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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
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,823 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
4,508 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
2,823 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
2,823 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.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,285 posts
 
@rvpiano, Yup, that’s the sound "Historically-informed" or "Period" performers (of which Norrington is) are after. Their argument is that the sound of the modern Symphony Orchestra is far too influenced by the Romantic period (the number of players, use of vibrato, tempi, etc.) to "correctly" perform (as the composer intended) music from earlier periods. It started with the Baroque period, and has moved forward in time to the Classical (Beethoven, etc.). Not everyone agrees with that assertion, or likes the results.
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