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Top 5 Classical recordings

HI all,

I was wondering how many of the AuidogoN fellows engaged in Classical Music would like to have a Thread to share top picks and recommendations, that hopefully will be useful for those looking to start or otherwise expand a collection.

In order to be of help not only to people already into it, but also newcomers, I would ask a double question:

A.- If you were to recommend a top 5 list of masterpieces of all time, to a person looking to get into classical music with no knowledge at all, which would be you recommendations?

B.- Your favorite 5 composers and his 5 top masterpieces.

I know just 5 may be very hard, for question one specially, but to keep it simple and of help to others I thought it may be a good number. And will be easier to to average in the different responses.

Also please provide a recommended recording of each piece if possible.

Lastly I would ask to indicate the number of disks each one owns of the category. It can be interesting to see if the responses changes with the experience of the individual. I don't mean an specific number... don't wanr anyone counting for 3 days 3,543 discs... but maybe a range like:

C.-

1.- < 10
2.- > 10 - < 100
3.- > 100 - < 1000
4.- > 1000

What do you think?

I will start myself:

A.-

1.- Mozart, Piano concerto No. 20 & 21:

Recommended recording: Mozart Piano Concertos 20-25, Decca, Vladimir Ashkenazy, ASIN: B0000041LF

2.- Beethoven, 5th symphony

Recommended recording: DG, Carlos Kleiber ASIN: B000001GPX

3.- Vivaldi, 4 seasons

Recommended recording: DG, Anne-Sophie Mutter ASIN: B00002DE2L

4.- Schubert, Trout Quintet

Recommended recording: DG, Amadeus Quarter, Emil Giles ASIN: B000001GXF

5.- Brahms, Piano trio no. 1

Recommended recording: Phillips, Beaux arts trio (complete trios), ASIN: B00000416K

B.- (in no particular order)

1.- Schubert

a) String quintet D956.

Recording, DG Late sting quartets, string quintet, Emerson Sting quartet. (Trio series). ASIN: B0001ZWGI8

b) String quartet death and the maiden D810

Recording, DG Late sting quartets, string quintet, Emerson Sting quartet. (Trio series). ASIN: B0001ZWGI8

c) Symphony no. 9 the great

Sony Classical. Bernsein century. Symphony no 8 and no. 9. New York Philharmonic and Bernstein. ASIN: B00003WGO4

d) Piano quintet The trout D667

DG, Amadeus Quarter, Emil Giles ASIN: B000001GXF

e) Piano trio in E flat D929

Decca. Schubert complete trios. Beaux arts trio, Grumiaux trio. (Duo series). ASIN: B00000417B

2.- Tchaikovski

a) Violin concerto no 1

Living stereo. Brahms/Tchaikovsky Violin concertos. Heifetz/Reiner. ASIN: B0009U55RE

b) String quartet no 1

DG Masters. Dvorak American quarter / Tchaikovsky quartet no 1 / Borodin Quarter no 2. Emerson String quartet. ASIN: B000001GO3

c) Piano concerto no 1

Living Stereo. Tchaikovsky piano concerto no 1 / Rachmaninov piano concerto no 2. Van Cliburn. ASIN: B0002TKFRC

d) Trio for piano op 50

DG. Shostakovich - Tchaikovsky trios. Argerich, Kremer, Maisky. ASIN: B00000JSAC

e) Symphony no 6 Pathetique

DG, Tchaikovsky symphonies No 4, 5 & 6, Karajan. ASIN: B000001GYJ

3.- Dvorak

a) Cello Concerto. DG. Dvorák: Cello Concerto, Op. 104 / Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations, Op. 33. Rostropovich. ASIN: B000001GQ8

b) Quarteto Americano. DG. Dvorák, Tchaikovsky, Borodin: Quartets. Emerson String quarter. ASIN: B000001GO3

c) New world symphony. Dvorák: Symphonies 8 & 9 / Kubelik, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. DG. ASIN: B000001GQ7

