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This article is from the Classical music FAQ, by Gabe M. Wiener gabe@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.

5. Why are there so many recordings of the same piece? (Classical music)

The question of interpretation is addressed in Q15. Briefly though,
All conductors and performers have their own interpretation of a given
piece of music, and thus no two recordings are truly the same, just as
no two painters' portraits of the same individual could ever be the
same. Some interpretations are subtly different from others, while
other interpretations raise serious performance issues. For instance,
Bach on piano, harpsichord, or clavichord? Beethoven with a large
orchestra, a chamber orchestra, or a period-instrument orchestra?
_Pictures at an Exhibition_ for piano, orchestrated by Ravel or
somebody else, or on solo guitar? (no kidding).

The other reason there are so many recordings of certain works is that
the record companies can sell them. A famous violinist's recording of
The Four Seasons will in almost all cases sell better than that
violinist's recording of an unknown work, even if the unknown work is
musically strong. People buy what they know, and record companies
want the assurance that they will see profit from a pressing.

The unfortunate result is that a lot of good music *never* gets
recorded while a lot of hackneyed music gets re-recorded every year.
I counted 52 versions of The Four Seasons once in a record store.

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