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.


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Dmitri Shostakovich

VIOLIN CONCERTO

David Oistrakh (violin)
New York Philharmonic
Dimitri Mitropoulos
Columbia / Sony 1956 / 1998
Mono

Notes:"The work had received only two previous performances anywhere, when it was given its world premiere ten weeks previously by the Leningrad Philharmonic, October 29 and 30 1955. Directly after its first performance in America, the work was recorded for this record with Mr. Oistrakh once again as soloist."

Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99:

I. Nocturne. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnMUdwOu_7E

II. Scherzo. Allegro non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv44X3Mn3Zk

III. Passacaglia. Andante
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsuQFMQ11RI

IV. Burlesca. Allegro con brio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZqyFtxMzNQ

Cheers

Dmitri Shostakovich

CELLO CONCERTO

Mstislav Rostropovich (cello)
Philadelphia Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy
Mason Jones(horn solo)


Notes:"Five prime Soviet composers, led by Shostakovich, sat in box number 2 at the left of the stage and watched a star Soviet instrumentalist perform the first Western reading of the new cello concerto before an audience that included many of the top U.S. composers."

Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat Major, Op. 107:

I. Allegretto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf-O1jZy6Eg

II. Moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leZphzOsaj4

III. Cadenza
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnkJWkXngRQ

IV. Allegro con moto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWcEJQIsf-4

Cheers
For those who are partial to Arrau or Moravec in Chopin's Nocturnes, the new double CD by Jan Lisiecki is definitely worth a listen.
I have listened to Lisiecki and I have to say that although he is convincing in some of the Nocturnes it is when he gets into the later ones that both Arrau and Moravec have nothing to fear, belatedly of course.
Arrau especially gives a wonderful burnished tone helped on of course by Phillips splendid recording. The only one who could be on the same side of the fence tone wise as Arrau was Horowitz but of course in a completely different way, both were breath taking. There was no one to beat those two.