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
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
Edvard Grieg & Robert Schumann

PIANO CONCERTOS

Leif ove Andsnes (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Mariss Jansons
EMI Classics  2003

Notes: "There are some legendary recordings of this pair of concertos and it's challenging to put on disc two such popular works that have been recorded so often.  But it's music of great richness and there are always new interpretative possibilities."

Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

I. Allegro molto moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo9Ke0FP-iw

II. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl2zhPOJtXk

III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3xduhQs8Hw

Cheers
Edvard Grieg & Robert Schumann

PIANO CONCERTOS

Leif ove Andsnes (piano)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Mariss Jansons
EMI Classics 2003

Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

I. Allegro affetuoso (Excerpt, Opening)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w1IlVGHrkw

II. Intermezzo (Andante grazioso)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MQcrglbEcg

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

Cheers
George Frideric Handel

CONCERTI GROSSI OPUS 6

The Avison Ensemble
Pavlo Beznosiuk
Linn Records 2010 SACD

Opus 6 No. 1 in G Major, HWV 319

I. A tempo giusto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6V47O8mVaU

II. Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5pfGID3lBo

III. Adagio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2_J-3n-vz8

IV. Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDZxqfACnp8

V. Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=739FWRJQUSQ

Cheers

Front Cover Painting:
The interior of the Rotunda, Ranelagh Gardens, c.1751
(oil on canvas) by Canaletto, (Giovanni Antonio canal) (1697-1768)
George Frideric Handel

CONCERTI GROSSI OPUS 6

The Avison Ensemble
Pavlo Beznosiuk
Linn Records 2010 SACD


Opus 6 No. 2 in F Major, HWV 320

I. Andante larghetto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC-p3blX1v8

III. Largo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwJYjmv_EZU

II. Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozNs263KCZ0

IV. Allegro, ma non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcakWHTcMyU

Cheers