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Classical Music for Aficionados

I would like to start a thread, similar to Orpheus’ jazz site, for lovers of classical music.
I will list some of my favorite recordings, CDs as well as LP’s. While good sound is not a prime requisite, it will be a consideration.
  Classical music lovers please feel free to add to my lists.
Discussion of musical and recording issues will be welcome.

I’ll start with a list of CDs.  Records to follow in a later post.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique.  Chesky  — Royal Phil. Orch.  Freccia, conductor.
Mahler:  Des Knaben Wunderhorn.  Vanguard Classics — Vienna Festival Orch. Prohaska, conductor.
Prokofiev:  Scythian Suite et. al.  DG  — Chicago Symphony  Abbado, conductor.
Brahms: Symphony #1.  Chesky — London Symph. Orch.  Horenstein, conductor.
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat. HDTT — Ars Nova.  Mandell, conductor.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond.
Respighi: Roman Festivals et. al. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.

All of the above happen to be great sounding recordings, but, as I said, sonics is not a prerequisite.


128x128rvpiano
sevs
301 posts
 
@schubert keep 'em coming!!! RVWilliams is buried somewhere in my CD collection, shall dig it out tomorrow. The beauty of spending all my "allowances" on music is that gems are hidden there just waiting to be discovered :-)
Reading Tchaikovsy's note: "worked a bit, walked in the park, cried a lot" I stopped being ashamed of crying while listening to Manfred or Pathetique: shall try to figure out what exactly u were recommending... 
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,708 posts
 
Re: RVWilliams
My favorite of his is Symphony #2 “A London Symphony”
Captures the city with Big Ben and street sounds, musically interpolated.
Truly wonderful work.

Also “A Sea Symphony” (Symphony #1).  The opening bars are thrilling — an evocation of the sea.

“Symphony Antarctica” is actually from a film score evoking the aloneness  of that continent.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
November edition of Gramophone has RAVE reviews of  both " A London Symphony "  and "Symphony Antarctica" .
Former on Hyperion with BBC SO/Brabbins , later on Chandos  with Bergen Phil./Sir Andrew Davis . Former "essential listening for all RVW devotees" , later"a distinguished release" .Sound is always good on both labels. Chandos esp.usually has great depth .
.
I've never forgotten a quip made by Gramophone reviewer many years ago.
"The difference between RVW and Bartok is the difference between English and Hungarian folk-music " .
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twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
No, no, even better (if that's possible) than the other RV-W suggestions, all of which are great, are his Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus.  I have the Chandos recording.  Bliss.
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