[Portamento]

Oh, and get a copy of this month's Gramophone. A very good article about the"forgotten" American symphonists. Gems aplenty there too.

I don't have a Gramophone subscription, but by reading the first page it seems that this article leaves out Sessions!

 

[StrE3ss]

Get Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff complete cycle, Khatchatourian #2, Elgar 1, Carl Maria von Weber #1, Dutilleux #2 Le Double.
I think Bruckner 0 is needed if you are a bruckner fan. And probably a lot more...

 

[BachIsBest]

You mention you have Mahler's symphonies 1-9. There is debate about his 10th - is it or isn't it his or Cooke's. Try it anyways. But if you don't have it, get his other "10th" symphony - Das Lied von der Erde. Peak Mahler, peak German romanticism.

Das Lied von der Erde was written before the 9th so it would really be 8 1/2 if we were numbering things. Regardless it's a great choice and really more of a symphony with a person singing than a song cycle.

Harold en Italie and other Shostakovich symphonies are also good suggestions.

 

[SixFootScowl]

Yes, as mentioned a couple times already, get Rachmaninoff, complete cycle (1,2 & 3).

 

[KenOC]

Hmmm, did somebody mention

 

[Rogerx]

The Naxos series from Malipiero symphonies is well worth hearing

(Moscow Symphony Orchestra, Antonio de Almeida)

 

[Art Rock]

Tastes are of course personal, but I could not do without the cycles of Schmidt, Bax and Alfven.

 

[Heliogabo]

Roussel’s symphonies, beautiful and unique symphonies.

 

[joen_cph]

One can collect 1000s of different symphonies, if one has enough determination.

Here's an interesting source as regards more or less all recorded, Russian/Soviet symphonies:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/Ntl_discogs/Russian_symphonies/Russian_Symphonies_RZ.pdf

 

[joen_cph]

Really, though, it isn't about getting more different symphonies at this point. Now you get to go from the breadth of your collection to adding depth - different recordings of the same works. You'll notice people filling a whole page listing all the recordings they have of one particular work. Just as an example, I believe I currently have 9-10 different recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations. I have three complete sets of Beethoven's symphonies (Immerseel, Vanska, Szell) along with various partial sets (Klemperer, Karajan, Fricsay, Toscanini, etc.).

I'd go for further symphonic/musical variety - the 20th century being rather modestly represented so far (1x Shostakovich, 1x Nielsen, etc.).

 

[Andolink]

If you'd ever want to try something rather more adventurous, the 8 symphonies of Per Nørgård are worthy of attention. The 3rd is the most accessible so a good place to start.

 

[joen_cph]

If you'd ever want to try something rather more adventurous, the 8 symphonies of Per Nørgård are worthy of attention. The 3rd is the most accessible so a good place to start.

The 1st can be somewhat compared to late Sibelius too.

 

[NLAdriaan]

I would also go back in time a little and add Handels concerti grossi and Bach's Orchestral suites and the Brandenburgs to your collection. And there are some great recordings of Rameau suites (orchestral parts from his operas, no singing involved). I would absolutely go for lively HIP style, like Bruggen, Koopman or Pinnock.

All others already have been recommended. I would also recommend to search for other recordings of music you like. One recording can sweep you off your feet while another can just pass unnoticed. The most significant individual recordings are in many cases not represented in complete cycles.

 

[joen_cph]

In my case, it took quite a while in my collecting until I began really caring about the different, musical approaches to standard works.

 

[NLAdriaan]

In my case, it took quite a while in my collecting until I began really caring about the different, musical approaches to standard works.

Same here, but I didn't start with complete cycles of many composers, but with getting to know and internalize individual works and slowly digging my way into musical history.

PS: I would suggest to add to the list the orchestral works of the French composers Debussy, Dutilleux and Ravel and of the Hungarian composer Bartok (concerto for orchestra).

 

[Blancrocher]

In addition to some of the suggestions above, Stravinsky is, for me, a glaring omission here--I'd start with Stravinsky conducting his own Symphony in 3 Movements, Symphony in C, and Symphony of Psalms.

