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. While I invite disagreement, I'm personally looking to expand my collection. Bartok--"The Wooden Prince" Jarvi/Philharmonia Chandos Bruckner--Eighth Symphony Wand NDR Orchestra RCA Chopin "Ballades" Zimmerman DG Copland--Third Symphony Bernstein/NYPhil DG Debussy--"La Damoiselle Elue Ameling/de Waart/SFO Philips Elgar--1st Symphony Sinopoli/Philharmonia DG Faure--"Requiem" Best/Corydon Hyp Janacek--"Sinfonietta/Taras Bulba" Makerras/Vienna London Prokofiev--"Romeo and Juliet" Ozawa/Boston DG Schoenberg--"Gurrelieder" Chailly/RSO London Strauss--"Elektra" Sinopoli/Vienna DG Well, these are the recordings that keep me rapt from beginning to end--the suspension of disbelief is never interrupted. John Smyth