Gaite' Parisenne by Offenbach

This recording of Gaité Parisienne (Parisian Gaiety) is considered by many to be the best ever made. Fabulous sonics and one of the best RCA Living stereo recordings. Great introduction to big, open, romantic orchestral music. Themes are very beautiful and accessable. If you have good speakers the oomph of this recording will give you a real physical experience as few other recordings can and a real palpable physical  "punch" in the chest. You can really physically feel this recording.

The 23 cuts are all short: try 1,2,4,10,15,17,18,21,22

The CD also contains another stunner La Boutique Fantasque (The Magic Toy Shop) by Rossini.  Try the first cut.  I first heard it over 50 years ago and can remember those first few bars as if it was yesterday. One of my absolute favorite pieces of music.

Both are good introductions to large "symphonic" music although neither are symphonies. Both are  orchestral music that accompanied a Ballet.  All the reviews of this anywhere read like this  "…exuberant conducting, virtuosic playing and brilliant engineering makes for a recording of truly historic and heroic..." Originally released on vinyl as RCA LSC-1817 without LaBoutique (more room on CD's than records.)

Recorded in 1954 at the end of mono and the beginning of stereo recording with legendary tube equipment.