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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
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,488 posts
 
Newbee,

Reference Recordings LP’s are fantastically good.  I’ve just never had much luck in finding good sounding CDs, even though my player automatically reads their HDCD encoded discs.  I’ll have to try your examples of good ones.  I’ve noticed that lately their philosophy has changed: not such a distant, undefined presentation.  Even so, not state of the art as far as I’m concerned.
btw, You might want to re-listen to the Ormandy “Symphonic Dances” Especially if your set has improved over the years.  It was a revelation for me.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,488 posts
 
The particular disc of the “Dances” with great sound  that I’m listening to is a Sony Essential Classics with music also by Smetana and Offenbach.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
Thanks for the reference. I haven't heard Ormandy's version in quite a few years - I disassembled my vinyl system and gifted it all, records included, to my son in law. Now I have only CD's and this is not one of them.
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rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,488 posts
 
New on Idagio:  “Volodos Plays Brahms,” a disc from 2017.
I’d be interested in opinions of his Brahms interpretations.
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