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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
2,663 posts
 
Idagio has numerous search engines to find whatever your looking for quickly.
Tremendous catalog of classical works, including, in some cases, multiple versions of the same performance.
And the SQ to my ears is superior to Qobuz.
Wonderful service.
From what I’ve seen of Primephonic, it’s not nearly as extensive.

schubert
7,386 posts
 
Idagio is in BERLIN , case closed!
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,663 posts
 
I’ve discovered another great Russian pianist on Idagio: Zlada Chocheva.
She’s recorded the complete piano works of Rachmaninoff and the complete Chopin Etudes plus a deliciously played compilation of piano transcriptions of orchestral works.
Her discography is on Idagio if you’d like to hear her.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,663 posts
 
I feel I have to restate my admiration and love of Mikhail Pletnev as pianist and conductor. By way of a review, I just discovered his definitive performance of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Symphony.  IMHO, Not since Rachmaninoff himself have we had such genius in performance AND conducting.
 (Of course R wasn’t bad as a composer as well.)
Just about everything I hear from Pletnev in both capacities is first rate and inspired.
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,663 posts
 
One might put Ashkenazy in the same category.
But I think Pletnev has the edge.
More to discover