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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
2,653 posts
 
Speaking of Kondrashin, I believe he is one of the great conductors of the 20th century and somewhat underrated.  He was superb not only in Russian music.  His Mahler performances, especially the 9th Symphony, are truly admirable.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,653 posts
 
I’m  listening to a work of incomparable genius: Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and just had to write about it.
Some of the most brilliant variation writing existent.
jim204
881 posts
 
You are not wrong there RV as I also think he was a phenomenon of which sad to say I do not think we shall see the likes of again. He left us a whole treasury of works which are unique and in so many forms. I particularly love his Corelli Variations especially played by Mikhail Pletnev on Rachmaninov's own Steinway in his villa, a truly wonderful recording.
Other works of his I love are his piano pieces Op.23 and Op.32 and those two together give us a full 24 preludes in all the keys, and the variety is fascinating. When I have listened to him play his own works on recordings I think what a crying shame hearing this horribly diistorted and hissy sound when everyone now can listen to any modern pianist with superb digital sound. 
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,653 posts
 
I’m so happy his time has finally arrived.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,315 posts
 
Here's an instrumentalist whom I hadn't heard before: Hille Perl.  To me she sounds like stiff competition to Jordi Savall et al. on the viola da gamba.  The Schenck CD is excellent, with superb sound and impassioned playing. I have immediately ordered two more of hers.
More to discover