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
Robert Schumann

FANTASY PIECES

Martha Argerich (piano)
Gidon Kremer (violin)
Mischa Maisky (cello)
DG  2002


From the Notes: Speaking Of Clara Schumann, " She was one of the foremost pianists of the romantic era--the trio here was written for her by her husband Robert, and she also owned the quartet by Brahms, in the sense that she presided at the keyboard in the first performance.  To have this music played by a dynamic woman pianist of our own time, Martha Argerich, is therefore doubly appropriate."

Fantasy Pieces for Piano, Violin and Cello  Op. 88

I. Romanze (Nicht schnell, mit innigem Ausdruck)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuKqXcZJdPQ

II. Humoreske (Lebhaft)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBg5aXkOIlQ

III. Duett (Langsam und mit Ausdruck)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBVZltb1LPs

IV. Finale (Im Marsch-Tempo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5FlJ6I180k

Cheers

Johannes Brahms

DOUBLE CONCERTO IN A MINOR

Julia Fischer (violin)
Daniel MüllerSchott  (cello)
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam
Yakov Kreizberg
PentaTone Classics  SACD  2005

Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102

Excellent & Informative Booklet.  "Julia Fischer plays on an Italian violin made by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, dating from 1750."

Allegro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-uLInT8zcI

Andante
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiRi43khcU4

Vivace non troppo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljdX6MgBLSc

Cheers

Paul badura-skoda playing pianoforte (period instrument) 
complete Schubert and Beethoven sonatas.  Absolute magic, piano forte sounds so sweet and warm, it transforms the music and you hear it the way great masters did when they composed it.  Bedura- skoda was one of the few to record all Schubert and Beethoven sonatas On both piano and pianoforte. Truly sublime sound and exquisite virtuosity  
Badura-Skoda in Mozart is my first choice, in spite of all others pianists interpretation...

The reason is simple,Mozart wrote his pieces on this instrument and it is evident by the hard contrasts this instrument made possible to express...


The Schubert is very interesting ....

I will recommend the Mozart like an absolute must.....

Anyway a very great instrumennt well served by a musician of the first order....

Peace to his soul.....
Brahms / Tchaikovsky

VIOLIN CONCERTOS

Jascha Heifetz (violin)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Reiner
RCA / Sony     1955 -1957 / 2005    SACD

Notes:"When in the spring of 1878 Tchaikovsky completed his violin concerto, he dedicated it and presented it to Leopold Auer, who was perhaps the most noted virtuoso and certainly the greatest teacher of his time.  The composer must have been bitterly disappointed when the master would not undertake the concerto, declaring it unplayable --- so terrifying were its difficulties."


Johannes Brahms
Violin Concerto in D, op. 77
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJFJgVYFQh4&t=700s


Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxGp1Ii4r8M&t=59s

Cheers