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 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?
Right now I'm enjoying the absolute heck out of a Primephonic stream of Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra with Ormandy and the Philly. Spacious. Performed with energy, wit and a whole lot of love.  Maybe a hair bright, but then again the recording may just have been made in a lively venue,
Serge Rachmaninoff  /  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

PIANO CONCERTOS

Martha Argerich (piano)
RSO Berlin    
Riccardo Chailly
Symphonie-Orchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Kirill Kondrashin
Philips Classics     1995

Notes: "...But perhaps the last word should go to the late Eugene List who, after referring to Argerich's capacity, even as a child, to spin off octaves like single notes, went on to salute her as, quite simply, "one of nature's happenings."

Rachmaninov: Piano concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgMUgmri1JM


Tchaikovsky: Piano concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op.23
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHMsrELwaj4

Cheers