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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
frogman
7,441 posts
 
I assume you refer to the orchestral version?  If so:  

Jean Martinon/Orchestre de Paris.  1975, Angel/EMI.  Vol. 4 of the series “Orchestral Music of Ravel”.  Fantastic performance with excellent sonics.  There’s something about the great French orchestras playing this music that is just right.  
If you refer to the piano version, Robert Casadesus’ recording on Columbia is a must hear.  The sonics (mono) are good, but a bit “dated” by audiophile standards.  Still, amazing playing.  
simao's avatar
simao
1,819 posts
 
@frogman Yes, the orchestral version. Thank you for the recommendation!
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Ludwig van Beethoven

GUNTER WAND CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN
Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9

Symphony No. 9 in D minor "Choral" Op. 125

Edith Wiens, soprano - Hildegard Hartwig, alto
Keith Lewis, tenor - Roland Hermann, bass
NDR Sinfonieorchester
Günter Wand
RCA / Sony 1986 / 1989 / 2013

I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK4qetlv_vs

II. Molto vivace - Presto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ3RowARtII

III. Adagio molto e cantabile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vk3Lzv0_Ww

IV. Presto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2pGjVEcOVQ

V. Presto. "O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!". Allegro assai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOrmn5r0AC0

No notes. I guess they felt like, what is there to say?

Cheers

rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Johannes Brahms

BRAHMS CELLO SONATAS

Yo-Yo Ma(cello)
Emanuel Ax(piano)
RCA / BMG Classics 1985 / 2004

Sonata No. 1, Op. 38 in E minor

I. Allegro non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX5tZINBmck

II. Allegretto quasi menuetto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2PmrGKIUxs

III. Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku6tM8HtGuk

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Johannes Brahms

CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA IN D, OP. 77

Itzhak Perlman (violin)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Daniel Barenboim
EMI Classics  1992

Notes: " Originally, the work had four movements but two months before the first performance Brahms wrote to Joachim that he had thrown out the middle movements and that a "miserable Adagio" had taken their place.  The first performance took place in Leipzig on 1 January 1879 with Joachim as soloist and Brahms conducting.  The initial success was only moderate but now, for over one hundred years, the work has taken its place, alongside Beethoven's, among the greatest concerto's ever written for violin."

I. Allegro non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j_voU2NOK8&t=52s

II. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYF2_uOzKj0

III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMLrq7oABm0

Cheers
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