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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
newbee
4,781 posts
 
RV, thanks. No need for the '99 version I think.

twoleftears, I think you may like the Arrau. I find this performance a bit relaxed and very enjoyable. I think you will like the fact that the piano is more spot lit than Zimmerman's. FWIW, I haven't heard Biret's but she is one very talented lady. She has an large discography on Naxos of romantic solo piano works, including Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Brahms, well worth hearing.
gdnrbob
4,469 posts
 
I just discovered a pianist named Roland Batik on Spotify.
Wow, he is pretty talented, both Classical and Jazz.
Bob
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
@newbee Just enjoyed a very spirited performance of the Schumann PC courtesy of Stephen Bishop and Colin Davis.  Looking on Amazon, I see there are highly touted versions available from both Lupu and Perahia, two of my absolute favs.  This will be the ruination of me...

Listening as I type to second movement of Arrau Chopin PC 2.  Yes, the balance of the piano sound is definitely more, err, robust.  I love Arrau's phrasing and interpretation, I just wish the orchestra were balanced differently; it seems to me that this movement needs to shimmer more with a kind of restrained inner light.  Going back to check Giulini now, though Inbal takes a full minute longer than he does.  ...And yes, this is more like it!
gdnrbob
4,469 posts
 
@twoleftears ,
When I saw PC, I thought Power Cord. It took a minute to register...
In my opinion, the nicest recording of the Schumann A minor (PC), is Martha Agerich and Rostropovich. It isn't available on CD, so I bought an LP and will have it digitized.
Bob
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,714 posts
 
Gdnrbob,

If you search Amazon deeply, you’ll find CD copies of the Argerich/Rostropovich.
It was re-released in 2016
More to discover