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
Really ?
Mozart and Brahms are better .
And at their best cases can be made for Haydn , Schubert and Bruckner .
The Ninth Mahler Symphony is not only my favorite of his, but maybe my favorite of any composer.  The first movement, especially, is heartbreaking.
I just listened to the 3rd Symphony with Bernstein on DG with the NY Phil.
Magnificent interpretation and state of the art sound on my system.
Having multiple versions of all Mahler’s symphonies, this interpretation is one of the best.
Schubert,

 In your pantheon perhaps. Not mine. Really :-) 

We apparently live in different time zones. While I occasionally listen to Bruckners 7th, 8th, or 9th, time is becoming too precious for me to do it often. I'll also listen to Schubert's 8th & 9th performed by the OAE conducted by Mackerras. Great symphonies sans over orchestration. If one must have some of that then Mackerras provides it with the Scottish SO on Telarc. I grew up with Solti's Weiner Phil performance but lost interest in it after I heard Mackerra/OAE version. I'll pass on Haydn entirely, and for that matter most all symphonies pre-existing Beethoven. 

Horses for courses. 


The horse that thinks Beethoven is better than Mozart and that
Schuberts Great 9th a "if you must have" and Haydn out of hand , must prefer mud over oats and 400 lb jockeys .
And likely has heard little live music  in his stall.