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
As I sit listening, I came to the conclusion that God was not doing
nothing for his two utmost composers of sheer beauty , Mozart and the even younger Schubert .

He just could not bear any longer to not have them by his side .
Speaking of Easter you could hardy do better than this Masterwork !


https://youtu.be/FjJ02agjjdo?t=1
Seldom do you hear a perfect  rendering of  any anything , esp. one as big as this one is complicated and 400 years old.
 To my hears this is perfection
I recently received  Schubert String Quartet, D-956, by The Takacs Quartet.  I have not listened to it yet.  All these folks are just great.

I always thought when a Quartet went from Quartet to Quintet, they added a second Viola.  Seems as if they added a second Cello on all the performances we have posted or discussed.

The Easter music: I'm more of a "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord" type.   But it was beautifully sung.

Cheers
Sometimes, a double bass. Still other times, piano or a wind; sometimes a third violin. Generally speaking and re nomenclature, whatever the fifth added instrument, that is the type of quintet that it, technically, is referred to as. Schubert’s Quintet D. 956 is, technically speaking, a “cello quintet”.

One of my favorite Quintets. Brahms Clarinet Quintet. The great Harold Wright, clarinet. One of the best examples of what players today may refer to as an “old school” clarinet sound. Light and free, with a lot of “smile” in the tone; as opposed to the much more dense, darker and less flexible approach that is in vogue today. Beautiful player.

https://youtu.be/VK5ycY0vYzg

https://youtu.be/Dn_wzYVhmQg

https://youtu.be/fdLyQPlC_Vs

https://youtu.be/AE9LDwFGN5k