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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
phomchick's avatar
phomchick
209 posts
 
Now listening
Martha Argerich and Sergei Babayan, Prokofiev For Two
Romeo and Juliet, Eugene Onegin, Hamlet, Queen of Spades, War and Peace
Superb!
It’s beyond superb. It’s one of the best recordings I’ve ever heard, and one of very very few that sounds like a piano (or in this case, two pianos).
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,833 posts
 
To any who admire piano gymnastics, you have to hear Gyorgy Cziffra play.
Born in the ‘20’s and died in the 90’s, he is perhaps the purist technician I have heard. Whistle clean playing of even the most diabolical pianistic challenges, he amazes.
Idagio has a good collection of his playing.
jcazador
417 posts
 
and now it's
Martha Argerich and Lilya Zilberstein playing Rachmaninov
Suite No. 1 Op. 5 for two Pianos
Incredible.
This is CD 4 (of 6 CDs) from Martha Argerich Edition Solos and Duos
on EMI
Everyone wants to play with Martha!

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,331 posts
 
Antonio Bertali, "Sonate Festive", performed by Musica Fiata.

The usual smallish Baroque ensemble (violins, continuo, etc.) is supplemented here by trombones, bass trombone, and dulcian, and the range of sonorities on this disk is remarkable.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,331 posts
 
A breathtakingly beautiful recording of various Bertali sonatas, superbly performed by a youngish US based early music ensemble, ACRONYM.
They were new to me, but no longer, and I have four more of their CDs in my sights.  BTW, the recording is excellent too.  As good as the previous recommendation was, this leaves it in the dust--and there is little overlap in the pieces recorded.
More to discover