A stunning work of research and imagination that sheds new light of the ancient world. This completely new edition of The Penguin Guide to the 1000 Finest Classical Recordings reviews the best classical albums issued and reissued over the past five decades, many of which dominate the catalog because of their sheer excellence, irrespective of recording dates. More comprehensive than ever before, it indicates key recordings on CD, DVD, and enhanced SACD, including those in surround sound. If you want the finest available version of any major classical album, you will find it listed and assessed in these pages.