Classical fans, I need advice

I've been "into" classical music for some 55 years, mostly
of an orchestral nature---tonepoems, symphonies, concerti, etc.

Just as you mentioned, I also can't enjoy music that is poorly recorded. This has become increasingly a consideration as I've upgraded my music system.

Couple of years ago, I started listening to more chamber music than orchestral when I realized that---to my old ears at least--- a recorded performance of a small group is more "believable" than that of a full orchestra, given the confines of most listening rooms (mine is 24' X 17'). Since then, I have largely concentrated my purchasing and listening to recordings of small chamber groups--- string quartets, etc., and, in particular, piano trios (piano, cello, violin).

Which brings me to a couple of recommendations: (1)Anything by The Ahn Trio (they presently have four CDs), and (2) Hyperion's hybrid CD/SACD of The Florestan Trio performing piano trios of Faure', Debussy, and Ravel. Also give a listen to Dvorak's piano trios, Dumky and F Minor in particular, again by The Florestan Trio.

Funny you should mention Nickel Creek! In an effort to broaden my music horizons, I've started listening to bluegrass. I really enjoy well-recorded performances of small groups of acoustic instruments, strings especially.
I started with the several CDs by Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Joshua Bell, etc., then the group Hot Rize ("So Long of a Journey"), and most recently, Nickel Creek's two CDs, "This Side" being the latest. At the same time, I bought a two-CD
set of bluegrass interpretations of music of the group "Phish"---a wonderful recording.

I can't close this ramble without mentioning, and highly recommending, two CDs by The Be Good Tanyas, three lovely and talented ladies from Vancouver. Titles are "Blue Horse", and "Chinatown", and their music defies categorization!

I'm almost willing to bet that this aims you in some new directions! Happy listening!
Jim

Baroque Era
--Brandenburg Concertos,JS Bach
--Goldberg Variations,JS Bach
Classic Era
--Opus 76 String Quartets,Hayden
--Piano Concertos #21 and #23,Mozart
--Symphonies #5 and #6,Beethoven
Romantic
--Trout Quintet,Schubert
--Preludes,Chopin
--New World Symphony,Davorak
Modern
--Rite of Spring,Stravinsky
--La Mer,Debussy

There's a starter set. The post above about a library is great advice.

Enjoy!

Classical music:

Schubert: late string quartets and cello quintet, perhaps the most sublime, intimate music there is. The Emerson String Quartet CD on DG is a fine recording and a tremendous performance.

Brahms: the two string sextets, and all the quintets, easy on the ears, easy to follow the logic or flow of the music. Raphael String Ensemble for the two string sextets, fantastic recording (Tony Faulkner producer) and superb performances. The quintets, Phillips has a great 2 for 1 CD of the all quintets.

If you like either of the above, then you can move on to Beethoven and Bartok for chamber music. If you can appreciate these two, then you can move onto Webern and Schnittke, both serial and freely atonal.

Speaking of bluegrass/c&w: my favorites are the real old timers like Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys and the queen of old-time Western, Patsy Montana. The archtype of Western song is," I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweeteart". It was recently in a DVD I saw, but cannot remember the name.

914Nut: I like the Ahn Trio, do you like the bad boy of classical music Nigel Kennedy? And if you like Faure, have you listened to Koechlin yet?

I haven't heard Hilary Hahn's new Bach disk yet, but you should also check out her very first recording, of Bach solo works. Another thing I'd look for is Vivaldi's Op. 3, L'estro armonico, a set of 12 concerti for one, two, or four violins. It was a favorite of Bach's.

I agree with the general suggestion to find ways to listen broadly. I tend to prefer the simple clean sound of a Hilary Hahn to the ornate emotiveness of a Joshua Bell. More generally, I'll take Baroque over 19th century Romantic any day. And like Jim, I spend a lot more time listening to chamber than orchestral. But that's just me, and everyone else's recommendations will be just them. Be venturesome, and you'll find lots of things to like.

I suggest that if you live in or near a city with a good orchestra, buy a season subscription and go listen to live music. There are too many audiophiles out there who don't have a clue as to what live accoustic music sounds like. How they go about building a satisfying audio system is beyond me. Guess that's why we have Audiogon. By the way, you might find out what kind of music appeals to you as well.

Regards,
Habitual Carnegie Hall & Met Opera Attendee.