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.


128x128rvpiano
For those of you who love French piano music -

A CD I just discovered when looking for a different version (I have Roge and the LaBeques’ versions) of Dolly Suite for piano by Faure. It is a compilation of French composer’s music, i.e. Milhaud, Ravel, Faure, and Debussy, for 2 pianos.

’La Belle Epoque’ by Duo Lechner Tiempo on Avanticlassic. It is available on Amazon and has quite a few very favorable views with which I do not disagree.

IMHO, this is an outstanding recording for anyone liking this music. My ’purchase’ of the year I think. It is well reviewed on Amazon by some knowledgeable folks.
Just checked in after a few weeks.  In the Beethoven Sonata discussion, surprised no one mentioned Alfred Brendel.  One of the greatest, and all three of his sets are great. Definitely a musician's musician/pianist.   
Newbee
I love French classical piano music, have over a dozen french pianists in my collection. My favorites, the ones i play again and again are:
Aldo Ciccolini (I know, he was born Italian, but became French citizen)
Jean Martin
Angela Hewitt
Jean-Philippe Collard
Jean Doyen
Margeurite Long
of course there are many others who were/are not French