I was just sampling a few youtube videos of Yuja Wang. She undoubtedly has bionically fast fingers and hands, but I wasn't sensing much artistry. What are your impressions?
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.
3,876 responses Add your response
Johannes Brahms HANDEL VARIATIONS - RHAPSODIES - PIANO PIECES Murray Perahia (piano) Six Piano Pieces Op. 118 Murray Perahia (piano) Sony Classics Recorded June 19-24, 2010 Funkhaus Berlin Intermezzo in A Minor, Op. 118, No. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_QFFHqo7qE Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118, No. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y4Iz9Y47Xo Ballade in G Minor, Op. 118, No. 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qlrYcZQoIs Intermezzo in F Minor, Op. 118, No. 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XrHnKRcGxA Romance in F Major, Op. 118, No. 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvXmwNwXHK0 Intermezzo in E-flat Minor, Op. 118, No. 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gndLtJe9CqI Cheers |
Johannes Brahms HANDEL VARIATIONS - RHAPSODIES - PIANO PIECES Murray Perahia (piano) Two Rhapsodies Op. 79 Murray Perahia (piano) Sony Classics Recorded June 19-24, 2010 Funkhaus Berlin Rhapsodie in B Minor, Op. 79, No. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiwRuEwTpCA Rhapsodie in G Minor, Op. 79, No. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixFdBVSbYT4 Cheers |
Johannes Brahms HANDEL VARIATIONS - RHAPSODIES - PIANO PIECES Handel Variations Op. 24 Murray Perahia (piano) Sony Classics Recorded June 19-24, 2010 Funkhaus Berlin Händel Variations, Op. 24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFSpeq6NAE Cheers |
Johannes Brahms CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA IN D, OP. 77 Itzhak Perlman (violin) Berliner Philharmoniker Daniel Barenboim EMI Classics 1992 Notes: " Originally, the work had four movements but two months before the first performance Brahms wrote to Joachim that he had thrown out the middle movements and that a "miserable Adagio" had taken their place. The first performance took place in Leipzig on 1 January 1879 with Joachim as soloist and Brahms conducting. The initial success was only moderate but now, for over one hundred years, the work has taken its place, alongside Beethoven's, among the greatest concerto's ever written for violin." I. Allegro non troppo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j_voU2NOK8&t=52s II. Adagio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYF2_uOzKj0 III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMLrq7oABm0 Cheers |
Johannes Brahms BRAHMS CELLO SONATAS Yo-Yo Ma(cello) Emanuel Ax(piano) RCA / BMG Classics 1985 / 2004 Sonata No. 1, Op. 38 in E minor I. Allegro non troppo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX5tZINBmck II. Allegretto quasi menuetto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2PmrGKIUxs III. Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku6tM8HtGuk Cheers |
Ludwig van Beethoven GUNTER WAND CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9 Symphony No. 9 in D minor "Choral" Op. 125 Edith Wiens, soprano - Hildegard Hartwig, alto Keith Lewis, tenor - Roland Hermann, bass NDR Sinfonieorchester Günter Wand RCA / Sony 1986 / 1989 / 2013 I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK4qetlv_vs II. Molto vivace - Presto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ3RowARtII III. Adagio molto e cantabile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vk3Lzv0_Ww IV. Presto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2pGjVEcOVQ V. Presto. "O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!". Allegro assai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOrmn5r0AC0 No notes. I guess they felt like, what is there to say? Cheers |
I assume you refer to the orchestral version? If so: Jean Martinon/Orchestre de Paris. 1975, Angel/EMI. Vol. 4 of the series “Orchestral Music of Ravel”. Fantastic performance with excellent sonics. There’s something about the great French orchestras playing this music that is just right. If you refer to the piano version, Robert Casadesus’ recording on Columbia is a must hear. The sonics (mono) are good, but a bit “dated” by audiophile standards. Still, amazing playing. |
Beethoven & Mozart BEETHOVEN & MOZART VIOLIN CONCERTOS Nigel Kennedy (violin) Polish Chamber Orchestra Nigel Kennedy EMI 2007 Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D K218 I. Allegro (Cadenza by Kennedy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAHyRA8DFL4 II. Andante cantabile (Cadenza by Kennedy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QieyQKDYvc III. Rondeau (Andante grazioso) (Cadenza by Kennedy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEWEMdZPnmg Cheers |
Beethoven & Mozart BEETHOVEN & MOZART VIOLIN CONCERTOS Nigel Kennedy (violin) Polish Chamber Orchestra Nigel Kennedy EMI 2007 Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Op. 61 I. Allegro ma non troppo (Cadenza by Kreisler) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpIGVkGqDv0 II. Larghetto (Cadenza by Kennedy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB2aL5K8NdQ III. Rondo (Allegro) (Cadenza by Kennedy) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GphhANFLv2o Cheers |
