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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
jcazador
417 posts
 
reminds me of a story . . .
In 1955 Yehudi Menuhin got Ali Akbar Khan to leave India and play in the "West".
They went to recording studio, director said "OK start" and AAK played his sarod for an hour, accompanied by Chatur Lal on tabla.  Then the director said
"OK that's a good sound check, now play it again."
They did not realize AAK never "played it again".
The recording, unedited, was released on Angel.
https://www.discogs.com/Ustad-Ali-Akbar-Khan-Pandit-Chatur-Lal-Music-Of-India/release/2977633
jcazador
417 posts
 
Now reading
Arrau on Music and Performance by Jospeh Horowitz (1982)
originally published: Conversations with Arrau
This is not the complete book, but it is free, and marvelous.
https://books.google.com/books?id=LRJQAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA281&lpg=PA281&dq=arrau+and+kempff&source=bl&ots=9UWQ2C1C2W&sig=ACfU3U3p5fvF7eBmj-F-3EDVNSecaWWeyQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjTxMjdlvzhAhXCIjQIHaKNBmQ4ChDoATAEegQICRAB#v=onepage&q&f=true
jim204
881 posts
 
JC  I have Conversations with Arrau and find it a fascinating insight from one of the greatest pianists in history and I was astonished at the photos of his hands , it actually showed him spanning an octave between thumb and forefinger. I read once about Colin Davis and his refiections of Arrau and he said that he was fascinated about his playing and he said you would see these massive paws kneading the keys but also playing some of the most beautiful sounds he ever heard from a Steinway. Although I never heard him play a piano concerto live I did hear him play Beethoven's last sonatas and I have never heard another pianist play with such a sound. A great loss indeed !
jcazador
417 posts
 
Jim, you are so lucky to have heard him.
Here are some nice pictures, including his XL hands and his XXL great dane.
http://arrauhouse.org/content/phot_04_middleperiod.htm
jcazador
417 posts
 
more pictures here
http://arrauhouse.org/content/phot_photogallery.htm
More to discover