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
More by the great Harold Wright.

One of Schubert’s (the other Schubert ☺️) last works and one of the the most charming chamber works in the literature. IMO, clarinet playing does not get better than this. Soprano Benita Valente is superb. Beautiful example of how to strike the right balance between “how are we doing” and “how am I doing.  Definitive performance by most accounts:

https://youtu.be/_Krrplpuxrw
Franz Joseph Haydn: SYMPHONIES 68 & 93-104 "LONDON"
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra  --  Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Warner Classics   5CD Box

Symphony No.68 in B flat major : I Vivace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwfbGWkbJmU

Symphony No.68 in B flat major : IV Finale - Presto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1reJbTg06us

From the Notes:  "London at the end of the eighteenth century was indisputably the musical capital of Europe, Parisian musical life having collapsed in the wake of the French Revolution.  Music publishing and instrument making were flourishing in London, and above all there was already an unusually well developed and diverse musical life --- public, open to everyone and governed by the rules of a free market."

Works every time. 

Cheers
Post removed 
I only am Schubert because of the first time I heard of this and needed
something . While looking for that all I saw was R & R titles
and thought these misguided fools need some class.

Wish I just chose Harry or Herman the German .

If you want a fabulous Schubert lieder outing this is the best I know .
Brryn Terrful on DG 445 294-2GHHard to believe the Great Welchman could turn German but that
fabulous voice can do anything .

I doubt if one can be found ,but who knows

rok . Would it be free trade if a firm was told what they could do or say
by the Congress under threat of blackmail or punishment ?