This is the 'bucket-list' I am gnawing into slowly for a while now, something that was sent to me by a retired professor of a well known music college in the USA. The titles mentioned here is based on both, performance and quality of the recording. If the recording quality happens to fall below par, then it is dropped.
You will not see many with the so-called "audiophile" tags attached (or even "historic" recordings). Also, for an American's choice, you will notice that preferences clearly lie on the east side of the big pond - Europe. One would be advised to listen to streaming sample audio tracks on Amazon or AMG, before buying anything. Any boxed sets of more than 3 CDs may also have a disorienting effect. Music, after all, is clearly a personal choice.
Recommended Recordings : Baroque (Pre-Classical)
01. Bach: Cello Suites
Ralph Krishbaum - Cello Solo - Virgin Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: Cello Suites / Kirshbaum: Music
02. Bach: Brandenburg & Violin Concertos
Jonathan Rees & Scottish Ensemble - Virgin Classics (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: Brandenburg Cto.: Music
03. Bach: Brandenburg Concerti 1-6
Harnancourt - Conentus Musicus Wein - Teledec (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Brandenburg Concerti 1-6: Music
04. Bach: Complete Sonatas & Partitas for Violin Solo
Rachel Podger - Violin Solo - Channel Classics NI (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: Complete Sonatas & Partitas for Violin Solo: Music
05. Bach: Goldberg Variations
Angela Hewitt - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK
Amazon.com: Bach: Goldberg Variations: Music
06. Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier
Angela Hewitt - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier (book 1): Music
07. Handel: Messiah (1751 Version)
Higgingottom - Choir of New College Oxford - Naxos (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Messiah: Music
08. Handel: Water Music
Minkowski - Les Musiciens du Louvre - Grenoble - Nave (Fr)
Amazon.com: Water Music: Music
09. Telemann: Barbaric Beauty - 18th Century Dance
Valent - Holland Baroque Society - Channel Classics SACD
Amazon.com: Barbaric Beauty - 18th Century Dance: Music
10. Vivaldi: LeQuarttro Stagioni (4 Seasons)
Rinaldo Alessandrino - Concerto Italiano - Alliance (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Vivaldi Edition: Le Quattro Stagioni (with bonus CD: Portrait): Music
11. Vivaldi Concerti La Stravaganza
Rachel Podger & Arte Dei Suonatori - Channel Classics NI (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Stravaganza: Violin Concerti Op 4 1-12: Music
Recommended Recordings : Classical Era
12. Beethoven: Symphony 9
Solti - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Decca-London
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Solti: Music
13. Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4
Yefim Bronfman (P), David Zinman - Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra - Arte Nova Classics
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4: Music
14. Beethoven: Piano Concertos 5
Yefim Bronfman (P), David Zinman - Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra - Arte Nova Classics
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 5: Music
15. Beethoven: The Beethoven Symphonies 1 to 9 Live
Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra & Philharmonic Orchestra - Hyperion UK (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Symphonies 1-9 Live From the Edinburgh Festival: Music
16. Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet - Deutsche Gramaphon (7CDs)
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Complete String Quartets: Music
17. Haydn: Paris Symphonies
Harnoncourt - Concentus Musicus Wien - Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Paris Symphonies: Music
18. Haydn: London Symphonies
Harnoncourt - Royal Conertgebouw Orchestra - Warner Classics (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Symphonies 68 & 93-104: Music
19. Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol.1
Marc-Andre Hamelin - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol 1: Music
20. Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol. 2
Marc-Andre Hamelin - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol.2: Music
21. Mozart: Piano Concertos 12 & 17
Alfred Brendel - Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Philips
Amazon.com: Piano Concertos: Music
22. Mozart: Piano Concertos 22 & 27
Alfred Brendel - Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Philips
Amazon.com: Mozart: Piano Concertos 22 & 27: Music
23. Mozart: Piano Concertos 20 & 24
Alfred Brendel - Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Philips
Amazon.com: Piano Concerti 20 & 24: Music
24. Mozart: Symphonies 38 to 41
Charles Mackerras & Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Linn UK (2 SACDs)
Amazon.com: Mozart Symphonies 38 Through 41: Music
25. Mozart: Complete Wind Concertos
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra - Deutsche Gramaphon (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Mozart: Complete Wind Concertos: Music
26. Mozart: Violin Concertos K 216,218 & 219
Manze - The English Concert - Harmonia Mundi
Amazon.com: Mozart: Violin Concertos, K. 216, 218, & 219: Music
Recommended Recordings : Romantic Era
27. Brahms: Symphonies 1 to 4
Dorati - London Symphony Orchestra - Polygram - Mercury (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Symphonies 1-4: Music
