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
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
Maurice Ravel

RAPSODIE ESPAGNOLE

The Cleveland Orchestra
Pierre Boulez
Sony    1975, 1983 / 2000  SACD 

Notes:"Ravel's first important orchestral composition, Rapsodie Espagnole, was written in August 1907.  First performed in March 1908, at the Colonne Concerts in Paris, it received a cool reception from the boxes and main floor but elicited an excited response from the upper hall.  Although Ravel's brilliant orchestration and distinctive sound were present even in this early composition, it was undoubtedly the work's Spanish flavor that gained it lasting popularity."

Rapsodie Espagnole, M. 54

I. Prélude à la nuit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxR6I2Au0Wg

II. Malagueña
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r82KTIoEbEE

III. Habanera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCt5UoPsREs

IV. Feria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRAEYx5XdEg

Cheers
Maurice Ravel

RAVEL’S GREATEST HIT -- THE ULTIMATE BOLERO

RCA / BMG 2004

Notes:" "C’est une blague" (it’s a gag), Maurice Ravel once said of his most famous, or infamous, piece. In fact he was proud of BOLERO, which sprang from his own roots in the Basque country on the French-Spanish border."

"The Mexican maestro Eduardo Mata brings Spanish grace and languor to his performance with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The duration of this track is about ten percent longer than the Boston Symphony one on this disc.....Ravel once created a minor scandal by daring to ask the great conductor Arturo Toscanini not to play this piece too fast, to which the ’maestro ultimo’ replied that the public would not accept it at the slower tempo. But Mata demonstrates that, in performing Bolero, as in making love, slow is beautiful."

Nat Shilkret & His Orchestra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z48XnQRmQx0&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i..

Jacques Fray & Mario Braggiotti (pianos)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDHhrgPCRwQ&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i...

Evelyn Glennie (percussion)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjMLv3rjTCw&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i...

Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Eduardo mata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okpIjhTpRAo&list=OLAK5uy_nK7LFLV92LCBlQt67Y9cwaCWCt66XhJEY&i...

Cheers