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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
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 

Just listened last night to Teodor Currentzis/MusicAeterna's performance of Tchaikovsky's 6th (Pathetique).  On Sony Classics.

WOW.  DOUBLE WOW.  An extraordinary rendition.

Crank up the volume, turn out the lights, sit back, and prepare to be... well, overwhelmed.

[If anyone listens to this, can you report back on what you hear re. soundstaging and the orchestral seating.  I hear divided violins, left and right, but also double basses hard left, which was a little disconcerting.]

pryso
1,912 posts
 
I've been away, but seeing this I thought some might find it interesting.  What can you do in 5 minutes?

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/06/arts/music/5-minutes-that-will-make-you-love-classical-music.html
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
So many nominations.  But how about this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttd9IhuZYqo 

And if you have 5-0 minutes, do try the Currentzis. (Hint, he makes Bernstein sound cool, calm and collected.)
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,488 posts
 
I bought the Currentzis Tchaikovsky 6 some time ago.
Very exciting as usual with this conductor (listen to his Stravinsky Rite of Spring or Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto coupled with an insanely exciting version of  Stravinsky’s “”Les Noces” — a system breaker!)
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,488 posts
 
A couple of new acquisitions that I find exciting are:
1.Francois-Xavier Roth’s recording of Ravel’s complete Daphnis et Chloe.
 I’ve bought oodles of versions of this work, vainly searching for the ideal rendering. For me, This is the one!  Sonically and musically it’s exquisite.

2. Volumes 4-6 of Heinz Holliger’s complete cycle of Schumann’s orchestral works, including a  version of the aforementioned Konzertstuck for Four Horns and Orchestra (Volume 5.)
More to discover