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
Pletnev is one of the best around.  Not a bad conductor as well.
A little unorthodox, but a fine conductor nonetheless.
now listening
Tchaikovsky Piano Recital, Sviatoslav Richter (1983) RRC 1093
the master




Ah yes, much to enjoy. Another excellent set and one that offers some serious alternatives to some of the more popular Rachmaninoff recordings. I consider these performances as more introverted which are to me often more attractive. FWIW I only have Shelley's performances to compare to most of these .

 However, in the Preludes especially, I really do prefer something more high powered, such as Ashkenazy's, Shelley's, and for something really over the top, Hayroudinoff  (You've really got to hear that one!)


Nina Dorliac on Richter:
When he sat on the jury at the first International Tchaikovsky Competition, he immediately singled out Van Cliburn as having no rival among the other contestants. He gave Cliburn the highest mark and zeros for the others. Then he changed his mind. It wasn't very nice to give them zeros. 
lots more here:
http://sviatoslavrichter.blogspot.com/2011/04/nina-dorliac-i-met-richter-at.html