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.
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.
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- 3877 posts total
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 |
Maurice Ravel GASPARD de la NUIT Ivo Pogorelich (piano) DG 1983 Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55 1. Ondine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIBOwg8NGmA 2. Le Gibet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvMd03CxPuk 3. Scarbo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACEbWKb1co Cheers |
Maurice Ravel THE PIANO CONCERTOS Pascal Rogé (piano) Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal Charles Dutoit Decca 1983 Notes: "The piano was Ravel’s instrument. When the G major concerto’s first performance was announced for Amsterdam in March 1931, the composer intended to be the soloist. But illness delayed the work’s completion, and by the time of the postponed premiere on 14 January 1932 in Paris, Ravel decided--despite many hours spent practising the studies of Chopin and Liszt -- that the task was beyond him. Accordingly, he asked Marguerite Long to fill the breach and dedicated the concerto to her." Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83 1. Allegramente https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqCKzFcE5CQ 2. Adagio assai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_e4oBU-RoM 3. Presto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOK3Y2oB96Y Cheers |
- 3877 posts total