Classical Music for Aficionados

Are you sure this performance is on Blu-ray?  Can’t find it anywhere.

Looking through my Schumann Symphony collection I found a set I forgot I had (normal these days).
Sounds like the original version and not like someone thinking they knew better
than Schumann !
Haitink /Concertgebouw/ Phillips 416 126-2 Excellent sound , far more natural than most CD’s . Just wonderful performances . Schubert, Schumann and Brahms , three birds of a feather, flying together . Thank you , God .

FTM
When I listed my favorite classical pianists, somehow I left John Ogdon off the list.  I especially treasure his Rachmaninoff.  I am not really a big fan of Rachmaninoff, but I love the Preludes and the Corelli Variations.
Also, when I mentioned Komitas, I left the best recording off the list.
Grigory Sokolov plays Komitas, Six Dances for Piano on his "Live in Paris" recording,  wwwnaiveclassique.com.
Review of a book about Ogdon here:
https://www.theguardian.com/music/tomserviceblog/2014/apr/07/john-ogdon-biography-piano-man

Ijcazador, If you haven't already heard this, you might like John Ogdon and Brenda Lucas doing some of Rachmaninoff's music for 2 piano's. On ASV CDDCA636. Suite #1, Suite #2, Prelude in C minor Op3 No2, and Russian Rhapsody. 

I would like to revive this thread before it dies out.

 I was just listening to the “Decca Sound” box which has a  section of classic performances issued on Decca.  The first two I listened to were “knock your socks off” sounding blockbusters from the Decca catalog:  The Alpine Symphony with Blomstedt and Mahler’s 8th with Solti. Then, rummaging through the collection I selected theShostakovich 5th with Haitink.  As I listened I noticed the sound was markedly wrong compared to the first two.   The Haitink was, sure enough, a digital original — completely wiped out of sonic excitement.
Not that all digitals are bad.  Some are spectacular.  But it’s interesting that Decca didn’t do a better job of mastering for the “Decca Sound.”

RV, FWIW you've got a tough job ahead of you if you want to keep this going. Just not that many classical music enthusiasts on this site, especially ones that will actively participate. 

Since you are a professional pianist I thought I would mention a compilation solo piano CD that I not only enjoy totally, but that I also you as a reference for my system. "Michael Sheppard plays Rodgers, Hough, Barber, Sheppard, Crumb, Corigliano, Wild, and Balcom, on Harmonia Mundi. I just don't tire of it. This is very accessible music for anyone who is a bit venturesome.

In the same vein, but for full orchestra, another modern piece that is not only accessible but very enjoyable. Erkki Melartin's Violin Concereto on Ondine. The Tampere Phil conducted by Leif Segerstam.  Hard not to like this piece.

.
I’ll look to the Melartin newbee , The Tampere. like the other "minor"
Finnish bands, are very good , like everything else in Finland .
During Holy Week, as is my custom , I listen exclusively to
religious music ,about half early music . Dufay, Ockeghem , Palestrina. Monteverdi, etc and IMO the greatest of them all , Josquin des Prez .

Of course the other half is devoted to, you guessed it , J.S Bach .
The Cantata’s are the main course but I end up with the piece my
favorite conductor , Herbert Blomstedt, convinced me is Bach’s greatest
work , his Mass in B minor .
I listen to it on DVD with headphone system on my trusty 50" Samsung Plasma with the great Blomstedt conducting an Orchestra he loved and who loved him , the Leipzig Gewandhaus .
I don’t think the Mass could be played or sung better than on this EuroArts 2005 DVD , recorded in Bach’s own Church , the St. Thomas .
To watch a great conductor conduct a great orchestra with no baton and the
least amount of hand beats needed is a uplifting in and of itself !
The extra bonus of Blomstedt expounding why he thinks the Mass in B minor is Bach’s best is a treat not to missed !
Blomstedt himself is a devout Christian and yes, that does make a difference .

P.S .  I payed 10 bucks for this fantastic DVD on Amazon . bought 2 just in case .

newbie,

  You’re right, it is a heavy lift trying to keep this thread going.  But, we got off to a good start.  Just have to get the more reticent to participate.