28. Brahms: Piano Trios
Nicolas Angelich & Capuon Brothers - Virgin Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Piano Trios: Music
29. Brahms: Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Nelson Freire & Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig - Decca (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Brahms: Piano Concertos, Nos. 1 & 2: Music
30. Brahms/Stavinsky: Violin Concertos
Hilary Hahn, Marriner - Ao St. Martin in the Fields - Sony
Amazon.com: Brahms / Stravinsky: Violin Concertos: Music
31. Brahms: Complete Piano Quartets
Walter Trampler & The Beaux Arts Trio - Philips
Amazon.com: Brahms: Complete Piano Quartets: Music
32. Brukner: The Complete Symphonies
Eugen Jochum - Staatskapelle Dresden - EMI Classics (9CDs)
Amazon.com: Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies 1-9: Music
33. Brukner: Symphony 9 - Four Movements
Simon Rattle - Berliner Philharmoniker - EMI Classics
Amazon.com: Bruckner: Symphony No.9 Wiht Finale: Music
34. Chopin: Etudes/Preludes/Polonaises
Maurizio Pollini - Piano Solo - Deutsche Gramaphon (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Chopin: Etudes/Preludes/Polonaises: Music
35. Dvorak: The Nine Symphonies
Rafael Kubelik - Berliner Philharmoniker - Deutsche Gramaphon (6CDs)
Amazon.com: Dvorak: The 9 Symphonies: Music
36. Dvorak: Cello Concerto
Queyras & Dumky Trio - Harmonia Mundi
Amazon.com: Dvorak: Cello Concerto Dumky Trio: Music
37. Liszt: Oeuvers pour Piano
Georges Cziffra - Piano - EMI Classics (9CDs)
Amazon.com: Liszt: Oeuvres pour Piano / Piano Works: Music
38. Liszt: Years of Pilgrimage
Lazar Berman - Piano - Deutsche Gramaphon (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Liszt: Annees de Pelerinage - Complete Recording (Years of Pilgrimage): Music
39. Mahler: Symphonies 1 to 10
Gary Bertini - Koln Radio Orchestra - EMI Classics (11CDs)
Amazon.com: Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 10: Music
40. Rachmaninov: The Symphonies
Vladimir Ashkenazy - Concertgebouw Orchestra - EMI-London (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Rachmaninov: The Symphonies: Music
41. Rachmaninov: The Piano Concertos
Ashkenazy (P), Previn - London Symphony Orchestra - EMI-London (6CDs)
Amazon.com: Piano Concertos: Music
42. Saint-Saens: Romantic Piano & Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra
Hough, Oramo - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Hyperion (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Saint-Sans: Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol. 27 - The Complete Works for Piano & Orchestra: Music
43. Schubert: Symphonies 1 to 9
Gunter Wand - Koln Radio Symphony Orchestra - RCA Red Seal / BMG (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Franz Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 / Rosamunde (Gnter Wand Edition): Music
44. Schubert: Complete Trios
Grumiaux Trio, Beaux Arts Trio - Decca (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schubert: Complete Trios: Music
45. Schubert: The Complete Impromptus
Alfred Brendel - Piano - Decca (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schubert: The Complete Impromptus / Moments Musicaux: Music
46. Schubert: The Last Four Quartets
Quartetto Italiano - Philips (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schubert: Last 4 Quartets: Music
47. Schubert: Late Piano Sonatas
Leif Ove Andsnes - Piano - Warner Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Late Piano Sonatas: Music
48. Schubert: Impromptus & Dances
Vassily Primakov (P) - Bridge
Amazon.com: Dances & Impromptus: Music
49. Schumann: The Symphonies
Barenboim - Staatskapelle Berlin - Warner Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schumann - The Symphonies ~ Barenboim: Music
50. Scriabin: Complete Piano Sonatas
Marc-Andre Hamelin - Piano Solo - Hyperion (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Complete Piano Sonatas: Music
51. Sibelius: The Symphonies
Herbert Blomstedt - San Francisco Symphony - Decca (4CDs)
Amazon.com: Sibelius: The Symphonies / Blomstedt: Music
52. Tchaikovsky/Sibelius: Violin Concertos
Hyung-Wha Chung (V), Andre Previn LSO - Decca 96/24 Remastered
Amazon.com: Violin Concertos: Music
53. Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6
Mravinsky, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra - Deutsche Gramaphon (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6: Music
54. Tchaikovsky/Prokofiev: Piano Concerto 1, 3
Argerich (P), Abbado - Berliner Philharmoniker - Deutsche Gramaphon
Amazon.com: Piano Concerto 1 / Piano Concerto 3: Music
55. Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle)
Solti, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra & Vienna State Opera - Decca (14-CDs)
Amazon.com: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle): Music
Recommended Recordings : Impressionism
56. Debussy/Ravel: Orchestral Works
Martinon, Orchestre de Paris - EMI Classics (8CDs)
Amazon.com: Debussy, Ravel: Orchestral Works: Music
57. Debussy: Complete Works for Piano
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (P) - Chandos (8CDs)
Amazon.com: Complete Works for Piano: Music
Recommended Recordings : Post Romantic Era
58. Bartok: Piano Concertos 1, 2 & 3
Andras Schiff (P), Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra - Teldec
Amazon.com: Bartokiano Concertos 1-3: Music
59. Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, et.al.
Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra - RCS SACD
Amazon.com: Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra / Music for Strings / Percussion & Celesta / Hungarian Sketches: Music
60. Bartok/Straninsky: Violin Concertos
Mullova (V), Salonen - LA Philharmonic - Philips
Amazon.com: Bartok: Violin Concerto No. 2 / Stravinsky: Violin Concerto ~ Mullova: Music
61. Bartok: 6 String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet - Deutsche Gramaphon (2CDs)
Amazon.com: 6 String Quartets: Music
62. Prokofiev: The 5 Piano Concertos/Hebrew Themes
Beroff (P), Masur - Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig - EMI Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Prokofiev: The 5 Piano Concertos/Overture on Hebrew Themes/Visions Fugitives: Music
63. Prokofiev/Stravinsky: Violin Concertos
Cho-Liang Lin (V), Salonen - LA Philharmonic - Sony
Amazon.com: Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1&2; Stravinsky: Violin Concerto In D: Music
64. Shostakovich: The String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet - Deutsche Gramaphon (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Shostakovich: The String Quartets: Music
65. Shostakovich: The Complete Symphonies
Barshai - WDR Symphony Orchestra - Brilliant Classics (11CDs)
Amazon.com: Dmitry Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies - WDR Symphony Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai: Music
66. Williams: Symphonies 1 to 9, et.al.
Haitink - London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra - EMI Classics (7CDs)
Amazon.com: Vaughan Williams: Symphonies #1-9, The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, In the Fen Country - Haitink, Bostridge, Chang (7 CD's): Music
67. Walton: Violin, Cello Concerto, Symphonies
Haitink/Berglund/Pervin - LSO, Bournemouth, Philharmonia - EMI Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Walton: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 / Cello Concerto / Violin Concerto: Music
Recommended Recordings : Modern Era
68. John Adams: The John Adams Ear Box
Various Orchestras, Quartets & Choirs - Nonesuch (10CDs)
Amazon.com: The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective: Music
69. Adams: Harmonielehre, Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Thomas - San Fransisco Symphony Orchestra - SFS Media SACD
Amazon.com: Adams: Harmonielehre, Short Ride in a Fast Machine: Music
70. Anderson: Orchestral Music 1, et.al
Slatkin - BBC Concert Orchestra - Naxos
Amazon.com: Leroy Anderson: Orchestral Music 1 - Piano Concerto / The Golden Years / Fiddle-Faddle - Jeffrey Biegel, Piano / BBC Concert Orchestra / Leonard Slatkin: Music
71. John Cage: Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano
Boris Berman (P) - Naxos
Amazon.com: Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano: Music
72. Mahler/Debussy: Symphony 4 / Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
Pinncock - Royal Academy of Music Ensemble - Linn SACD
Amazon.com: Mahler: Symphonie No. 4: Music
73. 25 Years: Restropective (various)
Kronos Quartet - Nonesuch (10CDs)
Amazon.com: 25 Years: Retrospective: Music
74. Ligeti: Edition 1 - String Quartets
Arditti String Quartet - Sony
Amazon.com: Gyrgy Ligeti Edition 1: String Quartets and Duets - Arditti String Quartet: Music
75. Ligeti: Edition 3 - Works for Piano
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (P) - Sony
Amazon.com: Gyrgy Ligeti Edition 3: Works for Piano (Etudes, Musica Ricercata) - Pierre-Laurent Aimard: Music
76. Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets
Kronos Quartet - Nonesuch (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets: Music
77. Strauss: Don Juan, Death & Transfiguration, et.al
Honeck - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Reference Recordings SACD
Amazon.com: Tone Poems / Don Juan / Death & Transfiguration: Music
End of List