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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
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,315 posts
 
Arrau's complete Liszt Etudes.
Who knows this recording well?

The piano image is remarkably high, as if it were up on a raised stage and you were down in a seat close by.

Also the bass/lower midrange seems remarkably, err, generous.  I'm not complaining, it just brings home again how many ways a single piano can sound different when recorded.
jim204
881 posts
 
I have to say this is my favourite recording of the Transcendentals and Arrau was 75 at the time of recording which is pretty incredible  seeing as the incredible difficulties involved . If you have ever been to a recital by Arrau pretty much the first thing you would hear in his piano tone was that incredible midrange which was rich and full. Most recordings of his actually do him a disservice in that a lot of that rich and glorious depth is diminished somehow. His last Phillips recordings do redress this with his latter digital recordings much more faithful in tone. A wonderful recording which hopefully would sway people from saying they hate Liszt without hearing Arrau ever playing him.
jcazador
417 posts
 
Here is an article that is 28 years old, about pianos, about music, about Glenn Gould, and about Alfred Brendel.
Anything I could say would only diminish it, so I simply recommend it to you.
The original is behind a paywall here:
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v14/n06/nicholas-spice/how-to-play-the-piano
A copy (almost complete) is here:
https://outline.com/36fmR7
jcazador
417 posts
 
NYT reviews Lang Lang's new recording of Bach Goldbergs.
"Lang Lang: The Pianist Who Plays Too Muchly

On a new recording of Bach’s “Goldberg” Variations, the superstar artist stretches the music beyond taste."

Very critical, preference for Jeremy Denk and Beatric Rana recordings.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/04/arts/music/lang-lang-bach-goldberg-variations.html?action=click&a...
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