Any good sites out there that lists definitive recording for any particular work? Allmusic's list is extensive and a great start, but if most of them are available, how do I know which one to choose?

I'm on that label.

But yeah, they've one mad grammy's for their pristine classical recordings, but you have to get a feel for what orchestras under what conductors do what periods of music well.

You want opera, it's hard to beat Claudio Abbado conducting at La Scala, or von Karajan with Berlin. The problem is that alot of those great working relationships pre-dated good recording technology, but they're still marvelous to check out.

Still, I would delve into conductor history to see what their strengths are, and go from there. If you dig Romantic era composers, find conductors who also dig it, like Stokowski or Furtwangler, or Bernstein (who even though he gets slagged, he's still a bad motherfucker). You appreciate more of the balance of the Classical era, into early romanticism, check out Toscanini. If you dig Baroque, figure out if you dig it on Baroque instruments, and there's a whole slew of smaller chamber orchestras that do that too.

http://www.allclassical.net/

No sites, but Borders and Tower usually have some reference books hanging around their information desks near the classical music section. You almost can't go wrong with any of the books, so if you pick up. I prefer the Penguin guide, myself. I forget which one tells you if it's an "archival" or "historical" recording (preferred by many audiophiles, hated by people like me who are used to stereo, full-frequency-spectrum recordings), but you should definitely check that one before buying anything.

Also, none of them are universally correct, so if you can at all hear it first, try to. For instance, everyone recommends the Beaux Arts Trio interpretation of Schubert's Piano Trio, and that's pretty much the one to avoid.

The books will tell you which performances are technically better, or recorded better. I'm not sure it matters all that much though until you really get into the genre.

All I know is buy anything from Hillary Hahn, because she plays really well..and is incredibly cute.

Amen. She's amazing, and it's not because she's cute. Perhaps even despite it.

Great stuff, folks. Thanks! Keep it coming if there are any ideas out there.

First step--see if Dutoit/Montreal PO has recorded it, then get that one (Symphonie Fantastiqie, Pictures at an Exhibition, Planets all spring to mind)

UNLESS

It's Mahler, then look for Maazel/Vienna PO.

Was there a particular piece you had in mind?

Lara St. John is also mad cute, and talented.

I personally don't like Dutoit, i think he's too heavy handed with his ensembles, but those are all good recordings. I like Maazel alot even though he's quite arrogant about how good he is. Boulez is awesome, although he's a nightmare to watch on the podium. Tillson-Thomas is really good, and so is Dohnanyi.

I don't like Levine's recordings.

I do love alot of the old school classic conductors, Stokowski, Bernstein, Celibidache, Reiner, Toscanini, Furtwangler, Walter, von Karajan...

and I love recordings where the composer conducts the group, Copland is particularly adept at that.

my friends dad is on that label too.

Starting off with a few pieces that I'm going to see next month: Rutter's Requiem and Durufle's Motets. There's a third, but lady-in-the-chorus doesn't know what it is yet. I picked up a 2003/04 Penguin guide, and it's exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks for that, Dusty! Pointed me to a Rutter recording (Chamber Singers / City of London Sinfonia) that was actually conducted by the composer. The recording of Motets I found also comes with Durufle's Requiem (English Chamber Orchestra / Matthew Best conducting). Will give these a spin today.