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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.


rvpiano
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 

At the risk of stating the obvious: Tallis Scholars, Allegri, "Miserere".

I've listened to a good deal of this style of music, and this piece and this recording still come out tops.  In my secondary system which is in a room with a cathedral ceiling (no pun intended) the acoustics are extraordinary.


craigl59
307 posts
 

Have always found Haydn Symphonies difficult -- they are not quite as dramatic as Mozart's later works and most performances do not bring me back for repeated listenings.

Then, this last year, found the Thomas Fey/Heidelberger Sinfonien Haydn CDs. These performances work for me -- very powerful and the content is perfectly matched to the performance style. They are available online. Listed as "Complete Symphonies" they seem available only as individual CDs.

The other candidate is the London Mozart Players/Glover sets that make a close second for me.


craigl59
307 posts
 

Sevs:
Recently picked up the Seattle Symphony/Schwartz recording of Hovhaness's Mysterious Mountain and God Created Great Whales CD. Has become a regular listen and am wondering if Hovhaness, like some of the English symphonists mentioned on this thread, will turn out to be a winning historical figure.

BTW, can the pundits on this thread recommend a complete Vaughan Williams symphony set? Would like to investigate the works en toto.

newbee
4,798 posts
 
RCA has a set of all of Vaughn Williams symphonies plus much of the rest of his works, 6CD’s at Archiv Classics for less than $25 and it is in stock.

This is very highly regarded VW, if fact a lot of folks find these performances, as a whole, CD their first choice. An easy recommendation.

Enjoy!
newbee
4,798 posts
 
Craig, FWIW I doubt that Hovhaness is ever going to be more popular than he has been made by Mysterious Mountain. He's been around a long time and his music is a bit too eclectic for most. You might try another Schwartz/Seattle Performance on Mount St Helens/City of Light Symphonies on Delos.

 I grew up with Reiner and the CSO performance of Mysterious Mountain on Living Stereo and I still like it a lot. On LP and a good system it is outstanding, I think.
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