Felix Mendelssohn VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP. 64 Yehudi Menuhin (violin) Berliner Philharmoniker Wilhelm Furtwängler EMI 1954 / 1999 Allegro molto appassionato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyKWXpTcL0o Andante https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2X3zYcXg_0 Allegretto ma non troppo - Allegro molto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTjI1Hkjq0U Cheers |
Ludwig van Beethoven BEETHOVEN & MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTOS Yehudi Menuhin (violin) Philharmonia Orchestra Berliner Philharmoniker Wilhelm Furtwängler EMI 1953 / 1999 Mono Notes: "The two artist first performed together in August 1947, four months after Furtwängler was allowed to work again after being cleared of second world war offences by a de-Nazification court. In 1933 Furtwängler invited Menuhin and two other Jewish musicians, Artur Schnabel and Huberman, to appear as soloists with the Berlin Philharmonic. All three refused. From then until the end of the second world war, Menuhin and Furtwängler worked for the most part in different cultural worlds." Beethoven: Philharmonia Orchestra Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 Allegro ma non troppo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5znyEn3bVI Larghetto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBmKcTIZWks Rondo - Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Ose2Tfyws Cheers |
I couldn’t get into their triple, it was a bit dry and uninspired For me ei001h: I only have two performances of The Triple, the one I posted and another by the Eroica Trio with the Prague Chamber Orchestra. I try to only post the stuff I actually own. I have not heard the two performances you mention in your post. As far as the Oistrakh, Rostropovich and Richter being Dry, I'm afraid that sort of evaluation is way above my level of expertise and appreciation. I'm not that advanced. At my stage, I just rely on my Gurus to find the good performances. Thanks for the post Cheers |
Maria João Pires playing the Goldberg Variations. Absolutely sublime. She made the recording Rowan’s the end of her career and you can tell she’s playing how she feels it. She doesn’t have anything to prove, so none of the showboating you see in other recordings. But it’s clear what a showman she was without showing it. |
Rok2kid interesting story about Rostropovich and Solzhenitsyn I know richter Rostropovich and oistrakh are unequaled in their respective instruments but I couldn’t get into their triple, it was a bit dry and uninspired For me have you listened triple by geza anda, schneiderhan, fournier? Another great one is szell fleisher stern thoughts ? |
Beethoven Triple Concerto . Three absolute Titans who are never going to be equalled in this piece . I wore out a few LP's playing this piece every night and I never got sick of it. These three were equally matched in temperament with Richter incandescent on the piano holding everything together. Oh yes and Karajan for a change number 4 on the ratings.!! |
Johannes Brahms DOUBLE CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN & CELLO IN A MINOR, OP.102 David Oistrakh(violin), Mstislav Rostropovich(cello) The Cleveland Orchestra George Szell EMI Great Recordings of The Century 1970 / 1998 Notes: "A feared martinet, ruthless authoritarian, brilliant chamber musician and incomparable orchestra-builder, Szell once wrote to Oistrakh, confiding that "there is no musician today that I respect more than you; nobody with whom I feel more "at home" when I play and with whom I feel so strongly that we are heart and soul." Wow! Double Concerto for Violin & Cello in A minor Op. 102 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et1zSwsXubE Cheers |
Ludwig van Beethoven TRIPLE CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN, CELLO, & PIANO IN C, OP.56 David Oistrakh(violin), Mstislav Rostropovich(cello), Sviatoslav Richter(piano) Berliner Philharmoniker Hebert von Karajan EMI Great Recordings of The Century 1970 / 1997 Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C Op. 56 Notes: "Four months after taping the "Triple" in Berlin, it was to be repeated in Moscow. But having supported Solzhenitsyn in the Russian press, Rostropovich was 'replaced', and (much to official dismay) Oistrakh and Richter refused to perform with any other cellist. Finally, the authorities were forced to relent: "Those who witnessed the concert," wrote Rostropovich, "remember it to this day, for it was an occasion when music won over oppression." Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVqbzl-SKLw Largo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVJ3dcBJSjk Rondo alla polacca https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O98HHUxw1Hk Cheers |
Ludwig van Beethoven THE SYMPHONIES / 5 OVERTURES Wiener Philharmoniker Karl Böhm DG 1971 Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op.68, "Pastoral" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ-wiRQ7pHc&t=941s My first exposure to Beethoven's symphonies was thru the Sixth. Played it so much I got burnt out on it. Have not played it in years. Still wonderful. Cheers |
