+ 1 for BIS , best Classical sound .
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
I have Kenneth Gilbert's recordings of Rameau, very nice. And I used to have Wanda Landowska's 1933 recording of the Goldbergs. But these days I prefer piano to harpsichord. Perhaps if it were LIVE I would appreciate harpsichord more. The dean of U of Oregon Music School played a clavichord, and I liked that, especially fine when accompanied by recorder or guitar. |
One thing I do NOT like , is artists saying well if Bach or LvB etc had this or that he would have wrote for this or that . I just want what they did write, but I understand why others think otherwise . One thing I do like is every note that Schumann ever wrote.About a year ago I bought a 2 CD set of all his Symphony’s on a Warner that started life as a TELDEC in 1990 with Kurt Masur and the London SO. I saw Masur live many times , his wheelhouse was the early romantics and he ruled there . These 2 CD’s are still on Amazon when I looked last night at the same price I paid , 5 bucks . His clarity and tempo and just plain what he knew of Schumann is ahead of Karajan,Bernstein etc . In particular the 2nd . In any event you can’t have too much Schumann ! Only better I have heard is Gardiner with period instruments on DG .If you want modern instruments Masur is as good as any and better than most .Though I haven’t heard any critics say it . He is also very good with Brahms among others. |
I jumped the gun, and listened to Gilbert’s “Goldberg” on IDAGIO rather than waiting for the CD to arrive. First of all, he captures the overwhelming genius of the work. How does a human create something like that? The playing itself is gorgeous, as is the sound of the instrument. Thank you both for your recommendation. I am indebted to you. |
RV I am so glad you are enjoying Gilbert playing the Goldbergs, I love his playing and the harpsicord is so well recorded also. Another thing he plays beautifully is Gaspard LeRoux's Suite in F Major. Len - I do love Schumann also, my favourite of his is Etudes Symphoniques , a wonderful work and my favourite recording is Mikhail Pletnev playing Rachmaninovs own piano in a studio in Rachmaninovs villa on Lake Geneva. The recording is beautifully recorded and it reflects what Rachmaninov played on it himself and Pletnev is inspired. Oh and Masur is a wonderful conductor and none other that Arrau loved doing concerts with him. |
Yes, I have that Pletnev recording made on Rachmaninoff's Steinway. In addition to Rachmaninoff, it also includes Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Chopin. Matsuev played this piano in 2013, says it was a gift from Steinway in 1929.http://matsuev.com/en/press-tsentr/news/662 Wikipedia says it is a Hamburg D. "Sergei Rachmaninoff bought three 'D's, all New York products, for his homes in the United States, but he installed a Hamburg 'D' in his Swiss villa." Steinway tells of the Horowitz-Rachmaninoff friendship: Then the two decided that if Horowitz was going to perform Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto, perhaps the composer should give him some pointers. Off they went to Steinway Hall. Rachmaninoff played the orchestra part on one Steinway piano, while Horowitz played the solo part on another. Rachmaninoff was genuinely impressed. “He swallowed it whole,” stated the composer. “He had the courage, the intensity, and daring that make for greatness.” http://www.steinway-piano.com/steinway-news/a-meeting-of-titans-the-day-vladimir-horowitz-and-sergei... |
Bach's exceptionally wide span. https://www.classicfm.com/composers/bach/js-hands-anatomy-study/ |
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Len and RV I have just discovered a new young pianist who dare I say plays like Horowitz in the 50s and guess what the name of his album is Homage to Horowitz. His name is Nikolai Tokarev and he is on Idagio and it's a mixture of pieces with a definite Horowitz swing. The first three Scarlatti Sonatas really get the party going and the last of the three is the D minor sonata a warhorse of Martha Argerich and he is every bit as fast as her but she has an extra fizzle to her playing but he is very close. Do give it a try I think you'll like it and The good thing about it is because it's on Idagio you can try before you buy. |
OK , jim , will do soon . If he is as good as Rapu I’ll even get excited . The problem I have as I explore the infinite beauty and elegance of classical music is that I tend to " forget" what I already knew . Case in point . As I got into my car today from shopping , I caught most of Ravels" Pavane pour une infante de’funte" by somebody and the Rotterdam Phil.When I got home I dug out my only copy , which is still perhaps the best one ,the" LSO and Monteux " There just are no words to say how beautiful it is or the grief those who have lost children feel . |
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Jim, Comparing anyone to Horowitz is a very tall order. At his best, Horowitz was a force of nature. An incredible showman who could wow you with his incredible technique or reduce you to tears with a simple Chopin waltz. Everything he played he made his own, unique to any other pianist. His sense of phrasing compelled you to hang on every note. Especially at a live concert, he held the audience in the palm of his hand. But even his recordings capture the magic of something being created before your very ears. I believe it’s simply unfair to compare anyone to such a dynamo. |
Yes guys it is very dangerous for anyone to be compared to Horowitz but I am saying that given time maybe he will become as good maybe. here I think he is testing the water and the last number although not in my field is a pastiche on pices by Liszt he creates quite a storm and he has double octave glissandos that are trully frightening. I'm saying time will tell for this young man. |
The greatest instrument God ever created is the human voice . Blend that with the instruments we have created and you are at the zenith of what music can do.Puccini could/can resonate the human soul better than anyone, the real meaning of genius . .This clip is sung by the great Chinese soprano Ying Huang who was the first asian woman ever cast in the Madame Butterfly role , at least tin the west . For many years I had a rule about Butterfly . if it was one I wanted to really see. my limit was a thousand dollars and a thousand miles . Ying Huang brought something I never heard before, the inner understanding of how Asian women regard love .This is the most moving 5 minutes in all of music ! https://youtu.be/bkUq98oiyRc Many times in Vienna, Berlin ,Budapest. London and you name it I have seen all the women and most of the men crying and I mean crying, not tearing up. at the finish . Even if you hate opera, if you never see Madame Butterfly, in the company of other humans is best, you are missing one of the greatest experiences there is . |
https://youtu.be/cqoP8rkNIsY?t=311 Talk about a real heart breaker. This wonderful Korean artists father died 2 days before this concert and her mom told her to not come back to Seoul for the funeral but sing Schubert’s Ava Maria in Paris to her dad on the same day . .I hope Franz was with her father as he listened to his loving daughter ! P.S . you have to drag the ball back to start from the beginning on this . |
For adventurous Bach enthusiasts - '13 ways of looking at the Goldberg' by Lara Downes on Tritone Records (CD). A very interesting journey into the possible. Enjoy if you can. BTW, this lady, who I really enjoy, has an interesting discography. For me, her works on the Steinway & Sons label are very enjoyable, especially 'Exiles' Cafe' and "A Billie Holiday Songbook'. |
