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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
schubert
7,386 posts
 
rv, I finally got around to the Ozawa/Zimmerman Rach 1 st..
Is everything you said it was . To be honest he has always been a peripheral composer to me , more because of time than anything else .
Bach has always taken at least 1/3 of my listening time since the first note. Put in Brahms , Schubert and early music and well over 50% .

That said , I saw another rendition of Rach 1 with Leif Ove Andsnes and the BerlinerPhil , listened , and it seemed right up there as well .
Cheers















rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,516 posts
 
What’s interesting about the Rach 1st is that, even though it’s labeled #1, it was reworked by the composer later in his life, so that it is really representative of his maturity, and as such a truly great concerto.
newbee
4,757 posts
 
RV, do you think this accounts for the resemblance to his Symphonic Dances? Interesting that his 1st symphony could be so similar to his last (symphonic) works. Wonder how his unreworked version would compare to the Symphonic Dances. BTW, the Symphonic Dances are my favorite orchestral works by Rachmaninoff. They have everything that really wakes one up, nothing here to drowse to. :-) 
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,516 posts
 
Newbee,

Actually, Rachmaninoff became so depressed after the first performance of the First Symphony because of adverse criticism, he stopped composing for a while and never returned to it.  It’s the First Concerto that he revised later on in life.
The Symphonic Dances are indeed a departure from his usual style.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
Finally getting around to listening to the Currentzis Mahler 6.  After the overwhelming Tchaikovsky Pathetique it was a must-listen.
So, not as transformative, but interesting nevertheless..
Tempos are generally brisk in movements 1 and 2, with just occasional moments of noticeable rubato. His orchestra is incredibly together, and the Sony recording is very fine. There are a number of details of the score that come through more clearly here than any other recording I know.  The slow movement is superlative (but then I'm a sucker for Mahler's slow movements).  It's different to Bernstein, but I'll definitely want to listen to it again.  Here the tempo is "just right", and the slow ebb and flow and ultimate build to the climax perfectly judged--definitely not just a long sentimental bonbon--more truly emotionally draining.  (Barbirolli: remember, each piece of music only has one climax.)

Has anyone else heard it?  I'd be curious to get your impressions.
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