 I’lm going to get the piano record you recommend. I’ve never heard of Michael Sheppard.  Have to give him a try.

rvpiano, FWIW you can google 'Michael Sheppard, pianist' and you will get several hits which will give you some background on him and this disc. These are for the most part transcriptions (for which I'm a sucker, especially the music of Liszt, Prokofiev, and Wagner) but they are more original in their selection than most and some are Sheppard's own transcriptions. I hope you enjoy.

FYI , you are all doing a great job. I have really learned about a lot of great music. Classical is overwhelming in shear volume to the novice, and you are doing a service to us real  Newbees . 

Remember, people are listening and learning even if not participating.

Also, if you have a lull it is ok. Have fun!

The complete John O’Conor recordings of all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas on Telarc. Brilliant.

The Planets, Holst, Montreal Symphony, Dutoit, London

Anything by Martha Argerich, especially her live recording of Rach #3 Radio Orchestra Berlin, on Decca.

Barenboim, Chicago Symphony, Saint Saens #3 organ on DG

Keep classical alive (and jazz and rock too)

amman3,

Thanks a lot for your feedback.
  It’s very encouraging!

acman3.  Sorry for the typo.  Damn spell corrector!!!

newbee,

I just got the Sheppard disc.  Very enjoyable.  Great program.
The Gershwin especially, is played with great panache. 
He has a phenomenal technique.  I don’t see why he’s not better known.

Here are some of my favorites:

Charles Ives Symphony No. 2 - NY Philharmonic conducted by Bernstein

Bernstein’s Mass - Sony Classical remastered 1971 recording conducted by Bernstein at the Kennedy Center

Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 - Royal Philharmonic conducted by Charles Mackerras

Respighi’s Pines of Rome - Tokyo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Norichika Iimori on the Exton label.  

Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis - NY Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein on Deutsch Grammophone

Rarely, you will get a recording that has a composer, a soloist , a conductor
and a orchestra all of whom are both Great and at the very peak of their artistry .

One of these is Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, played by Kyung Wha Chung with Charles Dutoit conducting the Montreal Symphony Orchestra .

London 410 011-2

Have been listening to symphonies and concertos by J.J. Raff, a composer who produced a number of orchestral masterpieces, was popular (even dominant) during his lifetime (romantic period) but is hardly known today.
A recording of his 5th symphony on Chandos is available from HDTracks at 96/24 by the Suisse Romande and Neeme Jarvi; typical Jarvi in being very, very fast and emphasizing the larger lines and gestures. Makes the 5th sound like a masterpiece but races through the 2nd Andante movement so quickly it loses its sublimity.
And I would offer a "Dives" award to this symphony's 2nd movement but, frankly, it's even better than that...
So this HDTracks download has sounded strange from the gitgo and I checked it out in the studio and there is noise in certain portions of the file -- noticeably in crescendos and other dynamic transitions.
E-mailed HDTracks about this and they responded with an "it's not our fault" e-mail. Third time I have tried HDTracks and they continue to disappoint. Surprise to get this kind of audio disappointment from Chandos. The promise of HD downloads continues to elude me.
So have settled on the 2000 Carthy recording of the 5th with the "Orchestra della Svizzera italiana." This "dynamic" recording is available from Amazon and has better tempi than the Jarvi.
Have, as well, the older Bamert recording with the RSOB and it is OK but a bit too sedate.
Raff's piano concerto is, similarly, a major work worth investigating.

Since there have been a number of string concertos mentioned in this thread, I figured I'd recommend something a bit different:

Tuba Concerto by Edward Gregson - John Fletcher on Tuba with the Besses o' th' Barn Band (Chandos Label 1982 Recording)

It's a great piece, fun, upbeat, with some jazz influence especially in the third movement.  The recording sticks the soloist far to the left of the soundstage, which is a bit odd, but maybe that's where he was standing when they recorded it.  It's the original ensemble and soloist the piece was commissioned for though, and most of the other recordings are orchestrations for full wind ensemble or orchestra instead of the original brass band as accompaniment.  

“The best is the enemy of the the good.”
 I have some 10,000 combined records and CDs, but am paralyzed to play any one of them until I find something that sounds the way I want it to.  It’s insane how the hi-fi compulsion takes over at times.
 Of course, the music’s the thing, but the ogre of sound gets in the way when you’re an audiophile like me as well as a music lover.  
If you let it.
Alas!

