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.


rvpiano

Showing 1 response by apm18

@rvpiano, The Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances are also one of my favorite symphonic pieces! Thanks for all the recommendations earlier in this thread: Dallas-Johanos / Minnesota-Oue / Concertgebouw-Ashkenazy / Concertgebouw-Jansons.

I wanted to add the Gardiner / NDR Sinfonieorchester recording to the list... to my ears, it's unmatched in suspense, scale and space. The Dallas/Johanos recording sounds comparably sterile and too measured for my taste, and far less expressive. What are your impressions?