Hunt's Top 25

[lee]

I'm sure that some of you will have noticed the name of John Hunt crop up a number of times in The Forum. Mr Hunt is the chairman of The Furtwangler Society (UK), has compiled two indispensible concert and recording registers on Herbert von Karajan (Philharmonic Autocrat I & II) along with many on other conductors too, as well as running his own record shop (the sadly no more Compact Disc Centre in Golders Green). I would say that he is an objective and astute judge as you are likely to find.

In 1986, he published his first discography of von Karajan in tandem with a discography of the Philharmonia Orchestra. He has very kindly agreed that I could reproduce from this book his top 25 Karajan recordings here for your information and comments:

* Beethoven: Symphony No 6 ("Pastoral") - Philharmonia Orchestra

* Beethoven: Symphony No 9 ("Choral") - BPO (1976)

* Brahms: Symphony No 2 - Philharmonia Orchestra (1955)

* Bruckner: Symphony No 8 - Berlin PO (1957)

* Bruckner: Symphony No 7 - Berlin PO (1975)

* Holst: The Planets - Vienna PO (1961)

* Humperdink: Hansel und Gretel - Philharmonia Orchestra (1953)

* Liszt: Orchestral Works - Berlin PO (the 2 CD set - various dates)

* Mahler: Symphony No 9 - Berlin PO (1982)

* Mozart: Don Giovanni - Berlin PO (1985)

* Mozart: Violin Concerto Nos 3 & 5 - Berlin PO/Mutter (1977)

* Mozart: Requiem - Berlin PO (1961)

* Puccini: Tosca - Vienna PO (1962)

* Sibelius: Symphony Nos 4 -7 - Berlin PO (1965-1967)

* R Strauss: Salome - Vienna PO (1977)

* R Strauss: Another Opera
: Either Der Rosenkavalier - Philharmonia Orch (1956)
: Or Ariadne auf Naxos - Philharmonia Orch (1954)

* R Strauss: Ein Heldenleben - Berlin PO ( 1986)

* R Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra - Berlin PO (1973)

* Verdi: Requiem Mass - Vienna PO (1949)

* Verdi: Falstaff - Philharmonia Orch (1956)

* Verdi: Another Opera
: Don Carlo - Berlin PO (1978)
: Il Trovatore - Vienna PO (1962)

* Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 6 - Vienna PO (1949)

* Wagner: Parsifal - Berlin PO (1980)

* Philharmonia Promenade Concert (1960)

* Albinoni: Adagio/Pachelbel: Canon etc... - Berlin PO (1983)


Of course, Darkehman has given his own top 25 recently, but he specifically excluded operas. The above list doesn't represent my own preferences, but I thought it worthy of everyone's consideration.

So what is your Top 25 recordings, including operas and live transmissions ?

Lee

[john]

I have already listed my 25 orchestral in the original thread some time ago, I think it was started by Darkhemen (where are you?).

It did not include Opera, also our tastes change, what we thought were our favourites 3 or 4 months ago may now be differerent.

However, my most favourite opera's (at the moment) are.

Lohengrin - EMI
Der Rosenkavalier - EMI
Don Carlos - Sony DVD
Un Ballo In Machera - DG
Cav & Pag - DG
Die Fledermaus - Decca
Lucia di Lammermoor - EM1
The entire Ring Cycle - DG
Fidelio 'live' 1962 - DG

Anyone else?

John

[stuartg]

Dear all my (current!) favourite Karajan operas:

Wagner: Parsifal - 1980 - DG

Strauss: Die Frau Ohne Schatten 1964 - Gala and various other labels (listening to it right now following Man Utd's Victory!)

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg - 1970 EMI

Strauss: Salome - 1977 - EMI

Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen - DG

Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera - 1989 - DG

Puccini: Turandot - 1981 - DG

Humperdink: Hansel und Gretel - 1953 - EMI

Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov - 1970 - Decca

Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos - 1954 - EMI

Can't say that my preferences will be the same in 3 months time!

I have been trying to put together an orchestral list but, I've found it so hard to keep it down to below 40! When I feel right about a top 20 list, I'll post it.

Stuart