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]