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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.


128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xrvpiano
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rvpiano OP
2,666 posts
 
Schubert,

I just got the Sarasate set (4 CDs!). 
Youre right, Tianwa Yang is quite the violinist!
 I’m surprised she’s not better known.

btw, In an earlier post, you mentioned that you saw Ashkenazy in a high school auditorium.  That’s where I first saw him as well.  Strange he would give performances in that venue. He was already known by then. Saw him also at Carnegie in a stupendous performance of Prokofiev’s 2nd Piano Concerto.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
rv, I assume you got the box with the duos, I have them coming .
I have the 4 CD Sarasate for Violin and Orchestra .
First time she did a war horse I had to play it 3 times just to get a handle
(i hope) on her playing . Got a Julia Fischer out on same piece.
I’d say they are equal , just different , which is saying a lot !

FWIW , to me, Tianwa is a chamber musician who also plays with Orchestra AND listens to it !
AND , never misses a beat . 
















t
jcazador
417 posts
 
rvpiano
Yes I saw Ashkenazy in local high school auditorium, nice big auditorium, with a stage, not a cafeteria.
In those days he was not allowed to travel freely outside USSR.
So programs existed that sponsored a series of recitals, and USSR cooperated with some such programs.  That is how Ashkenazy got here.
Later he negotiated a deal so he could live in Iceland, then he became a citizen there, and eventually as USSR loosened up more, he moved to Switzerland.  Iceland seems "out of it", but in fact it was a sound choice for him, it is a short flight to many of the finest concert halls of Europe.
Richter was not allowed to travel to USA until 1960.  He wrote that his greatest pleasure was cruising eastern Europe in a car (with Yamaha van, piano and Techs close behind), and holding recitals in obscure town churches on the spur of the moment.
Unfortunately I missed Richter's Carnegie Hall debut.  My aunt was a graduate student at Julliard, but she could not get tickets.
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rvpiano OP
2,666 posts
 
I saw Richter in one of his series of Carnegie recitals, and as much as I think he’s one of the greatest pianists who ever lived, I was unfortunately disappointed.
Most of the problem was my seat, which was under an overhang in the Family Circle.  Despite the hall’s renowned acoustics, I could hardly hear him.  Very disappointing.
 I’m aware of his travels through the USSR, playing on inferior pianos in heroic fashion.
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rvpiano OP
2,666 posts
 
schubert,

I got the Sarasate music for violin and orchestra. 
 I’ll have to look for the duos.
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