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
Johannes Brahms

SONATA FOR PIANO NO. 3 IN F MINOR, OP. 5

Hélène Grimaud (Piano)
Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden, Netherlands
Denon 1991


I. Allegro maetoso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8o81xzRjwMI

II. Andante espressivo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNHryDXNjZY

III. Scherzo: Allegro energico
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6obAq2M7xls

IV. Intermezzo: Andante molto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8xCYlVhZpw

V. Finale: Allegro moderato ma rubato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxk9G-j6Uyw

Cheers

Johannes Brahms

STRING SEXTETS NOS. 1 & 2

Yehudi menuhin, Robert Masters (violin)
Cecil Aronowitz, Ernst Wallfisch (viola)
Mauurice Gendron, Derek Simpson (cello)

Recorded 1963 & 1964 No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London
EMI  1963 / 1964 / 1990 / 2001

String Sextet No. 1 in B flat, Op. 18

I. Allegro ma non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVbE4L7qTkg

II. Andante ma moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kouJrvlvZA

III. Scherzo - Allegro molto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlToByqDvEs

IV. Rondo - Poco allegretto e grazioso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UvGVA-PhBM

Cheers
Johannes Brahms

THE PIANO CONCERTOS

Emil Gilels (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Eugen Jochum
DG  1972 / 1976 / 1996
2CD Set

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15

I. Maestoso - Poco più moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKhAt-b80mo

II. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i11ZJ1J3_w

III. Rondo (Allegro non troppo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTGHC7xZjfU

Cheers
Johannes Brahms

THE PIANO CONCERTOS

Emil Gilels (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Eugen Jochum
DG 1972 / 1976 / 1996
2CD Set

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83

1. Allegro non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfWl_G-UkGw

2. Allegro appassionato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Akdu6SC8EQ

3. Andante - Più adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VAReVXAnYQ

4. Allegretto grazioso - Un poco più presto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SbtvjvmNis

Cheers
Johannes Brahms

VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D OP. 77

Nigel Kennedy (violin)
The London Philharmonic
Klaus Tennstedt
EMI 1991

Notes: "For the most part, composers can be divided into two groups: those who copy other composers, and those that totally disrespect the past, reject it, and write something 'totally new'.  Brahms was too rare to come from either of these categories.  He correctly saw himself as being responsible for the development and evolution of the mainstream of classical music.  Instead of copying or rejecting the work of his great predecessor, Beethoven, he developed and expanded Beethoven's music into a kind of music we can only call Brahms."

allegro non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_iRiq0bzoY

adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAnbMxdW0zk

allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0oNfOrI0ng

Cheers