Unfashionable records that you love

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Getting back to Beecham's performances of Mozart's symphonies, I've now listened to the 9 LPO recordings in the EMI set, and they sparkle every bit as much as I expected. But I have one reservation. The Minuet and Trio movements all feel rather heavy and turgid - something I noticed in the later RPO recordings of the early 1950s.

[Roehre]

Bernstein's publicists would go on to imply that Lenny resurrected Mahler from oblivion single handedly, and discount the other Conductors who kept Mahler before the public. In New York, there was a more direct link for Lenny than Walter...namely Mitropolous, his immediate predecessor at the NY Phil, who frequently programed Mahler, and who Lenny missed no chance to undermine. And of course there was Horenstein, Klemperer, Scherchen, and even Ormandy that programmed Mahler before Lenny.
On the positive side, it is remarkable how well Bernstein's 1960s Mahler recordings stand up today. They were laid down at a time when most of the Musicians and the Public had no significant Mahler tradition, and if I had to pick just one Mahler cycle for the desert Isle, this would be the one.

I'd go for Amsterdam: Mahler/Mengelberg (+Mahler+Klemperer+Walter)/van Beinum(+Klemperer+Walter)/Haitink(+Klemperer+Kubelik)
uninterrupted between 1903 and the present day but for 1940-1945 (the Nazi-occupation of the Netherlands), and with Haitink's cycle (between1963 and 1969) is almost contemporary with Bernstein's, and earlier than Kubelik, Solti and Abravanel/Utah.

[Ferretfancy]

There's a nice story about a new an inexperienced rehearsing Mahler with the NYPO and saying " We are performing the music of a great man, and I feel humble. I would welcome any helpful suggestions as we approach this piece" From somewhere in the hall a voice was heard---- " Sure Mack! Send for Bruno Walter !"

[Bryn]

I'd go for Amsterdam: Mahler/Mengelberg (+Mahler+Klemperer+Walter)/van Beinum(+Klemperer+Walter)/Haitink(+Klemperer+Kubelik)
uninterrupted between 1903 and the present day but for 1940-1945 (the Nazi-occupation of the Netherlands), and with Haitink's cycle (between1963 and 1969) is almost contemporary with Bernstein's, and earlier than Kubelik, Solti and Abravanel/Utah.

The Abravanel survey also started in 1963, with the 8th. However, it was not completed until 1974, i.e. before Bernstein completed his NYPO set.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'd go for Amsterdam: Mahler/Mengelberg (+Mahler+Klemperer+Walter)/van Beinum(+Klemperer+Walter)/Haitink(+Klemperer+Kubelik)
uninterrupted between 1903 and the present day but for 1940-1945 (the Nazi-occupation of the Netherlands)

[Barbirollians]

I am not sure whether these count as unfashionable but I have enjoyed listening to Britten's accounts of the Brandenburgs again today .