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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
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,209 posts
 
The latest, Greatest Beethoven Piano Sonatas in the History of the Whole World.

If you disagree, see my guru. He lives in Brooklyn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTfnbe6JI6s

Cheers


For sure Levit so good it is dont own the integrated phrasing of Moravec, making of some words an only one sentence...

The notes must never succeed one another, but vertically must surge toward the transcendental meaning that will going down incarnating itself in the sound like the soul in a body ...

Moravec get it for me.....All is done way before the first minute of playing...

How is it possible for a human being to play piano at all?

Probably only by forgetting completely how to play and only feel an emotion not through the fingers but in spite of them, or better, without them....

It is only my opinion, feel free to say your own.....









https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ex7ZVaSVCE
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
2,708 posts
 
Mahgister,

As a pianist I can tell you you are right.
When you play, it’s a sort of disembodied feeling.
The notes disappear and the music comes out from your insides.
frogman
7,487 posts
 
Excellent comments and excellent versions of this great work.  Not to disagree with any of them since we all have our favorites and reasons why, but simply food for thought:

While much is sometimes made of the sudden and dramatic dynamic contrasts being indicative or symbolic of the composer’s own personality, I think it is relevant to keep in mind that when Beethoven composed this work, no piano existed that would allow a player to take those contrasts to the extremes that some modern interpretations of the work take them.  Beethoven’s instruments simply did not have the power of a modern Steinway or Bosendorfer.  In that context, some of the choices made in some interpretations sometimes strike me as a bit of dynamic excess.  
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Excellent point about the instruments of Beethoven's day.  But thankful we have the modern instruments.  Esp the brass.  I can only imagine that modern ensembles sound much better, with the ability to more faithfully recreate the composer's intent,  than those back in the day.

The excess that bothers me, is the body language and facial expressions of some of the players / Conductors.  Lenny and Ochida being  prime examples.  No one can feel that much passion, instantly on command.

Cheers
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,209 posts
 
Lenny and Ochida being prime examples. No one can feel that much passion, instantly on command.
Have you ever make love with someone you are confortable with?

The public disapear for some artist which are only with themselves and their own "daimon", and the feeling which  inhabit and haunted  them for a work they feel already for a long time is not "on command"....It is like jazz players mimics and odd gestures singing behind and tapping feet....
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