classical newbie


Can anyone recommend some recent great, essential classical cd/sacd recordings? I like vinyl but not for this. Multi-disc collections would be great too. I realize there are older threads about this but I would like the best digital versions. If that means the latest re-master, mix etc, great. If not, which are the must haves regardless of release date? Thanks.
wildoats
Brownsfan,

thanks for your post--I would have added more suggestions but had time constraints. I plan to do so soon.

Meanwhile, my favorite current quartet is the Miro Quartet. I have their early Beethoven set and have heard them live. They are just my style, might be yours also.

For the OP, you might check out the Beaux Arts trio--a great piano trio with many recordings available.
If you have a way to stream music from the Internet to your system the best education you can get is with a subscription to mog.com. for $5 a month. That gives you access to thousands of complete albums.

The bit rate is 320 kbps, nowhere near CD quality but very listenable through a decent DAC. For example, there are 40 full versions of Bach's Cello Suites, including many of the performances considered to be among the best.

It's just a fact that the music that moves you is very personal and following advice about it from others can be a time consuming and expensive proposition with limited payoff. Being able to sample and then follow the trail of what interests you through a site like MOG opens up a world of music that simply wasn't possible back when we saved for weeks or months to buy that one album we thought we might like.

Having said that, I will add something to the recommendations you've received here. As heretical as it is on a site like this, after 40-something years of listening to music I'm still not moved by the kind of full orchestra symphonies others find so compelling.

My first classical album was the Julian Bream recording of Bach's Lute Suites. That was more than 40 years ago and I haven't strayed far from there despite decades of listening. Bach's small-scale works, the Cello Suites, English, French and Italian Suites for piano/harpsichord, the Art of Fugue and many others seem to resonate for me in a way that most other music only approaches, with the possible exception of Buddy Miller.

I've also been fascinated by older music, Marin Marais, Tobias Hume, Mr. De Sainte Colombe Le Fils, Mr. Demachy, François Couperin and others. Looking at the catalog of Jordi Savall's recordings is a great introduction to that world.

A couple of recordings that would serve as a great introduction are Martin Zeller's Six Suites A Violoncello Solo Senza Basso and Jeffrey Biegel's Bach on a Steinway. Both are beautifully performed and the recording quality is superb. Some will argue about the authenticity of listening to Bach's keyboard works on a modern piano but, man, it's just good music.
Listen to classical radio first.

You will then get guidance, before wasting money on music you do not care for.
George Solti and Chicago playing Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, Dance Suite and Music for Strings Percussion and Celeste. Excellent sound and interpretations.

George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra Playing Dvorak 7th, 8th and 9th Symphonies. Recorded in the late 50's early 60's probably on Ampex 3 track machines. Amazing presence and warmth but with detail. These are labeled "StereoRama" from Sony.

William Walton's Viola Concerto. Dont have a specific recording to recommend but this is great music.

Let's walk on the wild side:
Alban Berg's Lulu Suite Played by City of Birmingham/Simon Rattle. Sounds like Mozart on drugs.
Valentin Silvestrov's "Metamusik" and "Postludium". An excellent ECM Recording. Conducted by Dennis Russell Davies.
George Tsontakis Violin Cocerto #2 and other pieces Played by The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra conducted by Douglas Boyd.