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
In a similar vein, I wish I could accept my system for what it is and stop worrying

“Is it good enough?”
Come now, all of us here on Audiogon are always playing with their systems. It's that 'what if I do this/that' that is always in the back of their mind.
For me, I have to say I have very little to change-I love my system that much-Which is saying something.😄

It’s not just you. I think most folks here have the problem to one degree or another. You’ve just changed hobbies from music to audio. Time to get back into music - perhaps its time to explore and expand your interests in new (and some old) music. I’ll bet, despite your background, that there is a lot of stuff out there that you have yet to experience in more than a passing mode. Worked for me anyway. That and a dose of reality about what I could actually achieve with audio in my home. Except for a tube change now and then I’m pretty happy. Good luck.
I think the cure might be to leave Audiogon for a while.  The more I'm on here, the more I'm thinking about the sonic presentation.  Sitting here right now with Sterndale Bennett Piano Concerto #1 (Lyrita), telling myself to focus on the music (haven't played the CD for ever) vs. the soundstage, pretty good, and the relative image/volume of the piano relative to the orchestra behind it, which is a bit big.  It's only half working... )-;
Twolefteats,

You know, I’ve been thinking of leaving for a while myself.
This hobby is such a pernicious thing.  It really paralyzes you from enjoying the music most times.  
Like every addiction, it’s very hard to break