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
I heard Arrau live 4-5 times , left me wanting no other .

I had the Schiff cello sonatas and you are spot on jim.
These days i do listen to the profoundly of Fournier because he relaxes me .A great one by Maria Kliegel playing a Strad cello On Naxos seems near flawless to me . Like everything recorded in Budapest , ditto for the sound .

I don’t recall hearing the suites in person , but for me the greatest recording is Anner Blylsma on period instrument .
Yes Jim, we both love Arrau.
For me it goes beyond his music, I love his attitude toward life, his curiosity, his priorities, his mild manner.
I appreciate his love, loyalty and honor for his wife and family.
When he walks onto a stage he hears the applause and he smiles as if to say "OK, I will take you there".
No showboating, no elaborate gesturing, just the real deal.
I was considering replacing my upright with a grand, then I saw pictures of Arrau practicing on an upright, and I realized that I already have more than I need (an old cheap Yamaha U1 that once had termites, and has a wonderful sound and touch, well tuned and regulated).
I just recalled an interview of Arrau I heard on German TV  that has stuck with me . He was outspoken !

Exact words escape me but this is about it." In Music you have to give all you have in every performance . That's why Masur is a great conductor and Fisher-Dieskau  is not a great singer."   

That is/was nothing short of heresy in Germany .
Here's another winner from Andrew Manze and Romanesca: Biagio Marini "Curiose & Moderne Inventioni".  And that's not really bragging on Marini's part: it's with him that the exploration and risk-taking starts that makes the stylus phantasticus as appealing as it is.
Also: both of these Romanesca discs have really excellent recording quality.
@schubert     Len you really suprise me about Arrau . I was led to believe from his autobiography form Josef Horowitz thet he revered Fischer-Deskau more than any other vocalist . I am quite perturbed therefore thet you should have heard that from his own lips in fact the authourities  were going to present him with either the Schumann medal or The Philharmonia Societies gold medal when he took ill. He was rushed to hospital but unfortunately didn't make it. And due to his admiration for both Masur and Fischer-Deskau they managed to ship in Fischer- Deskau to make the presentation to him but sadly too late.