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
@jim204,

"Although not my favourite pianist by any means Mr Goulds 1955 Goldbergs given the Zenph treatment are now very enjoyable indeed and if I want to listen to Gould's account then that is the one I pick up."

I feel exactly the same. I do listen to the others, though the original quirky1955 took a bit of getting used to as I had heard the 1981 first, but this is the one that demonstrates the advances in recording technology between 1955 analogue (or even 1981 early digital) and 2007. 

As for Rachmaninov, yes I wouldn't have minded hearing Zenph's re-recording of Ashkenazi's PC2. Or even Perahia's first try at Mozart's PC21.

The originals are still marvelous though.



"We did a sales call at Sony, and met with the president of Sony Music," says Zenph president John Q. Walker, recalling a meeting with Sony Classical, which owns the masters for the original 1955 recording.

"He took our demo CD, listened to it for three minutes, and said "Let's do albums."

Some more background here.

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10439850
Is anyone familiar with this LP? Sibelius: Violin Concerto / David Oistrakh / Ehrling / Stockholm Festival Orch. 1954 on Angel

Just listened to it on YouTube and was very impressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n-QHS888r4

What are some other notable recordings of this Sibelius work?


I dont know if someone exist who cannot be impressed by that version of Sibelius... You are perfectly well and right ... 😊
Oistrakh, notwithstanding Milstein or Heifetz, may be the greatest violinist of them all.
Great as Oiistrakh was/is I can think of 2 others I think better in the Sibelius.
Kyung Wha Chung , London SO/ Andre Preven/ Decca
Cho-Liang Lin Esa-Pekka Salonen/Philharmonia Orchestra /SonyThe Finn really brings it home .

To me this young lady, who died young, is the best of them all . Plane crash in 1940’s.
https://youtu.be/gWV6gkeUUyo?t=26Philharmonia/ Walter Susskind

This was made in 1945 and though the recording was not great she was .

In this recording everything is Great !
https://youtu.be/A2gni0hiIz4?t=5