Recordings that live up to the hype

We've all seen the recent overrated and previous underrated threads, and while the threads are all entertaining, how about listing some recordings that are well received by critics, hyped by the industry (at some point in time), receive awards, and that you actually like. A lot. My focus is of course classical, but I'm sure that there are some works in every genre that fit these criteria.

First up, both Murray Perahia's recent and Glenn Gould's second recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. Both are vastly different in style, but both are examplary.

Carlos Kleiber's recording of Brahms' Fourth Symphony. A spellbinder.

Maurizio Pollini's traversal of Beethoven's Late Piano Sonatas.

Richter's take on Liszt's
Piano Concertos, the Second in particular.

Otto Klemperer delivered a number of recordings that at least meet and often surpass the hype: Mahler's Second, Brahms' Deutsches Requiem, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

Gieseking's Debussy most certainly fits in this category, too.

Looking beyond the stodgy world of classical, I have found that pretty much every recording from either John Coltrane or Thelonius Monk are worth the historical accolades, and then some. And of course Duke Ellington is simply beyond reproach. Were I more up to speed on jazz, I could probably cite more modern names (help, please?).

Others?