Evening Classical Music; listening for relaxation


Hello Classical music lovers.
I would like to expand my knowledge of classical music that is definitely 'relaxing' and suitable for winding down to mellow contentment before drifting off. I will post titles I like, but to give an idea, some Chopin and Rachmaninoff work for me as does much chamber music. Input very appreciated.
ptss

Showing 1 response by newbee

Solo piano music by Ivan Moravec, one of our finest pianists, should be right up you alley. He is woefully under recorded but what he did was really wonderful. For starters I'd suggest:

Beethoven piano sonatas (Appassionata, Pathetique, Moonlight, and Les Adieux. (VIA Audio)

Moravec plays Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms (VIA Audio)

Chopin Nocturnes (Electra Nonesuch) This is outstanding!
These pieces have been reissued by various labels and they can be found of different ones simutaniously. For more 'modern' flavor I really enjoy the complete works by Louis Lortie on Chandos.

And, for some of the finest Debussy an old set by Paul Jacobs on Electra Nonsuch. The recordings/playing is very atmospheric or dreamy. At a minimum you should hear his Preludes. For the same pieces (an a few more) in a more modern presentation I highly recommend the complete works (on 5 CD's) by Jean Efflam Bavouzet on Chandos.

I really enjoy casual listen to solo piano music when the recording is a is a program (as you would experience live) of various composers music. Of some more recent acquisitions I can recommend:

Benjamin Grosvenor - Chopin Liszt Ravel (Decca)
Michael Sheppard - Rogers/Hough, Barber et al) (Harmonia M)
Sebastian Knauer - Bernstein, Barber, Copland (Berlin Classic)
Jenny Lin - Get Happy - (Steinway)
Lara Downes - Exiles Cafe (Steinway)
Antonio Pompa-Baldi - The Rascals and the Sparrow (Steinway)
Sean Chen - La Valse (Steinway)
Jeffery Biegel - A Grand Romance (Steinway)

Hope you might find a few of these as enjoyable as I do.