Béla Bartók: Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion (Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, DG 1985)

Instrumentation: two pianos, timpani, xylophone and other percussion. Bartók treats the pianos as percussion instruments on equal terms with the drums. Martha Argerich and Nelson Freire bring fierce rhythmic chemistry to it, moving from hushed night-music murmurs to pounding, barbaric dance rhythms. Choose it for the most physically exciting sound on the list.