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, You might also enjoy his performance of Shostakovich's  Aphorisms, op 13. available on a Decca CD. It's quite good. FWIW I'm  a Askenazy fan,  both as a pianist as well as a conductor, especially in  Rachmaninoff's and Sibelius' music.
Elgar #2, which I definitely prefer to #1.  Sinopoli recording sounds good; Larghetto movement seems at moments to be channeling some Mahler (is it Elgar or is it Sinopoli?).
Another favorite Ashkenazy recording:
Rachmaninov Moments Musicaux,
which includes Morceaux de Fantasie
jcazador, Although not likely, if you missed Ashkenazy’s Preludes you might like to give them a listen. I  like them a lot. -)