That's why I buy BIS Cd's and now buy only old Vanguard LP's from the 50-60"s , the sound is always good because these companies never made
a bad sounding one .
Vanguard was run by audiophiles and has most natural sound I ever heard .

Schubert,

 I’m listening to the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Chung on Spotify right now.
 It is a gorgeous performance.

btw, In case anyone doesn’t know, One doesn’t have to buy CDs any more to hear virtually any extant recording in CD quality sound:
 If you buy and hook up the Chromecast Audio device (about $35) and you have wi-fi, all you have to do is access Spotify on your iPhone or tablet, and Voila!, you have the entire range of the extant recorded catalog available to you. If you don’t want commercials on Spotify it just costs you $5 or $6 a month.
The sound is almost identical to the actual CD although nitpickers will hear a difference. But, for the price .......
Technology is amazing!

I am sorely tempted to throw away all my CD’s anyway and just keep about
500 LP’s . With old age and small condo + one of better classical FM stations that’s all I really need , if that .

I believe one of the most important things I have learned over 8 decades is that you can really own nothing , but things can sure own you .

Re; Chung , so glad you enjoyed it . I heard the Montreal live 3-4 times in the 80’s and how glorious they were !
IMO , Chung is one of those "force of nature " musicians , not just born to be one, but with the music itself seemingly somehow infused in every atom of her being .
Her nothing less than heroic fight back from all her health problems has actually helped me as an example with the "mini strokes" I have had .
Heard her several times live recently on FM , perhaps not the technique of old but an even better true musician !

Now listening to Danil Trifonov, the best of the "youngsters" IMO
His Carnegie debut recital of 2013.
From the DG jacket:
The main programme of his Carnegie debut recital presents
the quintessence of the tradition to which he is heir:
Chopin’s 24 Preludes op. 28 (1839), Liszt’s Sonata in
B minor (1854) and Scriabin’s Piano Sonata No. 2
“Sonata-Fantasy” (1897), a chain of Romantic works
with a kindred spirit, by composers who were themselves
all piano virtuosos in their own right.

Can anyone recommend some good classical music FM music stations that I can access with my Bluesound app?

Here in NY, we have what is left of WQXR, but it is a sad memory of what we once had
-That is, remembering WNYC, WNCN, and others I have forgotten. And hosts who knew music-They have gone the way of dinosaurs..
I feel sorry for the current generations, they have missed a lot musically.
Bob

From Bluesound I don't know, but Classical Minnesota is very good as is Wisconsin Public Radio  out of Madison .

@schubert .
Thanks for the post. Can you give me the call letters? Bluesound app doesn't seem to find them by name.
B

KING 
WMFE
WSHU
BBC3

If you download the TuneIn Radio app and type in “classical,” you should be able to find more.

Now listening to Rameau keyboard suites, Angela Hewitt.So fine.In fact she is one of my favorites, so listenable.Faure, Back, Beethoven, Liszt, Chopin, Debussy, Couperin, Chabrier,Schumann  + many duets and trios

Now listening to Andrei Diev, piano, "The Fantasies"which includes Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and SchumannsuperbFirst heard of Diev from his recordings of Scriabin in a huge collection (1.50 GB) that also includes Ashkenazy, Weissenberg, Richter, Barenboim conducting Chicago SO, and others.
Also love his Rachmaninov Preludes, 1993 Rossijsky instrument, Moscow,produced by Sonopress GmbH GermanyDiev has a youtube channel, mostly Mozart
https://www.youtube.com/user/AndreiDiev

For the last month I’ve been listening to,almost exclusively, what I consider one of the least heard masterworks of the man I consider the greatest of all modern composers , Bela Bartok . .His "Mikrokosmos", which is a series of 153 progressive solo piano pieces written as a didactic work for the edification of his son much in the same manner as Bach did with his" Klavierbuchlien ", and IMO written at the same level .
.I have all 153 on CD and half on LP all played either by Bartok himself or
his student , friend and greatest interpreter, Gyorgy Sandor .I also have the entire 6 volumes of the scores which I study before I listen to a piece and try to follow as they play . I get perhaps 10% of what a trained
musician does but I find , even at my level, getting even just a glance at what a great composer is trying to do increases my joy over the music greatly and gives me personal gratification at doing my best , weak as it is .
The incisive rhythms and percussive tones while pushing the melody to its limits at the same time using systematic changes of register bring together the music of both Eastern and Western Europe in his unique way .Bartok is less concerned with supple fingering than introducing the mind and ear to the free rhythms , bold dissonances and complex harmonies he championed .

