Classical Music for Aficionados

FTM
When I listed my favorite classical pianists, somehow I left John Ogdon off the list.  I especially treasure his Rachmaninoff.  I am not really a big fan of Rachmaninoff, but I love the Preludes and the Corelli Variations.
Also, when I mentioned Komitas, I left the best recording off the list.
Grigory Sokolov plays Komitas, Six Dances for Piano on his "Live in Paris" recording,  wwwnaiveclassique.com.
Review of a book about Ogdon here:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/apr/07/john-ogdon-biography-piano-man

Ijcazador, If you haven't already heard this, you might like John Ogdon and Brenda Lucas doing some of Rachmaninoff's music for 2 piano's. On ASV CDDCA636. Suite #1, Suite #2, Prelude in C minor Op3 No2, and Russian Rhapsody. 

I would like to revive this thread before it dies out.

 I was just listening to the “Decca Sound” box which has a  section of classic performances issued on Decca.  The first two I listened to were “knock your socks off” sounding blockbusters from the Decca catalog:  The Alpine Symphony with Blomstedt and Mahler’s 8th with Solti. Then, rummaging through the collection I selected theShostakovich 5th with Haitink.  As I listened I noticed the sound was markedly wrong compared to the first two.   The Haitink was, sure enough, a digital original — completely wiped out of sonic excitement.
Not that all digitals are bad.  Some are spectacular.  But it’s interesting that Decca didn’t do a better job of mastering for the “Decca Sound.”

RV, FWIW you've got a tough job ahead of you if you want to keep this going. Just not that many classical music enthusiasts on this site, especially ones that will actively participate. 

Since you are a professional pianist I thought I would mention a compilation solo piano CD that I not only enjoy totally, but that I also you as a reference for my system. "Michael Sheppard plays Rodgers, Hough, Barber, Sheppard, Crumb, Corigliano, Wild, and Balcom, on Harmonia Mundi. I just don't tire of it. This is very accessible music for anyone who is a bit venturesome.

In the same vein, but for full orchestra, another modern piece that is not only accessible but very enjoyable. Erkki Melartin's Violin Concereto on Ondine. The Tampere Phil conducted by Leif Segerstam.  Hard not to like this piece.

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I’ll look to the Melartin newbee , The Tampere. like the other "minor"
Finnish bands, are very good , like everything else in Finland .
During Holy Week, as is my custom , I listen exclusively to
religious music ,about half early music . Dufay, Ockeghem , Palestrina. Monteverdi, etc and IMO the greatest of them all , Josquin des Prez .

Of course the other half is devoted to, you guessed it , J.S Bach .
The Cantata’s are the main course but I end up with the piece my
favorite conductor , Herbert Blomstedt, convinced me is Bach’s greatest
work , his Mass in B minor .
I listen to it on DVD with headphone system on my trusty 50" Samsung Plasma with the great Blomstedt conducting an Orchestra he loved and who loved him , the Leipzig Gewandhaus .
I don’t think the Mass could be played or sung better than on this EuroArts 2005 DVD , recorded in Bach’s own Church , the St. Thomas .
To watch a great conductor conduct a great orchestra with no baton and the
least amount of hand beats needed is a uplifting in and of itself !
The extra bonus of Blomstedt expounding why he thinks the Mass in B minor is Bach’s best is a treat not to missed !
Blomstedt himself is a devout Christian and yes, that does make a difference .