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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
rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
938 posts
 
The Ninth Mahler Symphony is not only my favorite of his, but maybe my favorite of any composer.  The first movement, especially, is heartbreaking.
I just listened to the 3rd Symphony with Bernstein on DG with the NY Phil.
Magnificent interpretation and state of the art sound on my system.
Having multiple versions of all Mahler’s symphonies, this interpretation is one of the best.
newbee
4,093 posts
 
Schubert,

 In your pantheon perhaps. Not mine. Really :-) 

We apparently live in different time zones. While I occasionally listen to Bruckners 7th, 8th, or 9th, time is becoming too precious for me to do it often. I'll also listen to Schubert's 8th & 9th performed by the OAE conducted by Mackerras. Great symphonies sans over orchestration. If one must have some of that then Mackerras provides it with the Scottish SO on Telarc. I grew up with Solti's Weiner Phil performance but lost interest in it after I heard Mackerra/OAE version. I'll pass on Haydn entirely, and for that matter most all symphonies pre-existing Beethoven. 

Horses for courses. 


rvpiano's avatar
rvpiano OP
938 posts
 
Indeed!

Horses for courses!
schubert
4,867 posts
 
The horse that thinks Beethoven is better than Mozart and that
Schuberts Great 9th a "if you must have" and Haydn out of hand , must prefer mud over oats and 400 lb jockeys .
And likely has heard little live music  in his stall.

newbee
4,093 posts
 
RV Piano, 

And my horse likes a muddy course. More fun getting all fouled up in the process than having to cross the finish line all prim, prissy, and politically correct. 

FWIW, I reflect a bit on my early experiences with Beethoven (and Schubert) symphonies. At that time I found the most venerated performances were over orchestrated, dense, slow, forced grandiose, etc, and IMHO, ultimately boring (or, alternatively, perhaps I was too just too dull to absorb them). I tried various HIP recordings, often using original instruments. No answer for me there.

 Then I heard; 1) Kleibers 5th - It blew me away, still does, that man really got the beat down! Exciting as all hell; then, 2) Harnoncourt's performances of the symphonies which were just influenced by original performances/instruments, not just replications. Now I began to hear  something that made sense to me and really opened up my mind for subsequent performances without historical restraints. 

To paraphrase a famous line, I just find it more fun to follow the road less traveled. :-)


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