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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Ludwig van Beethoven

PIANO CONCERTO NO.1 IN C MAJOR OP.15
Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
Mahler Chamber Orchestra - Leif Andsnes
Sony Classical  2012
Recorded at Dvorak Hall in Prague's Rudolfinum

Notes:  Mostly a very interesting interview of the artist by Alan Rusbridger.  Andsnes  says that the idea for his playing the five concertos came from spending a week in a hotel in Brazil,  that had Beethoven's 1st & 2nd piano concertos playing on a loop in the elevator.  "at first I thought I would go mad hearing these works over and over again, but the more I listened, the more I loved the experience."

Just goes to show, it don't take much in the way of gear, to get what music has to offer.

Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15: I. Allegro con brio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO4_kvRjeZs

Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15: II. Largo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqYrDZUMcuA

Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15: III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOmWIaO5mFw

Cheers


rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Ludwig van Beethoven

PIANO CONCERTO NO.4 IN G MAJOR, OP.58
Murray Perahia (piano)
Concertgebouw Orchestra -- Bernard Haitink
CBS Masterworks  1986   (also available on LP and Cassette)

Notes:  "The concerto is unorthodox for the time in several ways: in the very opening bars, which are played not by the orchestra, as was traditional up to that time, but by the solo pianist: in the cathedral-like grandeur of the development section of the first movement: and in the poetic expressiveness of the second movement, which achieves Olympian heights of eloquence completely unknown in the concerto literature of the period."

My thoughts exactly.  :)

Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9fxH2o0a84

Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwiUfkKhpdY

Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: III. Rondo. Vivace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkQmwaPosT0

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Ludwig van Beethoven

PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN B-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 19
Leon Fleisher (piano)
The Cleveland Orchestra -- George Szell
CBS Masterworks 1961

Notes:  "The Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major was composed in 1794-1795.  Beethoven expressed some dissatisfaction with it, as he had with the C-major Concerto, and substantially revised it in 1798.  Even though the work is thoroughly charming and gracious in the manner of Mozart, there is a strength which is incontestably Beethoven."

Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19: I. Allegro con brio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz9Ggd7j5BE

Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19: II. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJwaiCSVWyc

Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19: III. Rondo. Molto allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toVOEMUXSXg

Cheers
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
rok2id.  Love the 2nd Piano Concerto. My favorite performance is a fleet, unaffected 1940's recording featuring pianist William Kappel and the NBC Symphony.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
edcyn,

Could this be it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abMfrAOdZOQ

I started my musical journey with 78's, but I don't have anything by Kappel.  Didn't really get into classical until the early 60's.  I do remember the NBC Symphony.  That's Toscanini's old outfit.   Everything seemed to sound 'better' back in the day.

Cheers



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