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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.


128x128rvpiano
jcazador
417 posts
 
I take it all back
Some time ago I wrote that I preferred Bach on piano rather than harpsichord.  But now listening to Gustav Leonhardt play the English Suites, my opinion has changed.
I think Arrau said he had quit playing Bach on piano because it was better on harpsichord.  But I don't think he ever recorded it.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,315 posts
 
Having played through a few recordings that were pleasant but unexceptional, here's another one more than worth mentioning: Ignazio Albertini's Sonatas, performed by Helene Schmitt et al.  Albertini is right up there with Schmelzer, Uccelini, Pandolfi, Walther, Viviani and Biber.  Excellent recording, with nice variation between sonatas of violin + theorbo and organ and violin + harpsichord.  On another of these "small" labels, Alpha.
jim204
881 posts
 
@jcazador      Jeremy I have just read your post about Arrau and Bach.
Having famously said he deferred to the harpsichordists when it came to playing him he unfortunately relented and recorded some Bach before he died. Well it is sad to see ones heroes fail before your ears and I listened to him trying to play the partitas. I couldn't get by no 2 in B flat major as I was horrified to hear a man in his late eighties stumbling through them. I HAVE HEARD 2ND YEAR STUDENTS PLAY BETTER. Surely it was up to the recording company to hold it back and not release it as it sounds nothing like him. I am glad that Brendel retired when he did as he thought he wasn't playing as good as he once did, I really admire him for that.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Brendel is among the most intellectual musicians alive .

I really enjoyed his tomes ,"Alfred Brendel On Music" and " Music , Sense and Nonsense"  .
jcazador
417 posts
 
Yes, Brendel made admirable decision to quit playing piano in public, but succeeded as conductor.
Richter suffered depression from his infirmity.  He suffered changes in his hearing that altered his perception of pitch.  Died at 82.
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