Definitive recordings

Some of the musical masterpieces have found interpretations that feel like definitive and without any room for further improvement. Here are some of these in my view:

1. Ludvig van Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.5, E Flat, Op. 73, Emperor - Edwin Fisher/Wilhelm Furtwangler


This is a piece of a miracle. Incredibile sound for a 78, best beethovenian conductor, an inspired pianist with an extremely responsive orchestra. The result an Emperor for which the right words aren't invented yet.

2. Ludvig van Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 4&6 - Bruno Walter


Walter's recording of Beethoven 6th is doomed to be unsurpassable while his 4th is still one of the best.

3. Ludvig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 9, D Minor, Op. 125 'Choral' - Wilhelm Furtwangler

The symphony of the symphonies in the recording of the recordings.

4. Johannes Brahms - Symphonies Nos. 2&3 - Bruno Walter

Walter seems to have had inside information on the making of these symphonies as he manages to reveal the core of Brahms feelings and intelect with utterly convincing power.

5. Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 - Charles Munch

Munch is, without a shadow of a doubt, the owner of the most amazing version of this beautiful French symphony.

6. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Don Giovanni, K 527 - Gottlob Frick, Luigi Alva, Graziella Sciutti, Piero Cappuccilli, Joan Sutherland, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wachter, Heinrich Schmidt, Giuseppe Taddei / Carlo Maria Giulini

The ultimate Don from a conductor that knows the secrets of Music and has the ability to reveal them with a cast that is as close to perfect as possible.

7. Giuseppe Verdi - Messa da Requiem - Christa Ludwig, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Nicolai Gedda, Nicolai Ghiaurov / Carlo Maria Giulini

The undefineabe of the relationship between man and his Creator. See a full review here

8. Robert Schumann - Symphony No. 4, D Minor, Op. 120 - Wilhelm Furtwangler

The emotional power, the fiery struggle and yet the flow and logic of a torrenting river. Unsurpassable.

9. Ludvig van Beethoven - Violin Concerto, D, Op. 61 -Itzhak Perlman / Carlo Maria Giulini

Hear a passionate and victorious spirit (Perlman) in a suffering and meditative body (Giulini).

10. Ludvig van Beethoven - Piano Concertos Nos. 3,4 & 5 - Claudio Arrau / Otto Klemperer

The ultimate Beethoven piano concertos in an unearthy class of their own which only Furtwangler Fisher partnership managed to reach before. See full review here.