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
Love Cherkassky
now listening to 1961 Salzburg Festival
he plays some pieces I never appreciated before

Cherkassky, Samuel Barber, Excursions
this piece is so perfect, so funny
don't miss
Yes Cherkasky did have flashes of brilliance but he also had a lot of the waywardness of his master Josef Hoffman as they were always trying find hidden meanings in everything they played. Don't get me wrong Hoffman was peerless in Chopin but he really was all over the place in Beethoven. No very much two pianists for the Romantic repertoir.
Some of the best.
Mirella Frenzi with PavarottiVienna Phil / Herbert Von Karajan
Victoria  de los Angles
Covent   Garden Orchestra/Rudolf Kempe



Renata Scotto , EMI Great Recording  /Rome Orch, Sir John Barbirolii



Interesting  Naxos  CD with the words of the greatest aria ever written
read in English and then song in Italian .https://youtu.be/CkzkGn5KIq8?t=8