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 find Buniatishvili to be an imaginative and probing musician as well as a formidable technician.
Maybe I need to take a closer listen. To which recordings are you referring  specifically ? 

What about Boris Giltburg? Just heard his Rach 3 on Tidal, very impressive tone. 
As I mentioned in an earlier post, her recordings of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Stravinsky’s Three Scenes from Petrouchka and Ravel’s La Valse, all on one disc are really imaginative, especially the “Pictures,” unlike any other interpretation.   She begins the “Pictures” like a stroll through the gallery rather than a bold statement of the theme.
Just heard few pieces by Khatia and currently listening Pictures. I take back what I said, she's astounding. I was quick to judge based on her youtube appearance.