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
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

CONCERTO FOR TWO PIANOS AND ORCHESTRA

Katia & Marielle LaBeque (piano)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Semyon Bychkov
Philips Classics 1993

Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in E Major, MWV O 5

1. Allegro vivace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3MX7ZM6Fas

2. Adagio non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEMr0gHWObA

3. Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK4_4hgHpQQ

Cheers
Felix Mendelssohn

PIANO CONCERTOS 1&2

Murray Perahia  (piano)
St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Neville Marriner
CBS Masterworks   1975 / 1984 

Notes: "The Concerto No.1 in G minor for piano and Orchestra, Op.25, was sketched in Rome, in November 1830, and finished in Munich during a visit by the composer in 1831, when he was twenty-two years old.  Describing it as "a thing rapidly thrown off," Mendelssohn played the premiere himself in Munich in October 1831."

Concerto No.1 for Piano & Orchestra, in G minor, Op.25

I. Molto allegro con fuoco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlvy6KoXSmk

II. Andante
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNrUOkyk_yg

III. Presto - Molto allegro vivace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui9e9Rfpi3s

Cheers
Felix Mendelssohn

PIANO CONCERTOS 1&2

Murray Perahia (piano)
St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Neville Marriner
CBS Masterworks  1975 / 1984

Concerto No.2 for Piano & Orchestra, in D minor, Op.40

I. Allegro appassionato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhRz9j75aYc

II. Adagio. Molto sostenuto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWXquu_7pEk

III. Finale. Presto scherzando
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eduSZ5eZ60

Cheers
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

PIANO TRIOS NOS. 1 & 2

Julia Fischer (violin)
Jonathan Gilad (piano)
Daniel Muller-Schott (cello)
PentaTone Classics  2006    SACD

Piano Trio No.1 in D minor, Op. 49

I. Molto allegro agitato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCCHs_SleJQ

II. Andante con moto tranquillo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLpqpqwarGM

III. Scherzo: Leggiero e vivace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8yOI8bJEOs

IV. Finale: Allegro assai appassionato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58QdrVYEBM0

Cheers