(Part 2) Best symphonies according to redditors

With Schubert, oh yes I do! The Fischer-Dishkau/Demus recording of Winterreise is a real treasure. Even people who aren't keen on lieder may find it appealing:

http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Winterreise-Dietrich-Fischer-Dieskau/dp/B000001GQE

Kleiber's rendition of the "Unfinished" symphony is the best I've heard:

http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Symphonies-Nos-3-8/dp/B000001GXE/

And I love the Takacs Quartet's take on the 13th and 14th string quartets:

http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-String-Quartets-Death-Maiden/dp/B000I5Y8W8/

Finally, the Emerson Quartet playing with Rostropovich (what a team-up!) for the String Quintet:

http://www.amazon.com/Schubert-String-Quintet-d-956/dp/B000001GFA/

As for Mahler you can't go wrong with Rattle's recording of the 2nd Symphony or Bernstein's recording of the 5th. Bernstein playing Rhapsody in Blue is terrific as well. Hope this helps :-)

Martha Argerich Rach 3 and Tchaikovsky - A classic. First rendition of Rach 3 I heard. Not the most technically perfect (e.g. compare with Kissin) but just so powerful and exhilarating.

Solti Mahler 8 in Vienna - Perfect soloists, perfect sound, perfect interpretation. Completely different league with respect to any other recording in terms of the soloists and Part 1.

Solti Brahms cycle - Great cycle. Either I love CSO/Solti recordings or I can't stand them. This is one of the former probably because Brahms is more in line with Solti's type of conducting. The fourth is particularily strong.

Mahler 2 Bernstein - Another classic. Not your everyday Mahler 2 but then again you don't listen to Mahler 2 every day. Pushing the score to its romantic limits as one reviewer put. Spiritual listening experience of death and transfiguration for the listener.

Eugene Ablulescu's Hammerklavier - Very interesting academic performance (not as slow or heartfelt as Solomon in the adagio for example). Rigid adherence to marked tempi. No idea why it isn't more well known.

Also I totally second the Gilels/Jochum Brahms concertos.

Yes! I came here to post this. This is one of the few pieces of music I would describe as 'powerful' and not mean it as a sarcastic way of making fun of the cliched adjective. I always interpreted this as a thanatopsis by Mahler and it is not something I can casually listen to. I have to be in a specific mood to hear it. I can't think of any other piece of music that shares that quality.

Also, the Gorecki piece mentioned (as of this post) above is from his third symphony. That whole symphony fits your criteria of 'good cry music'. I am not the classical music buff that I am sure many people on this subreddit are, but Gorecki's 3rd is the only piece of classical music I have bought multiple performances of. The best I found is this one. Gorecki was Polish and the performance I linked to is conducted by Antoni Wit (Polish) and performed by the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. The soprano is also a native Pole. This may seem minor, but I would swear that not only is there a more natural enunciation of the words, but a bit more passion in the whole thing. The symphony as a whole is very rewarding to learn more about. Example, the lyrics from the second movement jjia25 linked to were written on in the basement of the Gestapo's headquarters in Zadopane by an 18 year Jewish girl.

Don't bother with Bohm, it's awful. Go for Karajan's 70's or 80's versions (his 60's recording is not that good either).

Some other versions that I like are the two 1 2 recordings by Marriner, Colin Davis, and Schreier.

Concerning recordings with period instruments, I second Herrweghe's recording, and would also recommend Harnoncourt's recording which is very unique.

Even if you are not a "classical" music fan, you need to devote a quiet afternoon to listen to his third symphony. It's a gorgeous masterpiece.

Amazon link - the most popular recording

I prefer this performance

Schubert’s Nacht und traume

Schubert: Nacht und Traume https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075DLCSLZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LknGAb9YZ6WXA

The Boku to Kimi to no Ongakuchou album contains the vast majority of the performances you're looking for.

Some others, like Mozart's Twelve Variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, Maman" and Tchaikovsky's Rose Adagio from The Sleeping Beauty, can be found on the Twinkle Little Star album.

Masaru Yokoyama's arrangement of Chopin's Ballade No. 1 in G minor can be found on Yuna Shinohara's Estreno album.

