Classical Music for Aficionados
twoleftears (great handle...) Thanks for the recommendation; just ordered it from Amazon. Here are two lesser known albums I have found mesmerizing: 1. Zelenka: Orchestral Works by Archive and Camerata Bern; pay attention to the Hipocondrie 2. Edgar Meyer: Meyer/Bottesini Concertos by St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Wolff; like the Bottesini in b-minor and Meyer is perhaps the greatest double bassist of his generation. |
Lots of great music recommendations to explore which is really the basis of this hobby. Thanks. Although I am not a classical music aficionado, the one recording I never tire of hearing is “Horowitz in Moscow”, Deutsche Grammophon 419 499-2. I prefer live performances in general as they have a more immediate and less studied quality. The ambient noises from the venue gives a “you are there” experience. To my ear, his telling of Scarlatti’s Sonata in E major is sublime. |
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@rvpiano Huge Thank You for opening this thread!!! I am torn between reading it/placing more goodies into my Amazon cart and offering my own discoveries. So far I am Shopping!!! Million thanks for all the suggestions!!!!!! beautiful music from my heck of the woods is Giya Kancheli "Light Sorrow" I cannot imagine my collection without it, played here as often as Brahms 1st, Manfred Symphony, Ligetti... |
Vindenpar: Have recently purchased a number of ADD sets as large collections from Amazon and been surprised at their superb sound quality. Some of the Columbia recordings by Bernstein have a natural acoustic feel lacking in modern digital efforts. Have also found that removing any original tape hiss found in many inexpensive releases (Sony is notorious in leaving this in) makes a tremendous difference in being able to hear more of the original performance. Purists may want the hiss, but I want to be able to hear the viola section... |
Know nothing of vinyl because I abandoned it in the 80s. Have found, however, that you can get a significant amount of air with CDs by upsampling them in JRiver to 192/24 then playing them back with a quality converter. Engineers have explained to me that the improvement happens during the playback conversion when the better SN ratio produces a quieter result that has, consequently, more "air." Have also noticed that higher res digital files (94/24 is the studio standard) have this sense of "air" about them. |
On a well mastered cd of an excellently produced recording there is air around instruments and in the hall going back to the beginning of the stereo era and even on some mono recordings. Some of the remastered recordings that have been coming out lately are jaw dropping. You feel like you are in the space with the performers. It's really kind of eerie how much information was captured on those tapes. |
Johnny R (audioconnection) used to carry the Belles, but now I see they're gone from the website. Back to classical. Farrar, Orchestral Pieces, on Chandos, is superb-sounding, a notably deep soundstage and some great bass thwacks. Style is post-Elgar/Vaughn Williams. (Warning: don't set the volume on the basis of the first few seconds of track 1, or you'll be in for a surprise.) |
The music of Brahms is often referred to as "autumnal". Fifty years ago I thought that meant the color of a leaf or something. Now , in my old age I see it as genius that still draws between the lines, sort of like Rembrandt compared to modern painters who just throw paint unto a canvas . Example #1 is his late piano music that is like comfort food to an old man. Another composer who is an exemplar, to me anyway, is Faure, the daddy of modern French music .An example is one of his last works the Trio for piano,cello and violin, Op. 120. The recording I have enjoyed the most is the great American/Israeli violinist Gil Shaham and Co. , "The Faure Album" CC03 on the Canary label . I gather Canary is the Family business on the net, though I found mine at Barnes & Noble . I doubt there is a bad recording of it . That said , the Canary has the advantage of starting with an early great work , Faure’s "Sonata for violin and piano, Op.13 and ending with the Trio Op. 120 showing his progression from a young genius to an old one . Faure , died not long after . His last words were to his son. "I did what I could.Now let God be my judge ". |
Half-Price books is good source, here in Twin Cities they must have a dozen stores and the price is right . My secret source is Berkshire Records on net .Don’t tell anyone else ! To me the LP always sounds better and easy to find here in stores plus the 10 Goodwill stores within 8 miles of my abode, I’ll like some feedback this, to ME the difference I hear is there is no air in the hall on CD and there is on LP, and for ME, that makes all the difference . Of course , I might be nuts . |
