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
RV and Len,      I am so sorry you don't like Liszt but I bow to your judgement on that. I on the other hand do like him very much, not so much his barn stormng works but his more introspective works. As Alfred Brendel once said if you don't like Liszt then blame the pianist who is trying to play him, words I totally agree with. Some pianists just don't attempt him and I say there are a lot who just shouldn't. Even the great Richter would only play a few of his transcendental etudes. Enough said I think.
It’s all a question of what you like.
I don’t like beets.  My wife loves them!
Which brings us neatly back to De gustibus…….

Ireland's piano concerto.  These Chandos recordings from the 1980s are really excellent.  Often I feel I prefer them to more recent efforts.  The layering of the soundstage and non-spotlighting of the piano are to be commended.

Do anybody listen to this swathe of "other" British composers who were near contemporaries, between Elgar and Vaughan Williams?
I am not into "crash and bang", and I include some of Liszt in that category.
My favorite Liszt recordings are
Nelson Freire, Liszt: Harmonies Du Soir
Barenboim, Nocturni - Consolations - Sonetti del Petrarca
Annees, played by Arrau, Cicollini, Lazar Berman, Brendel, and too many others to recall