Classical Music LPs recommendations


Hello again,

Im just getting into classical music as i build my music collection.
Can anyone here share some good classical lps.
I prefer something that won't make me fall asleep.

Something with big, dynamic sound like:

the classical music section from Thorens 125 anniv album
Massenet: Ballet Music from Le Cid
Cantate Domino.

Not much into piano. The recording has to be quite good and the music has to be exciting. Re-issue Lps would be fine as the original are quite dear.

would appreciate some inputs. Some friends have recommended:

Ataulfo Argenta / Espana!
John Lanchbery / Herold: La Fille Mal Gardee
Ernest Ansermet / The Royal Ballet/ Gala Performances
Donald Johanos / Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances & Vocalise
Fritz Reiner / Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade

Thanks in advance.
fld
The Prokofiev Romeo and Julliet to get is the Maazel/Cleveland Orch recording on London or Decca. It was on The Absolute Sound's preferred list for sound and performance. I just love it. How about opera? The Bernstein "Carman" is wonderfully recorded and performed. ..and lets not forget the London/Decca "Ring". The first opera (I know, it's a "Music Drama" not an opera) is Das Reingold. Your neighbors will call you wondering if your house is still standing at the "Rainbow Bridge" section.
The following titles from Speakers Corner Decca re-issues. All have superb sound and performances and none of them will put you to sleep.

Fruhbeck De Burgos - Albeniz: Suite Espanola

Georg Solti - Stravinsky: Le Sacre Du Printemps/ The Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Zubin Mehta & the Los Angeles Philharmonic - Holst: The Planets

Oivin Fjeldstad - Grieg: Peer Gynt

Ernest Ansermet - de Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat

Lorin Maazel - Respighi: Roman Festivals/ Pines of Rome

Ernest Ansermet - Stravinsky: Petrushka Complete Ballet

Pierino Gamba - Bizet-Sarasate: Carmen Fantaisie Op.25/ Ruggiero Ricci, violin

Ernest Ansermet - Rimsky-Korsakov: The Tale Of Tsar Saltan

Ataulfo Argenta - Espana!

This Mercury re-issue from Speakers Corner is also quite stunning.

Antal Dorati - Bartok: Dance Suite

Here are some RCA Living Stereo Classic Records re-issues that blow doors.

Alexander Gibson - Gounod: Faust Ballet Music/ Bizet: Carmen

Pierre Monteux - Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

These Classic Everest re-issues are of the best sound and performance. No sleeping when these are played.

Sir Eugene Goossens - Antill: Corroboree/ Ginastera: Panambi

Sir Eugene Goossens - Villa Lobos: The Little Train of the Caipira

This Classic Records Mercury re-issue is top flight in everyway and has stunning sound and dynamaics. One of the very best.

Paul Paray - Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole/ Ibert: Escales
Al, I just bought a copy of that Romeo and Juliet, and am looking forward to getting a chance to give it a listen - perhaps tomorrow!
Learsfool -- Enjoy!

I've calculated, btw, based on the assumption that this recording brings my amp close to the clipping point (and I'm pretty certain it does) that it produces peaks of about 103db at my listening position (or 113db at 1 meter)!

Which is nevertheless considerably less than the peak volume I once experienced during a live performance of the same work, by the BSO, while seated in the very front row at Tanglewood!

BTW, I would not particularly recommend this recording to anyone whose system has an accentuated treble, because of the bright string sound I mentioned in my previous post.

Best regards,
-- Al