Access to product. Having purchased Classical CDs since they first started appearing in the early 80s, have seen the many changes that have taken place in the retail environment. These days there are no music stores left that sell new product (remember Tower records?) and you are facing first a decision to follow streaming or acquisition options and then how to find the music you want. Classical recordings are notable for their ageless qualities. A great performance from the 60s still pleases. Sure there are remarkable improvements in fidelity throughout the last 50 years but ADD recordings can sound convincing on even the best audiophile systems. So I prefer to buy CDs and have a hard copy even though I rip them into JRiver immediately and just store the original. With this preference, I am currently ordering new product from Amazon and scouring the two used media outlets in my city for used CDs. We all know that used CDs are as good as new ones and, in conjunction with the ageless quality of classical performances, represent a genuine bargain for the classical aficionado. Have tried HDTracks and other downloading services and not been pleased. Presto in England has most of the new offerings but their shipment to my state is uncertain and they have not downloaded to the US in the past. DG is moving into the downloading area and I suspect some other companies are also active. But I find that most downloading options are limited in the pieces made available. So I am still visiting the used bins and using Internet reviews to identify new CDs to order from Amazon. Suspect some of you on this site have found better access to CD product and would appreciate your knowledge. |
On the lighter side, is an LP titled “Gershwin on Broadway,” with a very young Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the Buffalo Philharmonic in Gershwin overtures. The panache of the playing is infectious and the sound is world class: One of the best renderings of an orchestra on any medium. It appears from time to time on Amazon used, also on eBay. Well worth searching for. Interestingly, there’s a half-speed mastering of it that does not sound as good as the original. |
Schubert, If you want to explore more Malcolm Arnold you are in luck, in spades. You can get complete sets of Arnold’s music, including all his symphonies initially appearing on Conifer Records in a huge set by Sony and a set of just his symphonies by Chandos, on Amazon for less than $30. I have some of each - the original Conifer seems a tad brighter and more forward, the Chandos a bit more ’relaxed’. Either set though is an huge bargain in any event, and the Conifer by Handley might be a bit more in line with the Composer’s intent if that is important to you. Here is a disc to fool your ’knowledgeable’ friends. A Stravinsky symphony (#1) which sounds more like Glazunov or Rimsky-K etc than the Stravinsky we all know. I have a Decca recording of the Detroit SO conducted by Dorati. This was Stravinsky’s 1st published music and well worth knowing and having in your collection. It can be found in many set’s of his other works. A couple of English pieces that sound "Irish", pieces by off the beaten path composers that I enjoy. Arthur Sullivan - "The Irish Symphony" by Hickox on Chandos and Granville Bantock - Celtic and Hebridean Symphonies by Handley and the Royal Phil on Hyperion. Now for some Finnish music not composed by Sibelius, but quite enjoyable non the less. Uuno Klami’s Karelian Rhapsody et al by Petri Sarkari and the Iceland SO on Chandos. If you enjoy this I can recommend his 2 symphonies(#1 &2) on Ondine by Tuomas Ollila and the Tampere PO. I think I prefer #1 more. If you like these his other works are self recommending I think. |
Well I’ll have to buy a new one myself . Saturday a couple dropped in to wish me Merry Christmas , the wife is German, from Hamburg .and a teacher of German . I played the Hampson for them and in one of the German sung pieces she started to cry . Natch, I had to give it to her and was happy to do so. |
newbee, Thanks for the heads-up for the Malcolm Arnold "Dances and Overtures" on Reference . I has that once upon a time but he had slipped off my radar . Yesterday I ran across his Symphonies 5 and 6 on Naxos by the National Symphony of Ireland in a local store . Some of the best "modern" music one could hope to hear very well played + great sound . Real power with something to say . |
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A great thread, indeed - it's encouraging to know there are (still?) many classical music enthusiasts here! I would like to throw a few names into the mix. I will add more to this thread as my time allows (quite possibly with some Hindemith, a favorite of mine). A recent favorite of my listening has been English string and symphonic music by 19th and 20th century composers: Bax, Moeran, Elgar, RVW, Allwyn, to name a few. Here's a tip (I almost hate giving out secrets, but it may not be THAT much of a secret).... any Lyrita recording is superb, and if on LP, a fantastic UK pressing with Decca lineage. Another suggestion from the english music world is the Reference Recordings release of the Kansas City Symphony, with Michael Stern at the helm, playing Elgar's Enigma Variations (and The Wasps is also included). A very fine performance, heartfelt and moving Nimrod (it IS the litmus that these recordings are judged on, is it not? :) ). I have the 'audiophile 2x45rpm' album; the pressing is superb, as is the sound. (I would assume the SACD would be equally good; I have not heard it, however) |
I'm very fond of Philips orchestral recordings from the 1970's, especially those recorded in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. They are a near-perfect blend of both the recording and musical arts. Some favorites include those with Colin Davis including the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique and Beethoven Violin Concerto with Grumiaux, Mozart Symphonies with Joseph Krips, Haitink's Tchaikovsky symphony cycle and French music, including a disc of Bizet and classic recordings of Debussy and Ravel, among many others. Outside of the Concertgebouw, explore Philips' recordings of early Verdi operas with stellar casts (the young Jose Carreras for example) mostly led by Lamberto Gardelli, all in excellent sound. Also check out Haitink's Bruckner with the Vienna Philharmonic (some in early digital that also sound very good). Another fave is Puccini's Tosca led by Davis and his hardly noticed version of Haydn's The Seasons with the BBC Symphony. If you're interested in a deep dive, there is a 50 CD set devoted to Philips' stereo analog years available for a bit over $2 a disc, as well as a Haitink "Symphony Edition". |
