Thanks for the R&J recommendations.  The old Ancarel/CPO recording had many
mentions.  Only one person sugessted the Ozawa/BSO, which was top choice on
BBC Building A Library, and no one mentioned the RSNO/Jarvi, the BBC Radio
choice for excerpts from the ballets.  The Maazel/Cleveland set had fewer
recommendations than I was expecting.

Anyway, in the end my wallet also had a say and I went for the cheapie
BPO/Salonen on Sony Essential Classics.  It is very dramatic, although the
sound, via my less than impressive stereo, is not as suptuous and dynamic
as many reviewers suggest.  The BPO playing is fabulous.  Listen to the
intense drive and colour from the strings in the final track (Juliet's death)
- they 'out Hollywood' Hollywood!  A CD I shall listen to again and again.

One annoying thing though.  On the front cover the name of the conductor and
orchestra are given equal prominence and on the back cover the conductor's
name is give MORE prominence than the orchestra.  Considering that the
orchestra comproises some of the finest orchestral musicians in the world
this seems inappropriate (arrogant?).

Kind regards,

David Harbin
Nottingham, UK