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

Schubert and brayeagle

In my youth I was a piper and played for a good few years with Ayr Pipe Band Society but I also played classical guitar and had to make a decision between them. The guitar won because as I also liked listening to music on good equipment and was afraid to dull my ears prematurely.

The pipes are an outdoor instrument and at that age a guitar got you more girls than pipes did so no contest.

Anyway it is great to see how many overseas people can claim a bit of our heritage.

Jim.

RV.

I hope you are still enjoying Steven Osbourne as I saw him up in Edinburgh and he played the whole Opus 39 by Rachmaninov and it was a super concert. He is also superb at Debussy so grab those if you can as I am sure you will enjoy them , his pedalling is superb.

I didn’t realize that my recommendation fit so well with this discussion in that Steven Osborne is Scottish!

How are the Schubert Piano Duets?

The earlier Rachmaninov Preludes disc seems to have got good but not universally good reviews (Amazon).