John Smyth wrote:

>While discussing the Elgar 1st, I mentioned that a particular recording
>of mine is one of the favourites in my entire collection.  Well.  Here's
>a possibly useful posting: Your very short list of CDs that are "perfect"
>in every way--interpretation, orchestral/vocal execution and, if you want,
>recording quality.

Ok, let's try, although - like many of you, I guess - I don't know exactly
what does "perfect" mean (surely not "unique" or "only").  However, here
are a few miracles:

Brahms/Piano pieces opp. 116-119, Klien (Tuxedo)
Canteloube/Complete Songs of Auvergne, Davrath (Vanguard)
Chausson/Poeme de l'amour et de la mer, Kolassi (Decca)
Haydn/Symphonies 93-98, Szell (Sony). BTW, when will the 99-104 be reissued?
Kodaly/Hary Janos + Prokofiev/Lt. Kije + Moussorgski-Ravel/Pictures,
   Szell (Sony)
Mahler/Symphony Nr. 6 + R. Strauss/Heldenleben, Barbirolli (EMI)
Martinu/Symphony Nr. 6 + Frescoes + Parables, Ancerl (Supraphon)
Prokofiev/Romeo & Juliet, Ancerl (Supraphon)
Shostakovich/Symphonies Nr. 6 + 15, Mravinski (Melodiya)

Simon Corley
[log in to unmask]