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
@schubert       Hi Len yes my house is OK but storm is not oer yet so I won't count my Chickens. I too have watched planes landing at Prestwick in high winds and can't help but admire the pluck of those pilots.
now watching/listening to Angela Hewitt at BBC Proms 2011
playing Brahms and Schuman on her late lamented Fazioli 278 four pedal
exquisite, and of it is all from memory, no paperwork
it is difficult to see her pedaling, and I have no idea what a 4th pedal does
begging your pardon
now i see that the Fazioli she is playing has "only" 3 pedals
so it is not the one recently destroyed
Just about finished this set of dvd's
Great musicianship, and the camera work follows appropriate sections. Documentaries are in german with english subtitles. Beautiful venues with apparently good acoustics  as well. Especially liked Barenboim and Rattle concerts although didn't as much prior to seeing this box set.

https://www.euroarts.com/labels/6098-europakonzert-25-dvd-anniversary-box-1991-2015

I want to pose a sort of philosophical question about our listening to music.
The obvious answer to the question is that we should listen to whatever we damn please. But the query is: should we be happy listening to our favorite composers and compositions, or should we feel guilty about not exploring new horizons and music we’re prone to hate?  For me, the obvious bitter pills are such as Liszt, Neilson and Bruckner, not to mention the Second Viennese school.  We run the risk of close-mindedness by ignoring that which we don’t know and missing out on what what glories might be out there.  On the other hand, we only have so much time, and there is a universe of more accessible music available.
I just wonder if this dilemma has crossed anyone else's mind.