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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.


128x128rvpiano
craigl59
307 posts
 

Time to get this thread moving again.

Have thought of several challenges for you astute pundits. The first is the answer to the question "what is the most difficult orchestral work?"

The rules require that it be played more or less regularly and that it be instrumental only (no solo concertos either -- we'll make that another category). Sorry, Mahler 8th lovers...

So I'll start off the sweepstakes with two examples: Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra and Strauss's An Alpine Symphony. The first has intricate contrapuntal textures and associated rhythmic complexity -- and each orchestral section is treated like a concerto instrument, thus the name.

The Strauss has tremendous bombast along with its technical demands as well as Herculean length and orchestral size. Neither of these opuses is comfortable for the average orchestra.

But you folks can come up with better examples, so I leave it to you to tell me the most difficult orchestral composition. And if you have an orchestra and conductor that tamed the beast, so much the better.

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
Concordia Viols, "Crye" (English Viol Music), on Metronome CD.  Wonderful music and wonderful recording.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,454 posts
 
I’ve been away for ten days and unable to contribute anything to this thread, but now will try to catch up.
Khatia Buniatishvili is indeed an extraordinary pianist.  If you want to hear how incredible she is, listen to her take on Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”
totally original concept, with Horowitzian technique.  On the same CD is a sizzling Ravel’s “La Valse.”

On the subject of the most most difficult piece to perform, several decades ago, I bought tickets to hear Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben” conducted by Klaus Tennstedt.
when I showed up at Carnegie, there was an insert saying he was ill and was being replaced by James DePreist.  I was bummed out because I had bought these tickets months in advance to hear Tennstedt.  
But I was bummed out even more after I heard I believe it was The Philadelphia Orchestra totally butcher the piece into unrecognition.  The only conclusion I can draw, is that the piece must be a bear to play, and that DePreist couldn’t bring it together with limited rehearsal.
craigl59
307 posts
 
Years ago sat through several performances of "Heldenleben" with the Saint Louis Symphony that were deadly dull. Then, after hearing the Karajan 1973 recording with the BPO, decided this was a work difficult to make work for the listener -- and, as you suggest, requires a conductor who is in control. Karajan could do this...
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
The Reiner Chicago Ein Heldenleben is not exactly chopped liver. In fact it was the first stereo RCA Living Stereo recording, 1954.
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