Ludwig van Beethoven STRING QUARTETS OP. 18/6 & OP. 130/133 Artemis Quartet Natalia Prischepenko(violin), Grego Sigi(violin ll), Friedemann Weigle(viola), Eckart Runge(cello) Virgin Classics 2010 String Quartet No. 6 in B flat major Allegro con brio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ9jQOGVI6o Adagio,ma non troppo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg-NAHQ_vYs Scherzo (Allegro) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kQV3aVV2FM La Malinconia (Adagio) - Allegretto quasi.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeX2alpjuYg Allegretto quasi allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi35pfd1DFw Cheers |
Vienna, 5 December 1808 I was invited to another most agreeable dinner by means of a very friendly note from Beethoven, who had not been able to reach me in person. It was given by his hostess, Countess Erdody. I was so deeply touched there, that my pleasure was nearly ruined. Imagine a very pretty, small, delicate woman of twenty five who had been married at the age of fifteen, had contracted an incurable illness at the time of her first confinement, and in the ten years since then, has not been able to remain out of bed for more than two or three months...The only pleasure for her is music, and she plays even Beethoven's music quite well, hobbling from one fortepiano to the other, on her very swollen feet...and then we got the very temperamental Beethoven to the fortepiano as well. He improvised for a good hour from the depth of his artistic feelings, ranging from the highest heights to the deepest depths of the celestial art, with mastery and versatility, so that ten times at least tears came to my eyes." -- Johann Friedrich Reichardt (German critic and composer) From the notes of the Archduke and Ghost Trios CD. Cheers |
Ludwig van Beethoven ARCHDUKE AND GHOST TRIOS Jos van Immerseel (fortepiano) Vera Beths (violin) Anner Bylsma (violoncello) Vivarte / Sony 1999 / 2000 Piano Trio in D major, Op.70, No.1 "Ghost" "...Macbeth, alas, was to remain incomplete, because of Collin's premature death, but some of the "ghostly" atmosphere of the witches' scene found it's way into the D Minor Largo of Op.70 No.1." Hence the "Ghost" trio. Allegro vivace e con brio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuSQJnUwUYA Largo assai ed espressivo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgtxH3esdQ4 Presto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlZLnadCnJc Cheers |
Ludwig van Beethoven ARCHDUKE AND GHOST TRIOS Jos van Immerseel (fortepiano) Vera Beths (violin) Anner Bylsma (violoncello) Vivarte / Sony 1999 / 2000 Notes: "It is, however, with the Op.97 trio, the so-called "Archduke" trio, that Beethoven attained his greatest and most profound expression of the form. This Trio, the last he would actually play -- because of his increasing deafness --derives its moniker from Beethoven's close ties with the heir to the Austrian throne, Archduke Rudolph of Austria." Piano Trio in B-flat major, op. 97 "Archduke" Allegro moderato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUiUegcC4MY Scherzo. Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0aT-9ZUx4Y Andante cantabile ma però https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usjYKb-vErk Allegro moderato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLSwo5RTKgw Cheers |
A long time ago someone recommended Kiril Kondrashin's semi-historic (1981) recording of Mahler 6, which I finally acquired and am listening to. Reviewers resort often to the adjective "brisk" to describe this interpretation, and one can immediately understand why. Still I enjoy his rubatos, and the recording itself is remarkably good. |
Here is one of my favorite violin concertos, Penderecki’s, Violin Concerto No. 2 (Metamorphosen). This is from the second part of his career, after he became more tonal than he was during the early part of his career. In all honesty, I tend to like thornier sounding atonal music than this. But for some reason this overcomes, for me, being more tonal. Might one describe it as "neo classical"? Here is the debut, played by Anne-Sophie Mutter, who Penderecki wrote it for. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NrM-X0bhhc |
Johann S. Bach BACH CONCERTOS Hilary Hahn (violin) Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Jeffrey Kahane DG 2003 Concerto for Oboe, Violin, Strings and Continuo in C minor, BWV 1060 (the you-tube post is mislabeled) allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVpuT7g5QwI adagio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sga6PIksbc allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOH1LTmsWJM Cheers |
Johann S. Bach BACH CONCERTOS Hilary Hahn (violin) Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Jeffrey Kahane DG 2003 Notes:Hahn gives her thoughts on Bach and his music. Nice booklet with pictures. Concerto for Violin, Strings and Continuo in A minor, BWV 1041 Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor, BWV 1041 - 1. Allegro moderato https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pocz2yoAcsY Concerto No.1 In A Minor, BWV 1041 - 2. Andante https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYfIkZUY0wE Violin Concerto No.1 In A Minor, BWV 1041 - 3. Allegro assai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruMJp4Hfk0I Another wunderkind, from the now defunct BMG record club. Cheers |
