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
Yes , but this is not the American  - Japanese .one but a Bavarian- Japanese one who who  grew  up in Salzburg .
Her tone is nice but  just control of her instrument  is unreal !
She is the Queen of  original violin in Europe .

Type up her Bio , it is hard to believe the amount she has done , 
one of the best I ever read on wiki .
If I ever get back to Germany {unlikely) I would go a long way to hear her.

Bremen is the most blue collar  of all the German cities , a wonder it has 
such a good  little band .

Maurice Ravel

BOLERO - DAPHNIS ET CHLOE

Orchestre de Paris
Daniel Barenboim
DG   1982

Notes:
"The bolero was originally a brisk Spanish dance, and Chopin's op.19 retains this characteristic tempo.  Ravel's piece is much slower than brisk and it may be regarded in two lights -- as a study in orchestration and an essay in the concept of crescendo."

"The ballet Daphnis et Chole, which is probably Ravels's masterpiece, was commissioned by Diaghilev..... Ravel started work on it at least three years before the first performance, which was on 8 June 1912.  The two orchestral suites, which contain the finest of the music, can be enjoyed without any reference to the scenario of the ballet."

Boléro, M. 81
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI73PK06MQc


Daphnis et Chloé Suite No.2, M. 57b 

1. Lever du jour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_0fcMeJ-m0

2. Pantomime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isddTbtxg6o

3. Danse générale
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E99aRfA-bcs

Cheers
Maurice Ravel

LA VALSE   (The Waltz)

London Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Monteux
Philips  1962, 1964 / 1995

La Valse, M. 72
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot7Khz-h7zA

Cheers

Maurice Ravel

PAVANE pour une INFANTE DEFUNTE
Orchestre de Paris
Daniel Barenboim
DG  1982

Pavane pour une infante défunte
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8gTfv5m8KQ

Cheers