(These Top 100 lists have been updated to reflect the *2006* Gramophone Guide. ) Also try Zimerman and Giulini/LAPO on DG Originals for both concertos, plus Pollini's immortal CD of the Preludes.

Lipatti's finest legacy; try this instead of the preceding disc.

An outstanding collection of French music; the BPO really shines here.

This opera's first recording--possibly still the best. Available in many remasterings, but stick with EMI.

Beecham--in my humble opinion the greatest conductor of the 20th century--owns Delius. His stereo Delius recordings used to be available in a 2-CD set; this single CD reissue is one half of that set.

With Kleiber's Beethoven 5 & 7, this is the other CD that converted me to classical music. You may as well go ahead and buy Kubelik's box set of Dvorak symphonies--much better than Kertesz on Decca.

Menuhin recorded this at age 16 (!) with the composer conducting. Any wonder why this is a legendary recording?

Ah, wonderful, sublime Beecham! An essential recording. I also love Beecham's stereo recordings of Haydn's London symphonies--why on earth have they not yet been reissued in this EMI series?

Songs in general are a taste in music that I have yet to acquire. Von Otter is a major talent, however.

I prefer Sequentia's "Canticles of Ecstasy" on Harmonia Mundi, but this CD is fine too. Oddly, Hildegaard has had a major influence on film score composers, including Shore's "Lord of the Rings."

ALL of Janacek's operas by Mackerras are spectacular. They're available in a 9-CD box set (but crucially with NO librettos) through Amazon UK (ASIN B000AC5B0M).

Richter--in my humble opinion, the greatest pianist of the 20th century. For a digital recording, try Zimerman and Ozawa/BSO on DG, who run Richter a mighty close second.

I don't think this CD holds a candle to Bernstein's digital recording with the VPO on DG, but then again Bernstein isn't a Brit, which is undoubtedly why he doesn't appear on this Gramophone list!