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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
kef_lover
29 posts
 
vindanpar,

As far as myself, I overdosed on opera before leaving home for college. My father played nothing but Italian opera on his stereo while I was growing up. I just don't crave hearing it. Orchestral, chamber and solo piano make up the bulk of my listening.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,696 posts
 
My greatest musical shortcoming is lack of opera appreciation.  I do know and love some of the popular ones, such as The Marriage of Figaro, La Boheme, Turandot, Die Meistersinger, etc. but I really can’t say opera is a regular part of my listening regimen. I can trace it back to an early mentor and piano teacher (a well known accompanist of major performers) who put opera down as lesser music.  It had a major impact on me from which I never recovered.

unreceivedogma,

I would loved to include records to my lists. The majority of my listening is to LPs.
The reason I don’t is that most of my records are decades old and not readily available today.
However, since you mention it, I’ll start compiling a list.
(Right now, I’m listening to a wonderful sounding LP of a great performance of Ravel’s La Valse conducted by Pierre Boulez with the New York Phil.)
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I love opera , I’d have Puccini on my top ten list, with his "un bel di" aria from Butterfly
being among the greatest piece of music ever written by anyone in any genre at any time . He also had a fantastic touch with the theatrical side of opera .

Which is the reason I only watch opera at home on DVD . No shortage
of great performances on that media .

Opera , like all of classical music , has an ever shrinking audience .
I predict the last note every played live will be in Japan in 2071, I hope
it’s "Madame Butterfly " .

banyanbull, you could NOT do better than Elly Ameling ! None better,
I’ve had several people who I have played her Schubert lieder for burst into tears.Along with me .
P.S . I used to climb banyan trees .
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
1,000 posts
 
rvpiano:

I have:

  400 - CDs
5000 - LPs

I can therefore contribute more to a discussion on a thread about LPs than CDs. 

Check out that Nixon in China link and tell me what you think. 
gdnrbob
4,460 posts
 
I am more a piano guy. Piano concertos just seem to be my favorite combo.
As far as opera goes, I am limited to Mozart, Verdi, Puccini,and Bizet.
Wagner makes my teeth hurt- and he was such a horrible human being.
B
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