d) Piano Quintet. Dvorak: Piano Quintet, Op. 81/ String Quartet No. 10, Op. 51. Decca. Tacaks quartet & Andreas Haefliger. ASIN: B00001IVQR

e) Slavonic Dances. Sony. Cleveland Orchestra and George Szel. ASIN: B00005YD5H

4.- Rachmaninov

a).- Piano concert no 3. Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 / Ashkenazy, Kondrashin. Decca. ASIN: B00001IVQT

b) Piano concert no 2. Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3 / Ashkenazy, Kondrashin. Decca. ASIN: B00001IVQT

c) Symphony no 2. Rachmaninov: The Symphonies. Ashkenazy. Decca. ASIN: B0000042HY

d) Piano sonata no 2. Horowitz Plays Rachmaninoff/Concerto for Piano in Dm; Sonata for Piano No2/Vladimir Horowitz. RCA. ASIN: B000003ER1

e) Piano concerto no 1. Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 4, Decca, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Andre Previn, ASIN: B00000427L

5.- Mozart

a) Piano concerto no 21. Mozart Piano Concertos 20-25, Decca, Vladimir Ashkenazy, ASIN: B0000041LF

b) String quartet no 14. (Hayden quartets). Warner Music. Alban Berg Quartet Mozart: String Quartets Nos. 14 - 23. ASIN: B000024MCP

c) Clarinet quintet. DG. Emerson String Quartet. Mozart / Brahms: Clarinet Quintets. ASIN: B00000IX73

d) Requiem. Mozart: Requiem / Tomowa-Sintow, Müller Molinari, Cole, Burchuladze; von Karajan. ASIN: B000001GK8

e) SYmphony no 41 Jupiter. Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35, 36, 38- 41. DG. Karl Bohm. ASIN: B000001GQB

C) >100 - < 1000

Ok who is next... thanks
Eli
eelii08

Showing 8 responses by newbee

newbee
4,794 posts
 
Lowrider, re Mahler and Bruckner. Bruckner can be a tough choice for a beginner, or even a novice, great though it is. I'll flesh out your recommendation for an introduction, and an inexpensive one, in an outstanding performance, Guilini's Symphony #9 with the CSO on EMI. A great place to start. I think other Bruckner, especially before #7, and #8, require a bit of musical savy.

I also agree with your view of Mahler 6, one of my long time favorites is by Thomas Sanderling and the St Petersburg Orchestra - no one does the last movement better IMHO. But that would not be my recommendation for someone just wanting to explore Mahler.

Eelii08, I have not previously posted for all of the reasons expressed by Learsfool and maybe a couple more. :-)

How ever, FWIW, something to consider for your list for a beginner would be Sibelius' Symphony #2. No one ever went to hell recommending Vanska on BIS, Ashkenazy & LSO, Davis & BSO, Bergland & Helsinki on EMI (though I prefer his with the CSO). There are many others.......... This is the more romantic side of Sibelius. Folks with a leaning towards something a bit more modern might love the 5th as well. For someone more advanced, like yourself perhaps, #4 is IMHO his finest. Herbert VK's 4 on DG is as unromantic in mood as it gets, yet I think is one of the finest 4's.

I think a good Mahler performance to start off with, especially in this forum (audio oriented) would be Mahler's 1st Symphony performed by Zander on Telarc. This recording includes an excellent performance of Songs of a Wayfarer. The 1st is very assessible, the Songs are beautifulfy sung by Christopher Maltman, and combined they make a winning combo, my favorite (not for #1 alone however).

