #8 In the romantic tradition - Wand. For something more authentic and crip, less "over orchestrated" I love Mackerras witrh the OAE on Virgin. (What about Schuberts music for solo piano, i.e. Wanderer Fantasy, Impromptus, and Sonata in B-flat D960?)

Tchaikovsky PC Argerich - there is a DG recording which also includes and excellent Prokovief PC#3 as well. This gal get a lot of drama into these works. As to the Symphony #5, I don't go there often enuf to have a favorite, other than I do enjoy Jansson's manner and the quality of the recordings put out by Chandos. My favorite Sym is #1, subtitled Winter Dreams, by Litton on Virgin.

Composers/music you might like to get to know - Schumann's solo piano works are just exquisite, R strauss' tone poems, Dvorak Symphonies 5 thru 9 and his tone poems as well, Smetana's Ma Vlast, Sibelius's symphonies and incidental music, MAHLER (start with Sym#1 and move along slowly thru all 9 in order). And just a whole lot more, but thats good for a start.

Newbee - great question. Ideally I would like to do both. I am very open to exploring new pieces - a real treasure hunt!
I play classical on a 6'8" Kawai Grand but not as skillfully as I would like, and therefore love piano music. I, of course, have many pieces I love that havent been mentioned but am always looking to broaden, particlularly into fairly accessible music that inspires or opens the heart, or transfixes with its beauty of form expression such as in the Bach fugues. Must confess that most 20th century and atonal do not do it for me at this time, but would like to appreciate Mahler better.