Much of the music is just plain beautiful and can just be listened to as that .Piece (97)" Notturno" has a tender melody that would make Schubert jealous and is in a perfect synthesis of diatonic and chromatic , to me right up there with any piano music I have ever heard .

Schubert, FWIW, mainly because  your moniker suggests a special interest, a recording of some Schubert's music for solo piano that I can't resist listening to fairly often when I'm in the mood for Schubert, "Le Voyage Magnifique" by Maria Joao Pires on a DG CD. This is a two CD set which includes Impromptus D899, Impromptus D 935, and Drei Impromptus Aus Dem Nachlass D946. 

For anyone who enjoys the Piano Concertos by Chopin, you must hear those by Krystian Zimerman, Carlo Giulini, and the LA Phil, on DG. The music is crystal clear and lyrical. Just beautiful to hear. These easily replace my long time favorites by Claudio Arrau.

twoleftears, Re Boleros - Yep! Note in another thread there is a post by Granyring on the thread ’What used speakers rarely come up for sale to which I responded. Mine aren’t going anywhere. After 7 years they remain my eminent piece of audio gear. Interesting that they have outlasted most Silverline models yet you rarely see them used/for sale. They are for sale now (demo’s) for half of list on A-Gon. What the heck buy them unheard. If you want something that really is "musical - whatever the hell that is, :-), buy them unheard. At worst, they still look pretty.

Re Chopin - glad you have heard them and share my appreciation.

I do have Lupu’s Brahms, and I do like them, quite a bit in fact. I also greatly enjoy two volumes of Brahms solo piano music by Antonin Kubalek on Dorian. Some of the music duplicates Lupu’s but I wouldn’t be without them. I’ve got a lot(!) of Brahms piano music and chamber recordings but these two ’sets’ get nearly all of my attention.

newbee, I have my moniker because when I started to buy on here it seemed like I was the ONLY person on here that loved classical and
I doubted anyone would have a clue . Bit embarrassed now that I had the gall to use the name of one of the greatest composers who ever lived .
My favorite solo piano pieces are by Schubert, Brahms and Schumann .The latter two said that they were influenced by the former and you hear that in their music.There are so many great recordings of all three but to be honest, Radu Lupu is my go-to on all three ! With Imogen Cooper a close second on Schubert and Schumann and Nicholas Angelich and Ivan Moravek on Brahms .

Schubert, LOL, I've got a confession too. I'm not a newbie either. :-)

I have a few of Lupu's Schubert recordings  which I really enjoy, but perhaps not so much as Richard Goode's recordings of his piano sonatas on Non-such. But that is probably only because I first listened to Schubert via Goode and he is one of my favorite Beethoven pianists. Go figure, old dog/new tricks, etc.

There is no doubt the artist that brought you to a composer will always
have a special place in your heart .

newbee and schubertme tooi love radu lupu, have his complete decca compilation, it is 10 cds of beethoven, brahms, schubert and schumann
also his 2 cds of great pianists series, which also includes grieg
+ some mozart that is included in some Perahia recordingsI am also a big fan of Maria Joao Pires, her chopin nocturnes are my fav, also love her Mozart Sonatas, as well as several Schubert recordingsincluding duets with Ricardo Castro, and her "great pianists" cds.
Appreciate Moravek tooThe only Goode recording I have is  Brahms clarinet sonata, duet with Stolzman. Will have to look for more.
Angelich and Cooper are new to me, thanks for the tip

Many thanks for recommending Imogen Cooper.  I was never a big fan of Schumann or Brahms, but her recordings are superb.

Indeed , I heard her live here in Twin Cities recently in the very fine acoustics of the 350 seat hall at Macalester College.Hayden , Chopin and Schumann program .
The lady was a powerhouse on the great Steinway at Macalester , lengthy standing ovation , she is the real deal . 

