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
So perhaps the Parthenon should be bulldozed?

You have my permission.  In fact, why not bulldoze Greece while you're at it.

Cheers
RV
Thanks for the tip on Zanders Mahler Symphony.
Agree, very nice dsd and rendition.
I don't think there is mention of this recording in the late Penguin Guide?
Schubert,
Thanks for the tip about Julia Fischer playing Bach’s Partita in D Minor. I airplayed it on my home theater system (don’t have streaming on my main stereo rig) and thought it elegantly and beautifully played. I’m going to look for other recordings by her.

When that was finished, YouTube began to auto play Itzak Perlman playing the entire Partita in a BBC concert in a church in London, back when he was a young man (20’s?). I had never heard that version, and I sat mesmerized for the entire piece. Art, beauty, emotion...I do not have the words to describe it. Much more than just a listening session, it was a very moving experience.

I also listened to Jennifer Koh’s version that you linked to. I am curious as to what others more knowledgeable than I think about it.
There was a guy named Sit Thomas Beecham who made the best recording of a 5th I have ever heard written by a guy named Franz Schubert . It is on the EMI Great Recordings of The Century .

Some folk think the best ever 5th was written by one Shostakovich
and recorded by a Bernstein with the NYO .

Another group think a heavy drinking Swede named Sibelius is the greatest 5ther .

I know , fact certain , his 5th is the best sounding and played by the
foremost Finn conductor , one Osmo Vanska , at the helm of the Lahti Symphony . Said 5th is found on the BIS label in superb sound .

There are many in Moscow that are certain this and that Russian composer wrote THE greatest 5th . I would not know about that .
I am sure those in Wien that claim Mahler or Brucker is the best 5er
are wrong . LvB is FAR above those .