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’ve been ranting for decades that Hindemith is the most neglected of all the masters of the last century !The greatest recording of his Violin Concerto IMO is Oistrakh  /LSO/ Horenstein .
But to be honest I never cared for either Bernstein or Stern .Bernstein as a matter of taste, Stern I saw with the Cleveland and was
very much let down .
rvp, I 've been using you method for last week , it really has improved mylistening fun !

Schubert:

The Bernstein recording of the Metamorphosis has always been my favorite and prefer it over Levi and other more recent offerings.

Schubert,

 It’s funny how just randomly picking something is like making a new discovery.
 I’ve been finding the same phenomenon this week in auditioning  a new piece of equipment and ferreting out new facets of old recordings.
It makes you listen to the musical message more closely.