Do you ever type a streaming query in Roon for a classical work and are overwhelmed by the choices? Rather than clicking on any old recording or the first one you see, Audiophilia will make things a little easier for you and do the heavy listening.

These choices are for streaming only. Is the best in streaming also the best vinyl or CD recording and performance? That’s for another article.

A few criteria:

Recording must be on Qobuz and/or Tidal HiFi.
It does not have to be HiRes or MQA.
No more than ten recommendations in no particular order, then my top three for streaming in order of preference.

Note the correct spelling ‘Symphonia’ on the original published score, often later spelled in searches and on recordings as ‘Sinfonia’.

Richard Strauss’ tone poem Symphonia Domestica, Op. 53, has received a fair share of derision since its 1903 debut in New York City. The snooty complaints stem not so much from the music—so well received, two extra performances were quickly arranged for Strauss’ $1000 fee—but for the banal subject matter. Basically, a day in the life of the Strauss family, Richard, wife Pauline and son Franz. Their ups and downs, chores, baby tasks, moods, personalities, sleeping and yes, lovemaking. Even the grandfather clock gets a look in.

Daily life, maybe, but you can ignore the subject if you wish and simply enjoy a fantastic 45 minute virtuoso orchestral masterpiece.

Sure, Strauss did gild the lily at times, but Domestica is full of gorgeous tunes, rip roaring orchestrations, and colours only a massive orchestra (replete with four saxes) could conjure.

The following performances all feature fine recordings and performances, yet, a few transcend the virtuosity and partying—the conductor makes a coherent piece from all the family moments. So, you can dip into any of the first 5 selections, and you’ll enjoy first class music making in very good sound.

Choices 6 & 7 feature easily the best playing, with both orchestras at the top of their games guided by the two happy tyrants. Recorded quality I’d give to Reiner, but you can listen to Szell in fabulous 24/196.

The next 2 are brilliant for different reasons. Mehta convinces through exceptional playing and a thoughtful interpretation combined with a knockout Royce Hall/Decca recording. I’ve got this performance on vinyl, CD and on my Qobuz account. Winners, all. The Clemens Krauss (so underrated as a conductor, it’s shameful and one of Strauss’ closest friends) 1951 mono Vienna is stunning, both for the quality of the post war Vienna Phil and Krauss’ endlessly beautiful interpretation. Never mind the mono, the sound is dynamite.

But top spot, as usual in Strauss tone poems, goes to Dresden/Kempe/EMI. Domestica as a work of high art, even the overly long, blustery fugue finale. A moving, beautiful performance in glorious EMI sound.