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

I'm glad I wasn't hearing things.  At times I was imagining an omnidirectional microphone dangling from the open lid over the middle of the frame/soundboard.

I'll look into BIS.

Since there's been a lot of love in this thread for Schubert (the composer) I decided to pull what CDs I had off the shelf and work through the (very incomplete) piano sonatas.
So far:
D. 157: Volodos--excellent
D. 784: Brendel--as usual (and I apologize in advance) leaves me cold
D. 845: Lupu--as usual, very stirring and engaging
I love reading the disagreements here.  Differences in interpretation is one of the things that makes classical music so endlessly absorbing & wonderful. twoleftears -- I love Brendel.  I have his Beethoven Sonatas both on Turnabout and on Philips.  I actually saw him perform live once.  brownsfan -- Britten's Ceremony of Carols on Argo is regularly on my turntable.
I don’t think " The Lark Ascending" has any problems , Its simply one of the most beautiful pieces ever written .
I never tire of it  and have heard it a thousand times .

People do hear things differently .I think Wagner is total garbage , few would agree on that

.

I totally agree with Jim on BIS .
They are by far the best firm for Classical recording .