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
Mendelssohn's 'Songs Without Words' was my first attraction  to his music for solo piano (many years ago). I started with Barenboim's and most recently acquired Shelley's in the 4 vol set. All good - I think I still like Barenboim's more of these two. 

But, forgetting anything but the shear beauty of the sound, I can't resist 'pigging out' with Kyoko Tabe's recording on Denon. It just 'sings'! To me anyway. :-) Try it if you haven't already.

Today: Alkan, Chanson de la folle au bord de la mer, played by Vincenzo Maltempo on a 1899 Erard.  I suppose this is much closer to what people would have heard at the time.
@schubert       Len, if of any interest to you there is a glorious madrigal recording on Qobuz at the moment. Verdelot : Madrigals for Four Voices.by Profeti Della Quinta. It is some of the finest singing I have heard in a very long time with perfect diction so in tune with each other. I'm afraid to say I hadn't heard of Philippe Verdelot before this but I will definitely be looking him up for more . 
Came to me who he was when I saw his "Madrigals For A Tudor King"on Amazon as I have that(somewhere).They are out  the Four Voices but will pop up on my waiting list.
Did buy "Song of Songs" which I will get on Friday .Clueless about what it is .

No Len didn't buy it I came across it on Qobuz and was hooked at the first listen.