Johann S. Bach SIX CONCERTOS for the Margrave of Brandenburg European Brandenburg Ensemble Trevor Pinnock AVIE 2007 Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051 [Allegro] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74FAN8RdrOE Adagio ma non tanto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl5B-60n7Gk Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0R_ulgQWi8 Cheers |
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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) BRANDENBURGISCHE KONZERTE Nr. 1-6 Gustav Leonhardt - Harpsichord and Conductor Period Instruments Sony 1977 Notes: Cheap packaging. Includes a folded sheet of paper with cover photo and another sheet folded inside written in Japanese. Interestingly, they do contain a list of the instruments played by the players and the date of their manufacture. No stradivarius. Concerto No.5 in D major, BWV 1050 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9zL0ml6OR0 Cheers |
Johann S. Bach BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS I Musici Philips Classics 1958/1965 - 1993 Notes: "Concerto No. 4 in G provides an interesting example of a work in which "solo" and "grosso" elements coexist. On the one hand there are the ripieno strings and, on the other, a violin and two treble recorders comprising the solo group." Concerto No.4 in G, BWV 1049 Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8LS5-YmIwE Andante https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghHh0sFTP0Y Presto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZlJs8bxNfA Cheers |
Johann S. Bach BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS Il Giardino Armonico Giovanni Antonini Teldec / Warner Classics 1996-97 / 2015 Concerto No.3 in G major, BWV 1048 Notes: Deluxe packaging with an excellent booklet with a detailed synopsis of each Concerto. "A distinctive and unusual feature of this concerto is the absence a slow middle movement. Instead, Bach provided only two minim chords forming a Phrygian cadence and a tempo marking "Adagio"." [Allegro] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNOyrny-T08 Adagio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1zyLG099uA Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Aj1yez5D4 Cheers |
J. S. Bach SIX CONCERTOS FOR THE MARGRAVE OF BRANDENBURG European Brandenburg Ensemble Trevor Pinnock Avie 2CD set 2007 Notes: "Our initial preparation took place at the University of Sheffield in the summer of 2006....A thrilling first day of rehearsal was followed by tragedy: the death in the night of Katherine McGillivray, our principal viola player, from an unsuspected brain tumour. The strengthening power of Bach's music and the knowledge that he himself lost many of his children enabled us to complete our week in tribute to Katherine. She remains central to our performances today." Brandenburg Concerto No.2 in F major, BWV 1047 [Allegro] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHrvGOd6G20 andante https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wTHHpWOW7g Allegro assai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yug8znwe8y4 Cheers |
Johann S. Bach BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS Les Concert des Nations Jordi Savall Alla Vox SACD 2010 Deluxe Packaging with glossy color booklet. 2CD set. Concerto No.1 in F major, BWV 1046 [Allegro] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo3ArJAI9TQ Adagio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yiiBbTCn6g Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmFJRS5OSos Menuetto & Trio - Polacca & Trio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-teI6acTUMI Cheers |
Johann S. Bach BACH CONCERTOS Julia Fischer (violin) Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin) Academy of St Martin in the Fields Harvey de Souza -- Concertmaster Decca 2009 in London. VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MAJOR, BWV 1042 Violin Concerto No.2 in E, BWV 1042 - 1. Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ldv893l0m0 Violin Concerto No.2 in E, BWV 1042 - 2. Adagio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lnQu09Axv8 Violin Concerto No.2 in E, BWV 1042 - 3. Allegro assai https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nrjwBC-Gus Cheers |
Discovered a new Russian pianist sofja gulbadamova playing Brahms string sextet 1 in b flat piano version on IDAGIO Judging by this piece only i think you are right about her...To say the least....for me here his playing has a "dreamlike" character that is like enchantment....A genius.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60e6adUUaA |
Johann S. Bach BACH CONCERTOS Julia Fischer (violin) Alexander Sitkovetsky (violin) Academy of St Martin in the Fields Harvey de Souza -- Concertmaster Decca 2009 in London. Notes: Tell of her love for Bach and the influences on her development, mainly, Yehudi Menuhin and her teacher in Munich. She looks very young on the cover photo. Concerto for two violins in D minor, BWV 1043 Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043 - 1. Vivace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qy1UWNX6xc Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043 - 2. Largo ma non... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eZqyQYd73o Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043 - 3. Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ILv2nqULho Cheers |