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
I’ve listened to most of the Trifonov compilation.
Very competent playing.  I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the interpretations.  He certainly has the chops to play this music.  In fact, he chooses slower tempos to bring out the incredible melodic beauty of Chopin’s writing even in runs.  I just feel he doesn’t yet capture the magic of Chopin.
He is still very young.

@rvpiano         Totally agree with you RV , when I was listening to The Chopin concertos the only thing on my mind was how I would love to hear Pletnev himself doing those arrangements. I have heard Pletnev live a number of times and two things he can really play are Chopin and Rachmaninov , in my opinion he is as good as anyone on the circuit these days. I have been listening to him since the early eighties and can say that in the early days he was quite an explosive pianist himself as evidenced from his Edinburgh Festival recitals at the Queen's Hall.
I am sure Triifonov will grow into his fingers as they say. Maturity only comes with age.