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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
5,318 posts
 
Way back in the day, when the Penguin Classical Record Guide was riding high, Perahia and Pollini seemed to me to be represented on a lot of the same repertoire.  Trying them both, I always preferred Perahia, because Pollini struck me as, yes, too cool in the interpretation.
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,193 posts
 
i second you....

Between Perahia and Pollini, the first has some magical sparkle that the other has not.... 2 great artists tough for sure....
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
OK, so I know I've already recommended this, but on a second listening I like it even more.  Dudamel's Beethoven 3 with the Venezuela orchestra.  It has everything you'd expect from a first-class international orchestra PLUS an inner enthusiasm and, yes, joy that I find truly infectious.  Really worth a listen.
And while we're on the subject of recommendations, I think it was in this thread a while back that someone pointed to the Sibelius 1 + 7 on Ondine with Segerstram and Helsinki Philharmonic.  Listening now and wow!  Fabulous interpretation AND fabulous sound--that unheard of unicorn!

jim204
881 posts
 
Between Perahia and Pollini , no contest I would pick Perahia and day of the week. I have loved Perahia since the day he won the Leeds Piano Competition ( a long time ago ) and I have to admit he is my go to pianist for any Bach keyboard works. I have only heard him live once at Glasgow and it was the Goldberg Variations with some Bach / Busoni thrown in also. It was a wonderful performance with some sparkling pianism and for all Pollini's virtuosity it is Perahia I will always fall back on.
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
You guys got me to put on a side of my three disc DG set of Pollini's Chopin Etudes. There's a skip in one of the cuts.  Maurizio can't seem to get past one particularly fiendish passage.  Maurizio!  Que spagliato?
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