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
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
Cheer up jim, all is well . The UK now has a savior just like us,blond wig, affairs and all .!MUKGA !!