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
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.
Jim204,

I listened to Mariam’s Liszt Benediction, and find it quite beautiful.
Maybe she’s the one to turn me around about Liszt.
Chopin/Godowsky/Bolet
now listening to Bolet playing Godowsky's arrangement of Chopin Etudes
wonderful
I have listened to others play this (eg Hamelin) but vastly prefer this recording by Bolet
It is included in the 55 cd compilation "Decca Sound - The Piano Edition"
The recordings that I have by Godowsky himself are not as satisfying technically
Mariam plays a kinder and gentler List.  Evidently the album showcased by Idagio  is inspired by Chopin.  Not as shallowly bombastic as the Liszt I’ve grown to dislike.
rvpiano
re Liszt
I am not into the "crash and bang" side of classical music, including some of Liszt.  But Liszt wrote some of the most beautiful peaceful music ever.

suggestions:

Barenboim, Notturni - Consolations - Sonetti de Petrarca
https://www.amazon.com/Liszt-Consolations-Petrarca-Rigoletto-Paraphrase/dp/B000V6Q7SC

Nelson Freire, Franz Liszt 1811-1886Harmonies du soir, S 139/11
decca 478 2728

Leslie Howard, Harmonies poetiques et religiieuses
on hyperion

Barenboin, On My New Piano includes Harmonies P&R
on DG