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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
newbee
4,817 posts
 
twoleftears, My favorite rendition of the Rachmaninoff PC's is by Earl Wild and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Jasha Horenstein. 

This has been around for many years (for good reason!) and it is presently available from Chandos. A set of all the PC's as well as the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini. If these was the only versions of the PC's that I owned (and its not, I've got a lot, old and contemporary) I'd be very happy.

Enjoy them if you can. 


rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,820 posts
 
Twoleftears,

    I’m listening to the Byron Janis recording, and I hear what you mean.
The lack of subtlety is typical of Mercury’s
“close-up” sound technique. Placing microphones so close to the orchestra and soloist is their trademark.  Some people like that.  But it does rob the sense of perspective.

rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,820 posts
 
+1 for the Wild/Horenstein 
Earl Wild was one of the great pianists of the 20th century.
Toscanini thought very highly of him.
newbee
4,817 posts
 
"Earl Wild was one of the great pianists of the 20th century"

Hard to argue with that statement and, FWIW, he was made in America. :-)

I'm very partial to his recordings for solo piano, and especially his transcriptions. Easy recommendations for 'Rachmaninoff Songs', a 'Schumann Recital', 'The Art of Transcripion - Live from Carnegie Hall', and a six CD set of Liszt including Transcriptions and Paraphrases. 

I'm not sure how much of this is still in print, but if they can be found they are well worth hearing. 

A couple of others I over looked worthy of mention - 'Earl Wild plays his transcriptions of Gershwin',  and for Piano and Orchestra, Variations on an American Theme (Doo-Dah) and the Concerto in F. These Doo-Dah variations are unique - the disc, for no other reason, is a must have for Wild enthusiasts. 

A recent recording of Wild's transcriptions/arrangements worth hearing and will give a fairly good idea of Wilds music in good hands (pun intented) Xiayin Wand's "The piano music of Earl Wild" on Chandos. 
jim204
881 posts
 
I will also say a big +1 for earl wild , I have loads of his discs and spin them regularly.
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