 

[larold]

If you enjoy symphonies you'll want to hear Edward Elgar's Symphonies 1 and 2, No. 3 if you want something akin to Mahler's 10th -- something that may or may not represent the composer.

The Shostakovich symphonies are the last great set written on this planet. No one has come close to his inspiration since he died.

Englishman Robert Simpson wrote 11 symphonies of varying noise levels and imagination. There is an integral set available though I'd recommend hearing the first one and see what you think.

Weber's two symphonies are worth hearing; so is Webern's only symphony.

Prokofiev's symphonic canon is all over the place in my opinion. I think No. 6 the best as it captures both the sadness and optimism of the postwar world.

Stravinsky's Symphony in Three Movements and Symphony of Psalms are often linked together.

The American "band of brothers" -- Walter Piston, William Schuman, Roy Harris et al -- were good 20th century writers whose sound is very similar. Try Piston 2, Schuman 3 and Harris 7.

Howard Hanson's "Romantic" Symphony 2 is the greatest American symphony in my opinion. He wrote others but none at that level of inspiration. Some say Copland's No. 3 the greatest American symphony.

I find the Haydn "sturm und drang" symphonies a bit more mysterious than either the Paris or London sets. Bruggen's set with his period band is, like most sets, inconsistent in performance but he includes symphonies normally not so and exploits the colors of the orchestra more than others.

It is probably unlikely you don't know Richard Strauss's two "symphonies" -- the one on the mountain (Alpine), the other in the family (Domestic). Both are extended orchestral suites even though they are called symphonies. His other symphony-length works in this vein are Also Sprach Zarathustra and Ein Heldenleben (A hero's life with Strauss being the hero.)

 

[TheGazzardian]

Three symphonies that are a little different than the traditional fair, but may be of interest if you're wanting some new sounds:

1. Cindy McTee - Symphony No. 1: Ballet for Orchestra
2. Philip Glass - Symphony No. 11
3. Krzsyzstof Penderecki - Symphony No.3

All are relatively new (the Philip Glass one is from 2017 and is just fantastic).

 

[Enthusiast]

Essential symphonies are one thing but you will end up missing quite a lot from some composers if you insist on symphonies. Some composers, especially more recent ones like Debussy, Bartok and Stravinsky, didn't use the symphony as a form for their major utterances. Anyway, the following are major/essential (mostly) symphonies (many are merely seconded as they have already been suggested):

Nielsen - you need all (except perhaps 6).
Shostakovich - 1, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14 at least.
Prokofiev - 1, 6, 7.
Stravinsky - Symphony in 3 Movements, Symphony of Psalms at least ..
Martinu - all 6.
Haydn - at least get a better set of the London symphonies (there are many but Jochum, Beecham and Minkowski are all excellent).
Bizet - Symphony in C
Britten - Spring Symphony, Cello Symphony, Sinfonia da Requiem
Elgar - both.
Mahler - Das Lied von der Erde is really a symphony.
Schmidt - At least 2 and 4.
Janacek - Sinfonietta.
Hindemith - Mathis der Maler Symphony.
Suk - Asrael
Rachmaninov - All three.
Berlioz - Harold in Italy
Scriabin - 3 and 4.
Walton - 1.
Schnittke - 5.
Dutilleux - both.
Weber - both.

If you like more modern music let us know as there are plenty more!

 

[MatthewWeflen]

I would also go back in time a little and add Handels concerti grossi and Bach's Orchestral suites and the Brandenburgs to your collection. And there are some great recordings of Rameau suites (orchestral parts from his operas, no singing involved). I would absolutely go for lively HIP style, like Bruggen, Koopman or Pinnock.

All others already have been recommended. I would also recommend to search for other recordings of music you like. One recording can sweep you off your feet while another can just pass unnoticed. The most significant individual recordings are in many cases not represented in complete cycles.

The larger Pinnock Bach set is on its way to me presently. I do have two other Brandenburg recordings.