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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
gdnrbob
4,422 posts
 
My favorite Mahler 6th is Horenstein conducting. It is a live performance and the audience never makes a sound. I think it is Stockholm.
Bob
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,516 posts
 
Bob,

if if you want a treat, listen to this one.
 I’m going to pm you.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
Funnily enough I just added Currentzis to my cart last night.  I must have more different recordings of the Mahler symphonies than any other composer.  I grew up listening to the venerable Solti cycle on Decca, so that became imprinted in a way, and I still notice the differences w.r.t. Solti as a kind of benchmark.  So much for the teenage years...
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,516 posts
 
Me too, as far as Mahler goes.  I have several complete cycles of the symphonies by different conductors.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,516 posts
 
An interesting question occurred to me that I thought I would pose to the forum:

What is the greatest single piano solo piece ever written? (Or, what is is your favorite?  Maybe not the same question.)

 I would like to exclude the Beethoven Sonatas from consideration, as there are too many clear winners there.
Other than those, I have one to nominate.
Although I’m not a big fan of this composer, I have one of his compositions to suggest:

Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor. A monumental achievement to me.

 I’m really interested in what others might think.
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