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.


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We will miss Haitink ( now retired ) and Blomstedt very much when they go. In the summer of 2019 I watched some BBC Proms performances and one I really loved was Haitink at the helm of the VPO and he played Bruckner 's Seventh and after a few curtain call you could see he was quite upset as that was to be his last performance in the UK. I remember the last parting shot of the back of his head as he recieved a standing ovation from the audience and the orchestra. Very touching and the end of a very great career.
I’ve always gone out of my way to hear Blomstedt. My idea of the perfect conductor and of the German symphonic musicians I knew as well .
Haitink is one of the few conductors one just buys as you know the recording will be as good as it gets with sound to match if  recording in Amsterdam .
I know this is almost a year old but I recently discovered this sad news and did not see any mention here on Agon. One of my favorite conductors growing up.

https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/obituaries/andre-previn-de...