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
Yes Jeremy as you say "the real deal" and I was listening to BBC broadcasts of her in the seventies and eighties. A great tecnique and sumptuous tone.
To all who addressed my query regarding Rhapsody in Blue...

I’ve been able to find all of your recommended recordings. Next up, sorting through album recording quality (access is via Tidal and Qobuz).

I’ll report back in a few days.

Thanks again for your help.
Want to add that I’m really enjoying the Gershwin Plays Gershwin solo piano version from 1924.

Here is additional information for those who, like myself, are not at aficionado levels.... : )

http://www.openculture.com/2016/02/the-original-recording-of-rhapsody-in-blue-1924.html

http://www.classicalnotes.net/classics/gershwin.html

Bruckner retrospective.  Missing the student symphony in F, I started with no. 0 and am up to no. 3.  Have to say he hit his stride with no. 2 and continued with 3.  Looking forward to the "Romantic".
David_ten,

While on vacation, i never received emails from this thread.  So here is a belated recommendation:  On HDTT, is  sonically the best Gerswin disc and maybe the best sounding CD of any kind I own: Jerome Lowenthal with Maurice Abravanel and the Utah Symphony Orchestra. It can be obtained as a download, but I bought It as a gold disc from them.  It will really show off a high resolution system.
Now, I have to figure out why I’m not getting emails from Audiogon.
I’ve missed some interesting posts.