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
Re: Brendel, Beethoven Sonatas

I think there are more than 2 recordings by Brendel of Beethoven Sonatas.  There is the Vox/Turnabout series, and the Phillips Series, and there is also a newer series.  Plus there are recordings of various Beethoven Sonatas (eg, Beethoven - Favorite Sonatas) that are not in a complete set.  I do not have a definitive handle on all these recordings, but they are different from one another, and I think the later the better, but they are all excellent.
If any of you knows more about this, please fill me in.
Also: agree that Brendel is superb, clearly one of my favorites.
" This reissue of his complete Beethoven piano sonata cycle on Decca was originally recorded for Philips (446909-2) between 1992 and 1996."
" his first Vox/Turnabout cycle dates from 1961-64"
http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/l/lon781821a.php

Just finished playing through the Schubert sonata disks I own, and evidently different people respond differently to different styles of playing (all of which is doubtless excellent).  Anyway, it allowed me to appreciate even more the Volodos disk of 1 and 18, which is absolutely splendid.  After that, I most enjoyed Clifford Curzon's classic rendering of the last sonata.  And then Lupu.  Brendel and Pollini just don't move me, for whatever reason.
It appears that Volodos has recently recorded some more Schubert, likely a must-buy. https://www.sonyclassical.com/news/arcadi-volodos-his-new-studio-recording-of-schubert-works
Listening to Mitsuko Uchida playing Mozart sonatas.
It does not get any better, especially at this time of year.

I cannot count how many recordings on Mozart I own, but Uchida is my favorite.