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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
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rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,758 posts
 
Jim,

Comparing anyone to Horowitz is a very tall order.  At his best, Horowitz was a force of nature.  An incredible showman who could wow you with his incredible technique or reduce you to tears with a simple Chopin waltz. Everything he played he made his own, unique to any other pianist.  His sense of phrasing compelled you to hang on every note.  Especially at a live concert, he held the audience in the palm of his hand.  But even his recordings capture the magic of something being created before your very ears.
I believe it’s simply unfair to compare anyone to such a dynamo.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,758 posts
 
I should amend my last sentence to say: “it’s simply unfair to compare a young pianist to such a dynamo.”
Certainly,  there are, of course, other great pianists. But, even so, Horowitz was unique.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I have often thought that all the Technique and practice in the world can only make it impossible to tell what you have done from what was always there.
More to discover