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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
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,822 posts
 
To me, Mahler is the greatest symphonist since Beethoven. It took me a long time to come to that conclusion.  I, for a long time, considered him to be disjointed and arbitrary.  But, once I found him, there was no turning back.
Now Bruckner, I still have a very hard time with, but haven’t yet given up.
Of course it’s all very subjective.
pryso
1,986 posts
 
I’m new to this site and have not read through all the posts, so these may have already been suggested.

Regarding Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond., it is an audiophile favorite and I have the LP. However for my taste the performance by Ashkenazy and the Concertgebouw Orchestra on London is much more satisfying, even on CD. The tempos are more spritely and make the Dallas version sound draggy in comparison. I find it to be a very good digital recording as well.

Since rv mentions sonics, and is not averse to vinyl, I can recommend a couple which I find to sound quite natural.

"Stravinsky Conducts Histoire Du Soldat Suite" with the Columbia Chamber Ensemble on Columbia. Nothing like going to the source. ;^)

Also "Rossini Overtures" by Academy of St. Martin-In-The-Fields with Marriner on Philips, 6500 878. Interestingly there was another Rossini by ASMITF on Philips, 9500 349, which does not offer nearly the same natural sonic presentation.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,822 posts
 
pryso:

Welcome to the forum.
Good, solid recommendations.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Subjective indeed rvpiano.
To me Brahms is the greatest Symphonist since Mozart .
I listen to at least 1 Brahms symphony a day, every day and never tire of them .
In symphonic  realm only others I can say that about are Mozart and Sibelius .
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,822 posts
 
Indeed, I love Brahms. Wrote my Ph.D. dissertation on him.
Also, Haydn.  Master symphonist.  I even love some of his earlier symphonies.
Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony is, to me, a masterpiece of symphonic writing as well as his Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and other works.
Of course, there are several other great symphonists.
More to discover