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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
5,320 posts
 
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... )-;
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,714 posts
 
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
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
After Christmas, I do indeed feel like twoleftEATS.

So, of the five Sterndale Bennett concertos, the vote goes to #4.

Curiously, the recording I have isn't on Hyperion but Unicorn-Kanchana.  The pianist is well known to me, Malcolm Binns, but I was surprised to find the rousing accompaniment was provided by none other than the Milton Keynes Chamber Orchestra (!!!).  This may be lost on those of you (the fortunate) who have never been to Milton Keynes.  Fine recording too, full bodied and very present, though the solo piano in the filler Fantasia could sound a little tinny in places, likely the fault of the instrument itself, as the recording seems otherwise very faithful.

rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,714 posts
 
Again, sorry for the typo!
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,714 posts
 
I really do think I am going to leave this forum for a while.
 I’ve recently invested many thousands of dollars in various upgrades and feel my system is not sounding as transparent it should.  It does, however, sound very musical, but so does Bose. I really don’t know which end is up at this point. So, it’s probably best to get my head out of the sound business for the time being and try to enjoy the music.

  We’ll see if I can hold my resolve.

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