So I downloaded some Angelich, and like it very much.But there was a real gem in one of the downloads, i.e., Marietta Petkova.She plays the Rachmaninoff Preludes as well as anyone I ever heard.Here is a review from Amazon: Before I heard this remarkable recording, I had never even heard of Marietta Petkova! She has made quite a few recording for the somewhat obscure Doron and Challenge Classics labels, but not so much as a “whisper” of her incredibly beautiful and felicitous touch, unforgettable mastery of both pedaling and rubato and searing interpretive penetration have ever reached me.
I have heard no other recordings of the C-sharp minor, B-flat minor, G major and B minor Preludes that have simply moved me to tears and distraction as quickly and decisively as these have: phenomenally gorgeous and other-worldly in every respect.
That this recording is not more widely known and appreciated is simply criminal and speaks volumes about the true state of present “perks under the table ” musical criticism and the “money and glamour first” recording industry in general.
I have now listened to these discs 5 times through, with the greatest joy and satisfaction, and I cannot for my life understand how such an incredibly and beautifully talented Bulgarian pianist - gifted from above with musical intelligence and insight the equal of (and even surpassing!) Richter, Ashkenazy and Osborne – could come to be so neglected and even unappreciated?
You have my absolute assurance that one listen ALONE will suffice to lift this improbably triumphant tour de force to the level of “first choice” in your collection of illustrious Rachmaninov Prelude recordings.
Wholeheartedly recommended!
https://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninov-Etudes-Tableaux-Preludes-Sergei-Rachmaninoff/dp/B0000713BH

With that recommendation I simply have to get them!

Had to go to Amazon uk.to get them.

Has anyone ordered CDs from Presto Classical recently? Just tried to order the Sony reissue of Bigg's recording of the Rheinberger Organ Concertos (not available from Amazon) and am having problems. Won't go into specifics but would appreciate any information from others concerning this site/business: https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical.

I’ve bought a lot of CDs  from Presto Clsssical.
Never had a problem.
Delivery takes a little longer because it’s overseas.

Has anyone had the chance to listen to Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde in the classic reading by Klemperer and Fritz Wunderlich and Christa Ludwig,in a wonderfull remastering by EMI. Absolutely astounding and even for 1964 it has cleaned up beautifully. I don't think I have ever heard better.
Also high on my list just now is,
Francesco Piemontesi - Liszt Annees de Pelerinage Swiss
Quite a young Swiss pianist with a beautifull singing tone almost reminds me of a young Murray Perrahia. Last year I had the pleasure of listening to him play Beethoven's Piano Concerto No 4 in my local town hall and it was really enjoyable.

Bought a couple of CD’s from Presto a couple of months ago without problems. Never have had a problem with them. 

Have you heard Alexander Melnikov?His Shostakovich Preludes are a treasure.He has also recorded on period instruments.Richter was his mentor (though not his teacher).
Wiki says:" Melnikov’s recording of the complete Preludes and Fugues by Shostakovich was awarded the BBC Music Magazine Award, Choc de classica and the Jahrespreis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. In 2011, it was also named by the BBC Music Magazine as one of the “50 Greatest Recordings of All Time.” Additionally, Melnikov’s discography features works by Brahms, Rachmaninoff and Scriabin. "

I haven't heard this recording, or for that matter any of his recordings. My go to Preludes have been those by Tatiana Nikolayeva on Hyperion. I'll have to give his a try.

FWIW, another Shostakovich performance I really enjoy is his Aphorisms, op13, by Ashkenazy on Decca. Give ity a listen if you haven't already.

yes I have the Ashkenazy Shostakovich Aphorisms on Decca,
also contains Dances of the Dolls, Preludes, Sonata #2, and other pieces toohttps://www.amazon.com/Shostakovich-Piano-Works-Dmitri/dp/B0000SWNIO
I have never heard an Ashkenazy piano recording that I did not love, both for his performance, and also for technical excellenceHe is best pianist I have ever heard live (long ago, and inexpensive)

another Melnikov gem, Schubert duets with Isabelle Fausthttps://www.amazon.com/Schubert-Violin-Sonata-D-574-Fantasie/dp/B000DJBEXA