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
Quiz:

This, 'The Quarrel' seems to sound a lot like Stravinsky's  "A Soldiers Tale."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ezvwLxXXc&list=OLAK5uy_nbUBb_5tVFMfsoMmxEae3BW1TD3ktdigc&i...

Will listen to the entire thing later this evening.

Cheers
Sergei Prokofiev

VIOLIN CONCERTO

Maxim Vengerov (violin)
London Symphony Orchestra
Mstislav Rostropovich
Teldec  1994

Notes:"When Stalin launched his second major attack against the composers of the Soviet Union in February 1948, two of the nation's most prominent composers were among the main defendants.  One sat in the front row, the other in the last.  In the front row was Sergei Prokofiev.  Way in the back  sat a nervous Dmitri Shostakovich, who left the room every few minutes to smoke a cigarette.  No scene could better characterize the two contemporaries.  The one self-confident, the other apprehensive..."

Prokofiev:  Violin Concerto No.1 in D major Op.19

I Andantino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jWNWfMzJQY

II Scherzo - Vivacissimo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9uN9IeEifU

III Moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CDIgXyCcR0

Cheers
Dmitri Shostakovich

VIOLIN CONCERTO

Maxim Vengerov (violin)
London Symphony Orchestra
Mstislav Rostropovich
Teldec 1994

Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 in A minor Op. 77 (op.99)

I. Nocturno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmjzdly29lk

II. Scherzo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_CSz437Yy8

III. Passcaglia IV. Burleske
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHEGl8gYZXw

Cheers
Shostakovich: 

24 Preludes and Fugues for Piano.

i prefer Scherbakov’s recording, both the playing and the sound quality, over Jarrett’s. I haven’t heard Nikolayeva’s or any others.