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Classical fans, I need advice

I need a bit of advice. I've been listening to sample classical recordings (from tower records and amazon) for over 3 months trying to find a place to start. My interest began when I first became entranced by Alison Krauss + Union Station and Nickel Creek. I've gained a new appreciation for classical styles and the violin (fiddle?) in particular.

I listened to: Hilary Hahn - Bach: Violin Concertos on Deutsche Grammophon and enjoyed it. It wasn't too pretty, nor too symphonic. It's intimate and large at the same time. Maybe not quite as romantic as I might prefer but I honestly cannot say without hearing more. Keep in mind I'm not describing the performance here just the music. I'm thinking I will take the plunge with this Hybrid SACD.

Based on this can I be "profiled" and perhaps pointed in a direction? I know these works come from the Baroque period. I also read this in an amazon review "Shortly after Bach's time, the structure of a concerto changed from an ensemble piece for chamber musicians to a piece for soloist and full orchestra. Hence many recordings of these pieces are done by 'name' soloists and 'name' orchestras and lose their intimacy in the process. This recording does not; kudos to DG and Hahn for the choice of the thoroughly musical and consummately professional Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for this disc." I really don't know if this is significant to my enjoyment of what i've heard but I thought I should mention it.

A few other notes about myself. Sound quality is of extreme importance to me. I simply cannot enjoy music on poor recordings. Something else, I really like the song from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack titled "Concerning Hobbits" composed by Howard Shore and performed by the New Zealand S.O. Again I'm not sure if this points me to a specific classical style or period but I figured I would mention it.

Any comments are appreciated
Vedric
vedric
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 

Easing into Mahler.

I recommend starting with #1.  If not that, #4.  Or 1 and 4 more or less concurrently.

If you like emotional, late-Romantic music, move on to the slow movements in ## 5, 6 and 9.

After that, I'd say it's time to tackle #2.

Now you're hooked (hopefully).

Move on to #3, then all of ##5 and 6 and 9 and 10 (try one of the completions).

My least favorite (personal preference) are ## 7 and 8.

I cut my teeth on Solti, but it's hard to go far wrong with Bernstein, provided you don't like your music too teutonic.



rsgottlieb's avatar
rsgottlieb
47 posts
 
If you like choral: Bach B Minor Mass is sublime. so is Handel's messiah and the Mozart and Verdi requiums.
If you want to feel the emotions, try Brahms--the 2 piano concertos, all four symphonies. 
And a personal favorite of mine: Sibelius 2nd symphony and his violin concerto. 
Gershwin piano concerto. Rachmaninoff conertos 2 and 3, and second symphony. 
for your first opera: La Boheme.
Library and radio are great: also--all this stuff is available free on Youtube, from great performers. 

enjoy!
rotarius
431 posts
 
Vedric, you have received a lot of great suggestions so far.  However, you mentioned sound quality being extremely important so that would eliminate a lot of great albums unfortunately.  If you must start with the Beethoven violin cto, I can think of 2 modern options that sound fantastic.
A.S. Mutter with Masur/NY Phil sacd.
Janine Jansen's Beethoven & Britten CD. The Britten cto is fantastic!

My advice to you is get a $10/month subscription to Google music or Spotify and sample a bunch of stuff.  Then ask about the best SQ recordings of the pieces you like. 

goofyfoot
1,326 posts
 
If your interested in RCA Living Stereo, take a look at the Analogue Production remasters. Also, a personal favorite, Jordi Savall.
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