Classical Music for Aficionados

Frogman, great to see that you've joined the thread!  I had been hoping you would, providing us with the benefit of your formidable knowledge and background in classical music.

Regarding Schubert's good suggestion about YouTube links, here is a link to the complete Telarc recording of the Firebird Suite and the Prince Igor excerpts that has been discussed.  The link is not to YouTube, but rather to Archive.org, which I think many of you will find worth exploring in connection with older recordings.  (Entering a name or term of interest in the site's Search box is probably the best way to make use of it.  For example entering "Toscanini" returns 205 hits to look through, including one that is particularly notable IMO which I've cited at the end of this post).

https://archive.org/details/StravinskyTheFirebirdborodinPrinceIgor-Telarc-Vinyl24-bit/Side1.wav

N.B:  To hear the deep bass notes at the beginning of the Firebird Suite you'll probably find yourself turning the volume of your computer speakers WAY up.  And likewise in the closing seconds of the "Berceuse," just before the "Finale" begins.  Be sure to turn those settings WAY down for the dynamic peaks of the recording, which you'll see approaching in the graphical representation of the audio shown near the top of that page.  Otherwise, both you and your computer speakers may not appreciate the consequences :-)

Also, speaking of older recordings which can be found at Archive.org, here is Toscanini's 1940 performance of Brahms' First, transcribed from 78 rpm records.  This is my favorite performance of my favorite symphony, and is easily good enough to make the primitive sonics completely irrelevant, IMO.

https://archive.org/details/BRAHMSSymphonyNo.1-Toscanini-NEWTRANSFER

Enjoy!  Best regards,
-- Al
  

@newbee -yes, Scriabin and similar spare, but ’modern’ circa the early part of the 20th century. Thanks for the recommendation re that CD set.

whart, I don't know exactly how to define 'spare' but I certainly do enjoy the composer's solo piano music below - it certainly is not exactly 'romantic' but it's not acerbic either, but then Scriabin's isn't either.

Prokofiev's Sonatas and, for me his other music as well if not more. I think Frederic Chiu on Harmonia Mundi is excelent, all 10 volumes.

Janacek - An Overgrown Path, Sonata, and In The Mist by Rudolf Firkusny on RCA. 

Nikolai Medtner  - A good cross section of a collection of small pieces by Geoffrey Tozer appear on Chando Vol #1 of 7 volumes. An audiophile approved recording can be found on a Chesky reissue of 3 larger works.

Lastly, Shostakovich. His 'Piano works' by Askenazy on Decca and/or
Titiana Nikolayeva playing Three Fantaastic Dances, 24 preludes, and Piano Sonata #2, on Hyperion

Hope that helps a bit.

@newbee - my thanks. I'm not sure the entire body of Scriabin's work can be described as spare. There's a sound that I'll try and find a better example of, with fewer notes, more held notes. Appreciate the recommendations-- I abandoned classical for a long while, and this thread is helping me get back into things I haven't thought of, or listened to, in a while.

Whilst scurrying around for my Christmas CD’s today I found one I totally
forgot I even had .

"Christmas with Thomas Hampson " + Saint Paul Chamber Orch. under
Hugh Wolff . Teldec 2 73135-2

This is a 1991 recording ,still available, that caught the young American
baritone voice at it’s peak aka Mt. Everest . The SPCO plays about as well as music can be played to further his cause .
Rare for "Christmas" CD’s it is pure class from the first note to the last !

A double treat if you have any German, he sings some in the tongue they were written in in perfect German . In Germany today he is considered one
of the best in the Germanic rep. esp. Mahler’s songs .

newbee, you must have good taste , the Janacek by Firkusny is truly iconic. I wore one out, on my second ..Not totally wrong about  O-10 either .
Al., could not agree more about the Toscannini Brahms .