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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.


128x128rvpiano
craigl59
307 posts
 

Schubert:

Must check out your Schubert/Goodman recordings. Have a number of the symphonies with Weil/Sony that are good but just a touch sterile. Surprise, but the older Karajan Schubert recordings are powerful and fun -- he had a real feel for the language.

BTW, not to offend you, but assume you are a big fan of the Schubert Quintet. Have grown accustomed to the Smithsonian recording played on all Strads. Oddly, took a little while to become accustomed to the timbre but now cannot listen to anything else. That second movement goes with you to the grave, right?

schubert
7,386 posts
 
Well, Artur Rubinstein said the adagio was the greatest piece ever written
and he wanted it played at his funeral . good enough for me .
I can’t even comment on the Quintet, 2 years ago I heard it played live by players of the St Paul CO , world class all , at the end the gent next to me
said to me that the adagio was written by God for a dying man he loved .

Goodman retired last year at age 65, said he was coming back at 70 after he rested up !
To me he’s a wild man who has everything under control , I love him .

jkittlesen
6 posts
 
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 & Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30


jkittlesen
6 posts
 
F. Liszt - "Ständchen" Piano Transcriptions After Schubert - Khatia Buniatishvili

One more for tonight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlTTgJau33Q
craigl59
307 posts
 

Alwyn: Complete Symphonies by LSO/Hickox. Have now been able to thoroughly preview this 3 CD set and it is a solid 5 stars (or, perhaps we should say 2 "LeftEars").

The bookend pieces of the set leave you breathless -- the first symphony (written in 1950) and the Sinfonietta for strings (in 1969). Perhaps because of his film score background, Alwyn is listenable while still being innovative. Check out his characteristic melodic style in the first movement of the Sinfonietta. The 4th movement  of the 1st shows off his sophisticated contrapuntal abilities. The 3rd movement of the same has a beautiful melody reminiscent of Elgar who might be considered Alwyn's rightful mentor.

Grab the LSO Hickox set while it's still available. Reviewers keep talking about how important this composer is but he seems always relegated to a minor status. If you get just one of the symphonies, go for the first.

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