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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.


rvpiano
newbee
4,817 posts
 
Talking about Rachmaninoff doing Rachmaninoff ...

Telarc made two recordings of piano rolls performances by Rachmaninoff doing his own works for solo piano on one CD and the works of others on a second one. The CD's are titled 'A Window in Time'. Amazing works realized by Wayne Stahnke.  It is facinating that they could do this at all, let alone so well. I suspect that most listeners would, initially at least, think that these are live recordings of a real performing person (Rachmaninoff).
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,820 posts
 
Yes, I have those CDs.  They are amazing in every way.  The piano roll captured his touch and pedaling.  When I first heard the recordings, I said to a friend: “all the rest are like children.”  And I wasn’t even speaking of his legendary technique.  I was describing his phrasing and command of nuances that you can’t hear on pre-1948 acetate masterings, even with expert restoration.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,820 posts
 
I did some research. The pre-1948 78 rpm records were cut on a type of wax, not acetate. The 78’s themselves were made of shellac.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,326 posts
 
Listened to an Anton Rubinstein concerto yesterday, no. 5 I think, not unpleasant but florid and generally a bit OTT.

Next up today is Brahms' #1, and the contrast isn't even funny.  B. is ten powers superior in every way.  Still, listening to some second-string composers now and again reminds one of why the greats are the greats.

The classic Gilels recording, never sounding better on my system at the point now to which it has evolved.  At a really moderate volume I nearly jumped out of my seat with that first chord.
gdnrbob
4,506 posts
 
@twoleftears 
Rubenstein's #4 concerto has been a favorite of mine since I first heard it 40 years ago... It was on an old VoxBox collection with Micheal Ponti.
Actually, I rediscovered it on Spotify. They had 3 volumes from Early Romantic to Late Romantic. 
Not the greatest piece of writing, but it has all the Romantic hallmarks.
And, yes, Brahms deserves to be in the Big 3 with Bach and Beethoven.
Funny, maybe not, but his First Symphony never clicked with me. The other 3 rank as some of the greatest Western music ever composed.
Not to mention the Piano Concertos...
Bob
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