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.


rvpiano
I don't doubt as many atheists listen to religious music as believers terry9 , of course its open to all . I’ve known atheists who live more Christian lives than
most Christians do . The 3 or 4 I’ve known well were all lovers of life who were "jilted " lovers by the evil so called believers cause and the good they don’t do .

I have both the LP and CD of the Yale LvB and IMO $214 is too much .
My LP set is now undergoing cryo at -12F in my MN storage locker, maybe that will change my mind .

At the risk of stating the obvious: Tallis Scholars, Allegri, "Miserere".

I've listened to a good deal of this style of music, and this piece and this recording still come out tops.  In my secondary system which is in a room with a cathedral ceiling (no pun intended) the acoustics are extraordinary.


Have always found Haydn Symphonies difficult -- they are not quite as dramatic as Mozart's later works and most performances do not bring me back for repeated listenings.

Then, this last year, found the Thomas Fey/Heidelberger Sinfonien Haydn CDs. These performances work for me -- very powerful and the content is perfectly matched to the performance style. They are available online. Listed as "Complete Symphonies" they seem available only as individual CDs.

The other candidate is the London Mozart Players/Glover sets that make a close second for me.


Sevs:
Recently picked up the Seattle Symphony/Schwartz recording of Hovhaness's Mysterious Mountain and God Created Great Whales CD. Has become a regular listen and am wondering if Hovhaness, like some of the English symphonists mentioned on this thread, will turn out to be a winning historical figure.

BTW, can the pundits on this thread recommend a complete Vaughan Williams symphony set? Would like to investigate the works en toto.