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
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
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
Johannes Brahms

HANDEL VARIATIONS - RHAPSODIES - PIANO PIECES

Handel Variations Op. 24
Murray Perahia (piano)
Sony Classics
Recorded   June 19-24, 2010   Funkhaus Berlin


Händel Variations, Op. 24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFSpeq6NAE

Cheers



If you want the greatest Handel Variations go for Arrau in the Phillips Brahms box or if you don't mind a poorer recording Julius Katchen who are vastly superior to Perahia.
As I write I have just discovered a blistering account on Idagio from Nikolay Tokarev from a Rhur Festival recording. Stirring stuff indeed but I still prefer Arrau, he just seems to get into it better especially the fugue his piano tone is unmatched by anyone.