1. Home
  2. music
  3. 132810-89202

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
craigl59
306 posts
 

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.

newbee
4,093 posts
 
RCA has a set of all of Vaughn Williams symphonies plus much of the rest of his works, 6CD’s at Archiv Classics for less than $25 and it is in stock.

This is very highly regarded VW, if fact a lot of folks find these performances, as a whole, CD their first choice. An easy recommendation.

Enjoy!
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Craig, FWIW I doubt that Hovhaness is ever going to be more popular than he has been made by Mysterious Mountain. He's been around a long time and his music is a bit too eclectic for most. You might try another Schwartz/Seattle Performance on Mount St Helens/City of Light Symphonies on Delos.

 I grew up with Reiner and the CSO performance of Mysterious Mountain on Living Stereo and I still like it a lot. On LP and a good system it is outstanding, I think.
craigl59
306 posts
 

newbee:

When I google on Archiv Classics I get either the DG site or Classical Archives, a streaming/MP3 site. Can you provide the URL?

Thanks. Am currently considering either the Haitink or the Thomson set -- both available at Amazon.

newbee
4,093 posts
 
Craig, I goofed. It ArkivMusic.com and it shows as such on Google. 

Sorry about that, but hey it was a long nite. :-)
More to discover