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
Sergei Rachmaninoff

SYMPHONIC DANCES FOR 2 PIANOS

Emanuel Ax (piano)
Yefim Bronfman (piano)
Sony Classical     2001

Notes: "The fact that Sergei Rachmaninoff was born in the St. Petersburg of czarist Russia and died amidst the palm trees of Beverly Hills, California is curiously apt.  Rachmaninoff was what we like to call a "transitional figure"--one foot planted deep in Romanticism, the other reaching toward a somewhat idiosyncratic modernity, making the leap from almost-medieval Russia under the Czar to the flamboyant liberty of the Hollywood Hills."

Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 (Version for 2 Pianos)

I. Non allegro      "Noon"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjhEPbjtJIU

II. Andante con moto          "Twilight"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH_b5tJEKps

III. Lento assai - Allegro vivace         "Midnight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ORC19UnVUw

Cheers
Sergei Rachmaninov

SYMPHONY NO. 3

Concertgebouw Orchestra
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Decca   1983

Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 44 

1. Lento - Allegro moderato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iBJYe8Jwzo

2. Adagio ma non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epRrFctw6Jw

3. Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBb7MyTxQKU

Cheers
Here's another pianist that I hadn't heard before: Rafal Blechacz.

I found his complete Chopin preludes very compelling.

I think there's a complete set of nocturnes in the pipeline.

Anyone else heard him?