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
+1 on Wild's 4th. For that matter I consider one of the great values in audio is the set of all 4 concertos by these forces. It's now available in a set on Amazon for $22 plus. Twoleftears, seriously, don't miss this if you really like these works. :-)
I recently got an amazing new recording of Mahler’s 6th with Teodor Currentzis and Music Aeterna on SONY. I’ve had mixed feelings about this conductor’s past releases, always extroverted, but this one is truly remarkable.  Not a dull moment in the entire performance.
Inciteful and emotional to the extreme, this is Mahler playing at it’s best, in my opinion.
Excellent sound, too
I got it from Presto in England.  It won’t be released in the States  until December 5th.
My favorite Mahler 6th is Horenstein conducting. It is a live performance and the audience never makes a sound. I think it is Stockholm.
Bob
Funnily enough I just added Currentzis to my cart last night.  I must have more different recordings of the Mahler symphonies than any other composer.  I grew up listening to the venerable Solti cycle on Decca, so that became imprinted in a way, and I still notice the differences w.r.t. Solti as a kind of benchmark.  So much for the teenage years...