FWIW, I contributed to a couple of other threads some years ago regarding classical music for beginners. You will find them under the "Music Forum' during 2005 and 2009, or you might more easily track them down under my Music Forum threads. Lots of recommendations there you might utilize for your upcoming beginners guide.
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Re Sibelius, One of my favorite budget recommendations is a London 'Double Decker' compilation by Ashkenazy with the PO and Horst Stein and the L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande on EMI on 2CD's. It includes Finlandia, Karelia Suite, Luonotar, Tapiola, En saga, Night-Ride and Sunrise, Pohjole's Daughter, and Four Legends from the Kalevala. These are Sibelius' most popular tone poems and incidental music. Very highly recommended set for the novice. It should keep one happy for some time!

Then there is the Violin Concerto. An excellent piece, certainly in the 'great' category. I have a bunch of 'favorites' but for this recommendation I'd go with Kyung-Wha Chung and Previn with the LSO. I recommend this because it includes as a disc mate the very popular Violin Concerto by Tchaikovsky. And it's some fine fiddling as well.

I'll let others recommend the rest. :-)
newbee
4,794 posts
 
A goof. The Sibelius compilation was on the London label, not EMI. My poor memory is failing. :-)
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Eelii08, Re Sibelous VC. I have two recommendations which present a contrast in both recording and performance, Heifitz's classic account on RCA Living Stereo and Anne-Sophie Mutter on DG with Andre Previn.

Heifetz's performance is very fast (26:45) and as suggested by the tempo, cool and crisp. It has been highly popular and praised. It should be part of any one's collection (who enjoys this VC of course). Recording wise, it is forward, the violin occupies a larger than normal space (not unusually so for recordings with featured instruments) and lacks a bit of clarity and depth. The LP of this was my introduction to Sibelius' VC. The latest SACD remix is quite good though, and includes a couple of other excellent VC's by Prokofiev and Glazunov. It should be on any one's shelf.

Mutter's performance tempo is more normal at 31:36, and the recording has a greater sense of clarity and depth with a more concert hall prospective. The performance is representative of the 'modern' Sibelius, icy, cool etc, yet very exciting. Mutter is a violinist of great skill and I recommend this performance highly. Additionally the CD includes other Sibelius Violin music.

You didn't ask, but I can't resist, if you like the Sibelius VC, when you have an opportunity listen to Khachaturian's VC. Another very extroverted piece with a modern but assessible, style. My very first VC years ago.

newbee
4,794 posts
 
Mapman, FWIW you are right, Heifitz will not leaved one unmoved. Unfortunately a lot of folks find his playing too cool and austere on occasions, where someone with a nice warm tone like Perlman might really tug on their heart strings. I like Perlman a lot! Generalities though are not too useful when it comes to specific selections. :-)
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Most all of Moravec's recordings are on CD's on the Suppraphon label - check them out. I bought a bunch of them on sale only to find out I already had most of them on earlier labels. Bummer.
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Donjr, I don't know why others did not mention Rachmaninoff, but since this thread has taken a sharp turn away from the original thought of putting together a list for beginners, what the hell.

Rachmaninoff is a (very) late romantic composer. The music is, generally speaking, (over)long but very musical. Not very often, if ever, atonal or dissident. Most folks do like his second symphony and his 2d or 3d piano concertos, for these reasons I think. Nice stuff, very assessible.

Personally I find his Symphnoy #1 and his last 'symphony' Symphonic Dances, especially the latter, much more enjoyable - more energy, much more! I think his Symphonic Dances should be in everyones library. A beginner coming here would love it just for the audio alone. It is exciting! I like Ashkenazy on London or Temirkamov on RCA.
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Reprince, Agreed. Because of my aversion to long drawn out performances of the mid-symphonies and piano concertos I have enjoyed Pletnev's versions of Sym 2 & 3 and Leif Ove Andsnes Piano Concertos #1 & #2. If you haven't heard the PC's you should if you can. FWIW. :-)

BTW, for folks looking for general recommendations Askenazy's LSO set on the London label is at the top of the heap. And for those looking for a more traditional set of the Piano Concertos Wild's performance with Horenstein on Chandos or Chesky is a classic and my favorite, followed by Ashkenazy/Previn's set.
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