classical suggestions

I was grown on classical music when I was a kid, but got away with rock and jazz and now realy comming back to classical.

Always prefere listening to the russian or soviet symphony orchestras whichever piece I realy shop for. I love Tchaikovski(Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleaping Beauty), Rachmaninoff(piano with orchestra #3), Mussorgsky(Pictures from Exibition and Shekherezade), Prokofiev(Symphony#7), Beethoven(Choral #9) and Berlioz(Symphonie Fantastique is super!).

Some very popular classic's for beginners are Beethoven 5th and 6th Symphonies, Rachmaninoff's 2d Symphony, Tchaikovsky's 5th and 6th Symphonies, Sibelius' 2nd Symphony, Dvorak's 6th (one of my fav's), 8th and 9th, and St Saens Symphony #3. I would also recommend Prokoviev's Romeo & Juliet Suite, the Berlioz and the Mussorgsky mentioned above, and Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances (thats a really big exciting piece). When you hone in on what you're going to expiriment with ask for specific recommendations on each piece or look up the peice in a reference such as Penguin Guide or some such. Enjoy - there are thousands more.............

Check out www.XRCD.com for the RCA LIVING STEREO re-releases of Fritz Reiner CSO & Charles Munch BSO. All the titles listed above are available on XRCD.