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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
edcyn
1,876 posts
 
I love reading the disagreements here.  Differences in interpretation is one of the things that makes classical music so endlessly absorbing & wonderful. twoleftears -- I love Brendel.  I have his Beethoven Sonatas both on Turnabout and on Philips.  I actually saw him perform live once.  brownsfan -- Britten's Ceremony of Carols on Argo is regularly on my turntable.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I don’t think " The Lark Ascending" has any problems , Its simply one of the most beautiful pieces ever written .
I never tire of it  and have heard it a thousand times .

People do hear things differently .I think Wagner is total garbage , few would agree on that

.

I totally agree with Jim on BIS .
They are by far the best firm for Classical recording .
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
edcyn, I agree with you on Brendel - not just for Beethoven, but for just about anything.  Definitely my favorite pianist, and usually very underrated on audiophile sites, why I am not quite sure, since his recordings on Philips have excellent sound as well.  His Mozart concerti I am thinking of in particular.  
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Amen
jcazador
417 posts
 
Re: Brendel, Beethoven Sonatas

I think there are more than 2 recordings by Brendel of Beethoven Sonatas.  There is the Vox/Turnabout series, and the Phillips Series, and there is also a newer series.  Plus there are recordings of various Beethoven Sonatas (eg, Beethoven - Favorite Sonatas) that are not in a complete set.  I do not have a definitive handle on all these recordings, but they are different from one another, and I think the later the better, but they are all excellent.
If any of you knows more about this, please fill me in.
Also: agree that Brendel is superb, clearly one of my favorites.
More to discover