Deutsche Grammaphon is THE label for classical releases. The primary reason I love Mahler's symphonies is the DG releases of Herbert von Karajan w/ the Berlin Philharmonic. I know that, as a youth, he was associated with the HitlerJungen but IMO he made up for with his recordings of Mahler's symphonies.
I have collected all the Colti performances (Chicago Symphony Orchestra - one of which is extremely valuable to the typical completist collector)
I also have a very rare Furtwangler performance on a collection of 78 rpm albums from the early forties - it's not the historical private performance for "you know who," but it is still somewhat rare.
I've managed a few of the Shaw, one Klemperer, an ancient Weingartner (CD), one from Sir John Gardiner (which is particularly Hi-fi) and several by LSO, with various conductors at the helm.
Interestingly, many of the performances of Beethoven I have on CD were recorded in olden days, but never at all released until the turn of the century and the resurgence of popularity in classical music by the unwashed masses.
We can thank the popularity of the modern Hip-hop subculture (and the willful rejection of that entire genre by enough average folk to make a difference) for the availability of this set of treasures, I believe. Had it not been for people looking for "real" music in the nineties, the labels would have yet to open their vaults and allow the exposure and purchase of the majority of these tremendous concerts from the fifties, sixties and seventies.
I wonder what more
they still hold back from us, to this day.
BTW, I'm only talking about Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
I have quite a number of other classical recordings, as well, many of which are on LP.
