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

 At over 90 Blomstedt is still in heavy demand world-wide , a true master

On records his Nielsen Symphonies 1,2 and 3 with the San Francisco on Decca is utterly magnificent ,one of the best outings I’ve ever heard

Let’s hear it for Nielsen, an under performed composer who deserves more attention  


+ I for the Flor Mendelssohn !

   In Russia Kondrashin was considered  the ultimate conductor of Mahler .

Mahler 9: on the shelf I have Walter, Barbirolli, Klemperer, Karajan, Bernstein, Zander, and Fischer.  Where would KK lie; what does he bring to the table?
It’s difficult to make comparisons.  
Kondrashin just seems to communicate the essence of the music to me better than anyone else.
Now listening to Kondrashin Mahler 9, downloaded last night.It is in a set of Mahler Symphonies 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9.
Also downloaded the Bamberg, but with Jonathan Nott.  Tudor 7162 (Austria)
There is another download that has 40 different orchestras!