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.


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Showing 3 responses by terry9

@scott_w

Well, you are starting at a very good place. I know of only one performance on vinyl, soundtrack to the movie, "Police". Do you know of any others?

You might also like "Hearing Solar Winds" by David Hykes and the New Harmonic Choir (Ocora).

Also, "1000 Music for the End of Time" by Anonymous 4 (CD Harmonia Mundi), as many Christians expected the world to end in 1000 AD.

@schubert 
You are so right to remind us that music did not begin with Bach. Great recommendations. As for the Elizabethan school, may I suggest the Clerkes of Oxenford for Tallis, and Byrd on glorious vinyl by L'Oiseau-Lyre.

Going back even further, there is a fabulous French Decca set of gatefold Gregorian Chant, in about 50 volumes, of which I have only half, as well as my personal favourite, Salve Feste Dies on Phillips.
@schubert

"The Late LvB Quartets " by the Yale Qt. Damned right. $214 may seem like a lot to those who don’t know the music or the performance, though.

@sfseay

Atheists enjoy religious music too. Some of my favourite music is directly religious in nature: Gregorian Chant, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd. And most of Bach, of course. Why not try it, whether you are religious or not?