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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's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
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
jcazador
417 posts
 
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.
jcazador
417 posts
 
2leftears
i have Volodos recording of Schubert piano works from long ago,and look forward to hearing the latest version.  Thanks for the tip.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,320 posts
 
Listening as I type to Batsashvili’s Chopin/Liszt, recommended here a while ago. Wonderful! Excellent recorded sound and the playing has a kind of inner luminous quality. I like this disc better than her transcriptions CD. It is truly superb!
jim204
881 posts
 
@jcazador    Johnathan I see you are a fan of Uchida and yes she is great in Mozart but I remember the first concert of hers I attended, it was Mozart piano sonatas in the first half and Schubert impromptus and the little A Major sonata in the second half. Yes it was a beautiful concert but I could not keep my eyes off her face, the faces and mannerisims were all over the place I was mesmerised. I did not even watch her fingers as I just kept staring at her face and my pal was the same. I since have enjoyed lots of her Mozart but from the comfort of my armchair and hi fi system.
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