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
AshkenazyI have heard his 1966 Diabelli Variations, but not the new recording.Now listening to his "Rare First Recordings 1955" which is a bonus
part of "The Solo Recordings on DG & Westminister 40CD"He must have been 13 years old, looks so young in the cover picture.I love his music, and I appreciate what he did with Edward Said in Israel.

Chopin Mazurkas by Antonio Barbosa is the most astoundingly rythmically accurate and "dancing" version for me  of these pieces that Chopin wrote for all his short live.....
RV    I am in total accordance with you regarding Trifonov  , he really has a lot of musical growing to do. He reminds me of Michelangeli  and Pollini who were capable of playing anything but cold as ice. No for me he needs a couple of decades under his belt , alas too late for me I fear.
Listening to Kondrashin's Dvorak 9 for a first time on my improved system, and what an exciting recording it is.  Superb dynamics!  The tympani strokes in the first movement made me jump. I would never have guessed the recording's age. All cobwebs firmly blown away.  Dvorak reenergized.

All that said, anyone care to recommend a complementary more relaxed, "romantic" reading, with a suitably delicious slow movement?  I'd like to have both.