The version of wacci's Kirameki that is played in the final episode can be found on the limited edition Kirameki album.

Well of course a few come naturally:

• Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic playing Beethoven's 9th Symphony
  
• Kleiber and the Vienna Philharmonic playing Beethoven's 5th and 7th Symphonies
  
• Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra playing The Planets (I wish I could say Levine and the Chicago Symphony, but there are some glaring flaws in it that prevent it from being exceptional)
  
• Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing Respighi's Fountains and Pines of Rome.
  
• This one might be a bit odd: London Sinfonietta performing Rhapsody in Blue. This recording is definitely my favorite, no questions asked.
  
• For Copland's music, I actually find Michael Tilson Thomas's work with the San Francisco Symphony to be the best available. I prefer his to the Bernstein, but that's just my opinion, man.

Sorry, this got caught in the spam filter for some reason.

Personally I'd recommend Abbado or Marriner (which has the added bonus of having several completions for Schubert's unfinished and unbegun symphonies), supplemented with some classic Kleiber.

You bet.

I'm pretty certain this isn't actually the Gardiner recording of the Ninth, but it's close. I was always on the fence about Beethoven until I heard his recordings of Beethoven's symphonies. It was like a breath of fresh air.

Anyway, for reference if you're interested, this is the box set:
http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-9-Symphonies-Ludwig-van/dp/B0000057EO

I looooove this nail polish.

And for my space themed item, Gustav Holst's The Planets because planets.

To infinity and beyond!

And also, Pergolesi's Adriano in Siria releases in just 1 hour!

There are dozens of huge boxed sets now available. As just one example, pianist Martha Argerich alone has a boxed set of 48 CD's on DGG.

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Recordings-Deutsche-Grammophon-Box/dp/B011WEVWYA/ref=sr_1_4

Why are you asking? Are you interested in any type of music specifically?

Daniel Barenboim did all 9 of Beethoven's Symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic, and I absolutely love those recordings. I generally like Barenboim's interpretations; earlier in his career focused on Classical and early Romantic-era works, so I feel the choices he makes with the Beethoven Symphonies regarding tempo, style, etc. tend to be pretty well-informed and true to Beethoven's intentions.

Bam. Currently my favorite recordings of his symphonies.

You need the one published by the Penguins. Conducted by Sir Colin Davis

https://www.amazon.com/Mozart-Requiem-Davis-Penguin-Classics/dp/B00000AFQT

If I may first say congrats. Then recommend this:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000057EO

Best Beethoven recordings I've heard. Gardiner back to the original handwritten notes on his Manuscripts to record they way B wanted it to sound. Also instruments in b's day weren't as advanced as now and had less sustain. So b wanted much of the symphonies played faster than is normal today.

Which means they are even better for neighborly vengeance.

The 5-CD Boxset is 19.99 EUR

Amazon has Bernard Haitink's 1980 Concertgebouw recording available used $19.95. Although it's slightly older than your 1985 cutoff, it probably meets all your other criteria. You can see reviews for the same recording on CD here.

You can also browse all Amazon's vinyl recordings.

Try to find this version.

Wellington's Victory was performed with two orchestras, one for the British and one for the French. The opening is very quiet, just be patient as the orchestras "march" toward each other.

During the "battle," Beethoven also added musket fire which he also added to the score. He had a machine built to simulate the musket fire and used it in the performances. It's pretty awesome when done right.

Trouble is, some of the versions I've heard sounds like someone is spinning one of those clackity noisemakers you use on New Year's Eve.

The version above is the best rendition of the battle sounds. It's not a great work, but it's a fun one and gives some nice imagery.

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Festival Overture. Antal Dorati's version.

Alternate link, yarrrgh

Amazon link, sans any affiliate tags.

iTunes if you prefer.

Streaming link on Spotify if that's how you roll.

It's pretty good - and I don't listen to classical music much.

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Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon [57 CD] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0742VSHG6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_e-hJAbYD7GBSG

Quite a bargain, though I already have about 1/4 of the recordings - especially the superb Debussy Nocturnes with Abbado.

Yes I have the Sanderling B7, it is excellent. I heard him conduct Bruckner many years ago in Edinburgh.