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
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.
Giacomo Puccini

THE ULTIMATE PUCCINI COLLECTION

London Compilation     1998

Notes give a brief synopsis of each song plus talks about movies in which Opera comprises much of the soundtrack.

Turandot / Act 3 - "Nessun dorma!"     (Luciano Pavarotti)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6mhrP00MGs&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i...

Gianni Schicchi - O, mio babbino caro    (Dame Kiri Te Kanawa)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EIixBWoI5U&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i...

Madama Butterfly / Act 2 - "Un bel dì vedremo"      (Regine Crespin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBh9aG89Jhg&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i...

Tosca / Act 2 - "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore"            (Birgit Nilsson)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQhGuOyKiYw&list=OLAK5uy_kFBSHKyaD46JLJRU26j-1dzn-htr584bM&i...

Cheers