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
Gabriel Fauré

PIANO QUARTETS

Emanuel Ax (piano), Issac Stern (violin)
Jaime Laredo (viola), Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
Sony Classics   1992

Notes: "Perhaps no other composer has ever been so generally ignored outside of his own country, while at the same time enjoying an unquestionably eminent reputation at home." -- Aaron Copland
"The first piano quartet is a work of almost incredible accomplishment.  The writing, especially for the piano, is completely idiomatic, and creates a kind of intensity combined with transparency that is entirely  Fauré's own.  If one of the indications of great music is that the composer has his own individual sound, certainly  Fauré's is a member of that elite ."

Quartet for Piano, Violin, Viola and Cello No.1 in C minor, Op.15

I. Allegro molto moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIgG8hJPucc

II. Scherzo. Allegro vivo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2lNyiU5gBg

III. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTTCPXIis_k

IV. Allegro molto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om9w1UkWDBw

Cheers

Thanks for posting Faure.
‘What a lovely piece!


Glad you liked it.  He, and today's posting, Franck, are sort of new to me.

Cheers
Cesar Franck

SYMPHONY IN D MINOR

Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Lorin Maazel
DG  1961 / 1996

Symphony in D minor  (Franck's only Symphony)

1. Lento - Allegro ma non troppo - Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc1YUTRT_TE

2. Allegretto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIPyrga4-To

3. Allegro non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=robM0EchTbg

Cheers
George Gershwin

PREVIN CONDUCTS GERSHWIN

London Symphony Orchestra
André Previn
EMI  1981

Another disc from the dawn of CD.  From 'World Of Music', Nürnberg, Germany DM32.95    08/85

Cuban Overture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kieoC3vQMOc

Second Rhapsody
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9sRDl42ReM

Porgy and Bess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fSofG_-eW4

Cheers