15 of the LSO's best ever recordings
The LSO has a formidable recording catalogue, so picking 15 of the best is tricky one - but we've plumped for some truly fantastic releases from the orchestra's illustrious history.
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1. Elgar - Cello Concerto, Jacqueline Du Pre, Sir John Barbirolli
Barbirolli was himself a cellist, which perhaps explains why this recording really is all about Jacqueline du Pré. But only the most sensitive and responsive orchestra could make such focus possible - which is why it's an LSO essential.
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2. Berlioz - Grande Messe des morts, Sir Colin Davis
This particular recording has a huge emotional resonance, not just for the LSO, but for the classical music world in general - it was the last recording and performance with the LSO before his death.
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3. Beethoven - Symphonies Nos 1-9, Bernard Haitink
Another huge undertaking, and often a real rite of passage for legendary conductors, doing all nine Beethoven symphonies actually sounds rather effortless under the great Bernard Haitink.
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4. Debussy - Images, Pierre Monteux
As well as having a thoroughly enviable moustache, Pierre Monteux was a dab hand at conducting Debussy, as this 1963 recoding shows.
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5. Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5, André Previn
It's an epic symphony for sure, and André Previn knew how to handle it. This incendiary recording from 1965 captures the fury perfectly.
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6. Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition, Claudio Abbado
Taking the Ravel orchestral arrangement of Mussorgsky's classic, Claudio Abbado finds new levels of expression and sensitivity in the LSO.
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7. Williams - Star Wars, John Williams
In terms of status, popularity and sheer pop culture impact, the Star Wars soundtrack could be the most popular thing the LSO has ever done. Essential listening for people of a certain heritage.
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8. Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos, Vladimir Ashkenazy, André Previn
That's quite a line-up by anyone's standards. The biggest piano concertos, the biggest conductor and the biggest pianist - all ably supported by the LSO.
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9. Berlioz - Les Troyens, Sir Colin Davis
Another legendary Sir Colin Davis recording, this cemented his reputation as his generations most successful interpreter of Berlioz's work.
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10. Mahler - Symphonies Nos 1-9, Valery Gergiev
The LSO's current chief conductor Valery Gergiev embarked on a huge task when he started his cycle of all nine Mahler symphonies. The results are astonishing.
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11. Sibelius - Complete Symphonies, Sir Colin Davis
The list couldn't be complete without another Colin Davis belter - his recording of the complete Sibelius symphonies shows not only what a remarkable interpreter he was, but how incredibly attentive and proficient the LSO are under his control.
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12. Holst - The Planets, Gustav Holst
Who better to conduct the first ever recording of Holst's Planets suite than Holst? He gave a pretty definitive edition first time round with the LSO.
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13. Elgar - Symphony No. 1, Edward Elgar
Another 'conducted by the composer' release, this particular recording is a great example of Elgar's pioneering enthusiasm for recording classical music and new technology.
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14. Mahler - Symphony No. 2, Georg Solti
Such a mighty symphony requires a similarly mighty conductor, and the great Georg Solti proved his mettle with this recording from the early '60s.
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15. Beethoven - Egmont Overture, Arthur Nikisch
This was the first recording the orchestra ever made, back in 1913 - and it's a belter. Forget the sound quality, just listen to the verve the LSO manage to put into the final stretches.
