Sony Essential Classics
Sony Classics issued another bargain CD line in the 1990’s into the 2000’s featuring many older recordings from their back catalog. Similar to the ‘Great Performances‘ series, but usually containing more music per release to take advantage of the longer playing time of a CD. There are three incarnations of the series, the first featured the covers with various classical artwork, the second with larger artwork and split color background, and the third editions were solid colors with a more modern look. Some CD issues were released under 2 or all 3 editions, so the actual versioning of the releases is a bit of a mess.
The listing below combines releases from all editions, with the newest release shown. Most of the albums are available as MP3 download albums, and are shown on the Amazon info page. If a particular edition is out of print, I may have an alternative link to the same recording from a currently in-print release. Click on a title to see the details. More releases will be added soon….
Bach: The Art Of Fugue

The Canadian Brass
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

Nos.1, 2 and 3
Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos, Volume 2
Nos.4, 5 and 6
Brüggen / Kuijken / Bylsma / Leonhardt
Bach: Cello Suites


Bach: Inventions and Sinfonias

Gustav Leonhardt
Bach: Easter Oratorio / Magnificat

Bernstein / Ormandy
Bach: Lute Suites


Bach: Organ Works

Bach: Organ Works
E. Power Biggs
Bach: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 / Vivaldi: Violin Concerto Op.3

English Chamber Orchestra / Zukerman
Barber: Adagio and Other American Masterpieces

Baroque Masterpieces
Pachelbel, Bach, Albinoni, etc.
Baroque and Renaissance Masterpieces: The Glorious Sound of Brass

The Glorious Sound of Brass
The Philadelphia Brass
New England Brass
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, Miraculous Mandarin Suite

Philadelphia Orchestra/Ormandy
Bartok: Piano Concertos

Bronfman / Salonen / Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Beethoven: Essential Classics
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis

Ormandy / Philadelphia Orch
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas Nos. 8 and 29

Rudolf Serkin
Beethoven: Piano Trios Op. 70, No.1 and Op. 97

Istomin / Stern / Rose Trio
Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5



Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 4
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 Triple Concertos
Fleisher / Szell / Cleveland Orch.
Beethoven, Sibelius: Violin Concertos

Francescatti / Columbia Symphony / Walter
Oistrakh / Philadelphia Orchestra / Ormandy
Beethoven: Symphonies





Beethoven: String Quartets Op.59 and Op.74


Budapest String QuartetBeethoven: String Quartets Op.59, No.3 / Op.74 “Harp”
Budapest String Quartet
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique / Dukas / Mussorgsky

Dukas: Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain
Philadelphia Orchestra / Ormandy
The Essential Bernstein

Selections from Candide / West Side Story /
On the Town / Mass
Bizet: Carmen Suites Nos. 1 and 2 / L’Arlesienne Suites

Ponchielli: Dance of the Hours
Philadelphia Orchestra / Ormandy
Borodin: Symphonies Nos. 1-3
Brahms: Piano Concertos


Schumann: Intro & Allegro
Mendelssohn: Cappriccio brilliantBrahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 / R. Strauss: Burlesk Serkin / Cleveland Orchestra / Szell
Philadelphia Orchestra / Ormandy
Brahms: String Quintets Nos. 1 and 2

Juilliard String Quartet
Brahms: Symphonies
Brahms: Symphony No.1
Variation on a Theme by Haydn
5 Hungarian Dances
Sony Great Performances new release of same works.
Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3
Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Academic Festival Overture / Tragic Overture
Cleveland Orchestra/Szell