Top 10 recordings by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Gramophone
Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Choosing 10 of the finest recordings by the BPO is, of course, impossible, but here are 10 that simply demand to be heard...

No 1

Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem

BPO / Sir Simon Rattle

(Warner Classics)

'This is a lovely performance, free-moving and sweetly sung' Read review

No 2

Bruckner Symphony No 8

BPO / Günter Wand

(RCA)

'This new Eighth is exceptionally fine' Read review

No 3

Haydn Symphony No 88

BPO / Wilhelm Furtwängler

(DG)

'Definitely one to rush out and buy' Read review

No 4

Mahler Symphony No 6

BPO / Claudio Abbado

(DG)

'I can’t remember hearing a tauter, more refined performance than this' Read review

No 5

Mahler Symphony No 9

BPO / Herbert von Karajan

DG (live recording)

'Karajan’s 1982 performance remains a remarkable one' Read review

No 6

Mahler Symphony No 10

BPO / Sir Simon Rattle

(Warner Classics)

'Rattle's new version sweeps the board' Read review

No 7

Prokofiev/Ravel Piano Concertos

Martha Argerich (pf) BPO / Claudio Abbado

(DG)

'Defying criticism' Read review

No 8

Puccini La bohème

BPO / Herbert von Karajan

(Decca)

'Perhaps the best thing Pavarotti has ever done' Read review

No 9

R Strauss Tod und Verklärung. Metamorphosen

BPO / Herbert von Karajan

(DG)

'A clear first-choice in both works' Read review

No 10

Wagner Parsifal

BPO / Herbert von Karajan

(DG)

'Seems to grow in statute on each re-hearing' Read review

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