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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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
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
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
George Gershwin

RHAPSODY IN BLUE

Boston Pops Orchestra
Arthur Fiedler
Earl Wild (piano)
RCA 1959-1961 / 2005    SACD

Rhapsody in Blue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5muXFPEMow

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
George Gershwin

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

Chicago symphony Orchestra
James Levine
DG  1993

Gershwin: An American In Paris - Revised By F. Campbell-Watson
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jmjL1MyLfY

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Ferde Grofé

GRAND CANYON SUITE

New York Philharmonic
Leonard Bernstein
Sony      1959 - 1964 / 1997

The Grand Canyon Suite

I. Sunrise
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19-AvDRKRO4

II. The Painted Desert
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BriHovmzuBw

III. On the Trail   (John Corigliano, violin)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETqM3G5xvI4

IV. Sunset
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOIIlsjfGb8

V. Cloudburst
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ligECqFWi8

Cheers
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
From the Notes of The Grand Canyon Suite:

"In 1962 the orchestra relocated to its present home at Lincoln Center. The acoustics of Philharmonic Hall were tested during a "tuning week" in May, and the first public concert, on September 23, elicited enthusiasm from some and concern from others. By the time this recording of ’The Grand Canyon Suite’ was made the following spring, the consensus was that Philharmonic Hall was not an acoustic success. Between 1963 and 1969 three separate remodeling attempts proved ineffective and in 1976 the hall was gutted, reconfigured, and reopened as Avery Fisher Hall, thereby saluting the philanthropist who financed the overhaul. Although recording technology could obviate the hall’s original shortcomings, this reading of the Grand Canyon Suites documents a bittersweet time when the orchestra struggled to make beautiful music despite the shortcomings of its hall."
James M. Keller

Cheers
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