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
I just realized that the Brahms 2 with Ashkenazy/Haitink is digital too.

I thought of a couple more favorite Dorati recordings on Mercury:

Bartok Miraculous Mandarin complete ballet BBC (the LP needs to be an RFR stamper, not an M)

Dvorak Sym. #7 LSO (tough to find, not the orange label)

Tchaikovsky Sym. #5 LSO

And a few more RCAs:

Sibelius Sym. #2 Monteux/LSO

Mendelssohn Midsummer Night’s Dream excerpts Monteux VPO ( only low level sections have good sound) from Victrola series

Wagner Tannhauser Overture, Magic Fire Music, etc. Munch/BSO, also Victrola

Just curious. Any different favorite performances of the pieces I’ve mentioned? I’d be interested.
By the way Schubert, I still have the KEF 101s I bought in the early '80s. They have been modified and upgraded and are shockingly good, even when compared to today's high end mini monitors.
I had 101’s as well .Also 105, 103.2 , 104, and various Q series with Tweeter in the middle , My all time favorite was 104ab .
Also had a huge pair of Brit IMF’s with fab transmission line base that used the most musical
driver line up in history , B139,110 and T-27 !  (sob !)
kef_lover,

Do you have the LP’s of the recordings in your last post?

I’ll list my favorites of your selections in my next post.
B139? Is that the flat "racetrack" woofer? If it is, I have the same woofer on a pair of KEF C80s. They produce outstanding bass, but I much prefer the B110 mid on the 101s. The T33 tweeter isn't bad, but again I prefer the T27.