Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome / Debussy: La Mer
Whichever other Respighi tone poem recordings you ultimately purchase, you MUST  own this one. Since the early ‘60s it has been the standard by which all others have been judged,  and in terms of both sound and performance, it has never really been surpassed. The final march ofPinesis simply incredible: thundering bass drum, crashing cymbals and gongs, bellowing  brass--nobody since has brought the whole thing off with the same combination of excitement and  discipline. The performance ofLa Merhas similar virtues. Fritz Reiner was a podium  tyrant, but a tremendous musician all the same. This may be his finest recording.--David  Hurwitz