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
thanks Jim, thanks Schubert
just a word about hard drives
they definitely do self destruct in time
last month, mine did.
fortunately, i had made a copy onto another hard drive
that is kept unplugged
so i lost very little, only the most recent additions
my computer tek wizard says an external drive might last 5 yearsif used frequently
i just bought another XHD, 8Tb, for $119, at Costco
Sibelius 4 and 5 with Karajan.  I think I "get" 4 a little more with this version, but I can't say I really warm to it.  I struggle to understand the progression, as I definitely like 1, 2 and 3, and 5 and 7 are firm favorites (6 is "up to the plate" tomorrow).  BTW, this "old" EMI ADD sound is truly excellent!  Either that, or one of the components in the system has finally broken in, way past the period when I thought all of them would be well done with that process.
@jcazador      
8Terrabyte !!!!!!!!!!!! Heaven's above Jeremy that's gargantuan and for only $119 , that's incredible, that size would cost a fortune over here in the UK.  Yes you have to be very careful to make copy hard drives to double store your music. I use solid state hard drives inside my computer and regular platter drives for storage , that way I get away with the solid state for playing music of from the computer and the usual hard drives are for storing the music as a cheaper backup. The solid state also is a far better carrier with no physical movement inside and much better sound quallity
thanks Jim

I had not even considered SSD, interesting that you say they have better sound quality.

I see Samsung makes a 4TB internal SSD that sells on Amazon for $450.  And external SSD 4TB's start at  $719. 

But presumably you do not need to buy a backup.  And you do not have to deal with a failed HDD, which (for a simpleton such as me) also involves paying a computer tek for help.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L3CLM2B/?coliid=I5HJ3Y20YG83D&colid=2GO5XW7KH31YJ&psc=1&ref...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078TMW9PX/?coliid=I3AL1TYDZUEM5E&colid=2GO5XW7KH31YJ&psc=1&re...

Btw, i also download movies and Attenborough nature programs, they take more space than just music. Movies I seldom keep, usually dump them after a few minutes trial.  Atttenborough I save for my grandchildren (and myself).
Also, the 8TB I bought at Costco for $120 sells on Amazon for $140.

https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Desktop-External-Hard-Drive/dp/B07CQJBSQL/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=externa...
If you have a minute, please describe your sound system -preamps, amps, speakers???

I had not even considered SSD, interesting that you say they have better sound quality.
Music stored on and retrieved from an SSD will sound exactly the same as music stored on and retrieved from an HDD.  However, an SSD uses less electricity, and if you aren't doing a lot of writes, it should last longer than a HDD. I use an SSD for my music server, but not because it will should any different.