Comparing Puccini to Mozart is an incomparable comparison.
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.
Showing 18 responses by goofyfoot
Orfeo d’ Or reissues historical recordings. My favorites are from the Salzburg Festival. The Clara Haskil remaster is in mono but it’s so amazingly beautiful. Also, many years ago their existed the Andante label and their vintage recording remasters are exquisite. It’s very apparent that performance practices have changed since the early 20th century and it can be enlightening to hear people like Wilhelm Backhaus or a young Vladimir Horowitz. |
ei001h, I’d recommend looking at the apr label, here’s a Richter recording, http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=221050 Here’s a list of recordings with Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes for Piano, some are listed as recommended; http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/albumList.jsp?name_id1=10915&name_role1=1&comp_id=2717&a... |
I found this on Qobuz. I own the cd’s, very good. https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/schuamnn-piano-works-robert-schumann/4260034863668 |
This is my favorite of remastered Schumann recordings of the golden age. Unfortunately it’s been out of print for some time but used copies may show up from time to time. http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=53135 |
Elizabeth Leonskaja, a pianist that Richter thought very highly of, released a Schumann recording at the beginning of 2020. I have not heard this recording but many years ago I saw Elizabeth Leonskaja give a Beethoven recital at the Theatre Champs Elyse in Paris. Her musicianship and technique are evident of the Russian aesthetic. |
Right after the Orange Revolution (2005) in Ukraine, I arrived in Odessa along the Black Sea. I stayed for three weeks with a girlfriend. I saw the Ukrainian State Ballet perform Giselle and Sleeping Beauty. The beautiful thing was that they used a sizable pit orchestra rather than recorded music to accompany the ballet. I also saw a variety show featuring different classical pianists along with a female Bandura ensemble at the Philharmonic Hall. There is great pride in Ukrainian culture and it is very upsetting to see what is happening. No longer being in contact with friends and loved ones is very difficult. However, Dimitri Shostakovich has nothing to do with Vladimir Putin or the Russian invasion, so I opt to listen to Russian music as an act of defiance if nothing else. If there is a contemporary Russian composer who sides politically with Vladimir Putin, then I will refuse to listen to that composers work. |