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
twoleftears, I highly recommend the Giuliani/Vienna Bruckner 7.  Best performance of it I have ever heard on recordings. 
I heard the LA  Symphony do the Vaughn Williams 6th  yesterday .
First time I ever heard it , very interesting but must be hellish to play !


+1 on Guiliani's Bruckner 7. My favorite. I'm fond of his 9th as well. Try to hear it.

++1 on older recommendation of Rana’s performance of Bach’s Goldbergs.
Listening to the relatively recent Bruckner 8 with Remy Ballot and the Upper Austrian Youth Symphony Orchestra on Gramola (on SACD).  So far so good.  Very natural sound.  I have Wand and Haitink on hand if I feel like a comparison.

@newbee The Vienna recording and not the Berlin, right?
twoleftears, the recording I was referring to was a DG #419627. The orchestra referred to was the Wiener Philharmoniker, but that's really the same orchestra as the Vienna  Phil.