Classical Music for Aficionados

Re: Rachmaninoff “The Bells”.
I based my recommendation of Simon Rattle in this piece because of a live telecast of him on the Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall site— a truly exciting rendering.  Sadly, his Warner Classics CD, IMO, is leaden with the sound to match.
I did a comparison of 12 recordings of “The Bells” and came to the following conclusions: Ashkenazy on Decca/London was my favorite along with Kondrashin on RCA. The former had among the best sound, the latter, unfortunately, the worst.  Surprisingly, the non-Russian Jose Serebrier on Warner was among the best performances, with some of the best sound. Semyon Bychkov on Hanssler was similarly good.

Probably more than you wanted to know about this piece.😊

Hello everyone. I thought perhaps some "Contemporary Music" would be of interest as well. I have about 3000 Lp’s. Some rock, jazz, folk rock but the bulk of my collection is Classical with about 800 being 20th Century only. I enjoy almost all forms oof music but get a particular thrill discovering music that I have never hear of, much less heard.

 Starker doing the Kodaly unacompanied Cello Sonata on Period Pecords is a killer of gigantic proportions. I wish you could all hear it in the original in mono. Here is Starker playing it at a much later date:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MEUIGjfHNw

Most people that I know, who do listen to Classical music, draw the line at Schoenburg. So, here are a few of my favourites:

Hans Werner Henze. I have over 30 of his recordings on DG Lp’s. All of these are very good recordings.

Doppio Concerto (1966), for oboe, harp & strings (Holliger, 2017)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J__TrbevCw

Il Vitalino raddoppiato, for violin & chamber orchestra (1977)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvk7vYP8EwQ

Labyrinth, Apollo et Hyazinthus, Wiegenlied der Mutter Gottes & L’usignolo dell’imperatore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhKxGNU4y8U

Elliot Carter. A 20th century giant. He composed untill he died at 101.

String quartet No.1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTR1vnBeXzA

Piano Sonata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpZkNgoApm4

(Variations for Orchestra)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_tb0JY2O5U

Here are some other greats;

Penderecki: Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima
Penderecki: The Devils of Loudun (Historical Studio Production from the Hamburg State Opera 1969)

Lutosławski - Concerto for Cello (Paul Watkins Cellist, Proms 2013)

For me, a part time classical lover, I'll never forget one of the first pieces that I was introduced to as a young boy.  I must have been 7 or 8 years old, and a family friend use to play Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major for me on his turntable.  I would get super enthusiastic and move my hands like a conductor of an orchestra, the music playing nice and loud :-)

To this day, it is a favorite of mine.  I have tried a few versions, but the one I like most this far, with a wonderful performance as well as great sonics is this one:

Fritz Reiner - Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto/ Heifetz, violin
Label: Analogue Productions (RCA Living Stereo)

veriwide100, great post and right you are !
The Lutoslawski -Concerto for Cello is a fave of mine too .
A truly great recording is Rostopovich on one of the EMI  " Great Recordings of the Century " .

rvpiano, I only have two performances of 'The Bells'  - I'm intrigued by your recommendation of Askenazy on Decca. I have his other Decca recordings and have always enjoyed them, often preferring them. I'll see if I can find his version of 'The Bells'. 

Since you seem to like this type of music I have a recommendation for you -
Alexander Grechaninov, a Russian who's best music (IMHO) is his choral output. Assuming you are not familiar, but interested, I suggest you listen to his 'premier recordings' of Symphony #1, Snowflakes, and Missa Sancti Spiritus by Valery Polyansky with the Russian State Symphonic Cappella and the Russian State SO on Chandos. I'd buy this disc for "Snowflakes' alone. You've got to hear it!

Now if your interested in more Gretchaninov try his Passion Week by the Phoenix Bach Choir and the Kansas City Chorale on Chandos.