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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
jim204
881 posts
 
@JC   That last picture is a real find , he ollks like a young Einstein there.All joking aside that is a great photo collection wuith some real gems there, I particularly like the one with Horowitz.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,656 posts
 
I would just like to cite two not very well-known concertos that I regard as sublime masterpieces of the Romantic era.
 First is Glazunov’s Violin Concerto. There are many recordings available, including Heifetz, but the most beautiful one, for me is a mono recording that Oistrakh made in the fifties, available on Amazon for about six dollars.
Secondly, is Eduardo Lalo’s Cello Concerto, available in a great sounding Mercury Living Presence recording, played spectacularly by Janos Starker.
To me, these works represent the pinnacle of Romantic music.
Its really a pity they’re not better known
gdnrbob
4,444 posts
 
@rvpiano, 
Yes, the Lalo concerto is a seldom played gem. 
Glazunov never rocked my boat. He was a little too romantic for my tastes.
One recording of Oistrakh that I always remember is the Khachaturian Violin concerto. I got it on a MHS record decades ago, but have never forgotten how good a recording it was. I listened to other versions, but they never came close.
I don't know if I mentioned it earlier, but Anton Rubenstein's 4th piano concerto is one my favorite 'Romantic' pieces.
BTW, did you ever listen to the Schumann symphonies with Norrington that I loaned you? I listened to the Holliger versions, but I think Norrington got it down pat.
Bob
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,656 posts
 
Bob,

I must confess that  I haven’t listened to the Norrington set.  But, I definitely will now and report back as to what I think.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,656 posts
 
Bob,

After listening to a couple of symphonies in the set, I find the performances and the sound a little on the lean side.  I have to say it’s somewhat severe and lacking in romantic richness for my taste. 
But that’s just me.
More to discover