I've been plugging through the Hyperion 19C piano concerto series, with many worthy but ultimately forgettable pieces. Last night listened to some Scharwenka concertos, that were surprisingly good. On Collins, though I see he's on Hyperion as well. If you're tired of Grieg, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, etc., give it a try. |
rvpiano, I only have two performances of 'The Bells' - I'm intrigued by your recommendation of Askenazy on Decca. I have his other Decca recordings and have always enjoyed them, often preferring them. I'll see if I can find his version of 'The Bells'. Since you seem to like this type of music I have a recommendation for you - Alexander Grechaninov, a Russian who's best music (IMHO) is his choral output. Assuming you are not familiar, but interested, I suggest you listen to his 'premier recordings' of Symphony #1, Snowflakes, and Missa Sancti Spiritus by Valery Polyansky with the Russian State Symphonic Cappella and the Russian State SO on Chandos. I'd buy this disc for "Snowflakes' alone. You've got to hear it! Now if your interested in more Gretchaninov try his Passion Week by the Phoenix Bach Choir and the Kansas City Chorale on Chandos. |
For me, a part time classical lover, I'll never forget one of the first pieces that I was introduced to as a young boy. I must have been 7 or 8 years old, and a family friend use to play Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major for me on his turntable. I would get super enthusiastic and move my hands like a conductor of an orchestra, the music playing nice and loud :-) To this day, it is a favorite of mine. I have tried a few versions, but the one I like most this far, with a wonderful performance as well as great sonics is this one: Fritz Reiner - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto/ Heifetz, violin Label: Analogue Productions (RCA Living Stereo) |
Hello everyone. I thought perhaps some "Contemporary Music" would be of interest as well. I have about 3000 Lp’s. Some rock, jazz, folk rock but the bulk of my collection is Classical with about 800 being 20th Century only. I enjoy almost all forms oof music but get a particular thrill discovering music that I have never hear of, much less heard. Starker doing the Kodaly unacompanied Cello Sonata on Period Pecords is a killer of gigantic proportions. I wish you could all hear it in the original in mono. Here is Starker playing it at a much later date: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MEUIGjfHNw Most people that I know, who do listen to Classical music, draw the line at Schoenburg. So, here are a few of my favourites: Hans Werner Henze. I have over 30 of his recordings on DG Lp’s. All of these are very good recordings. Doppio Concerto (1966), for oboe, harp & strings (Holliger, 2017) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J__TrbevCw Il Vitalino raddoppiato, for violin & chamber orchestra (1977) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvk7vYP8EwQ Labyrinth, Apollo et Hyazinthus, Wiegenlied der Mutter Gottes & L’usignolo dell’imperatore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhKxGNU4y8U Elliot Carter. A 20th century giant. He composed untill he died at 101. String quartet No.1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTR1vnBeXzA Piano Sonata https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpZkNgoApm4 (Variations for Orchestra) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_tb0JY2O5U Here are some other greats; Penderecki: Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima Penderecki: The Devils of Loudun (Historical Studio Production from the Hamburg State Opera 1969) Lutosławski - Concerto for Cello (Paul Watkins Cellist, Proms 2013) |
Re: Rachmaninoff “The Bells”. I based my recommendation of Simon Rattle in this piece because of a live telecast of him on the Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall site— a truly exciting rendering. Sadly, his Warner Classics CD, IMO, is leaden with the sound to match. I did a comparison of 12 recordings of “The Bells” and came to the following conclusions: Ashkenazy on Decca/London was my favorite along with Kondrashin on RCA. The former had among the best sound, the latter, unfortunately, the worst. Surprisingly, the non-Russian Jose Serebrier on Warner was among the best performances, with some of the best sound. Semyon Bychkov on Hanssler was similarly good. Probably more than you wanted to know about this piece.😊 |
The Eiji Oue/ Minnesota "Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances " recording on Reference is , as Frogman has said , a magnificent recording . The woodwinds on the first 5 minutes make me play just that over and over. My other favorite , Simon Rattle with the Berlin Phil. has more drive but the Minnesota winds play better, IMO than the Berlin ones which surprised the hell out of me , and the Minnesota is more lyrical and refined . Berlin percussion is better but its always better than anyone. That said, there is a triangle bit that the MN player played better than any triangle piece I ever heard . |
