Classical Music Recommendations

[Johnloudb]

This thread is dedicated to classical music. So, post anything classical you'd like to recommend.

Recently, my dad and I have been really enjoying this Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3, conducted Charles Munch. Charles Munch does a masterful interpretation and the organ work is really nice too. The peddle tones have that nice shuttering sound with the help of our subs, but is not over done all. Very well balanced sound and excellent XRCD recording quality. There are 2 used at Amazon, and you may be able to find this elsewhere as well.

[pbarach]

Great performance, and it's also available as a hybrid SACD with excellent sound for 10 bucks.

[wettou]

Mozart/Haydn-Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante; Haydn: Violin Concerti 1 & 4 SACD

[Chris D]

ah, cool suggestions, I'll check those out.

[David Meek]

Vaughan Williams - Sinfonia Antarctica

[Thea-masta]

Im only a youngen and im not sure if this counts as classical, bu gives ure speakers a good workout nether the less

Bond - Born

[Kal Rubinson]

Im only a youngen and im not sure if this counts as classical, bu gives ure speakers a good workout nether the less

Bond - Born

Google returns:

"Despite the conservatory training and classical pedigree of its members, Bond's debut album Born doesn't have much to do with classical music in actual fact. It may have string quartet instrumentation and the elegant style of classical music, but the similarities end there. Born is first and foremost a dance album, with electronic club beats pushing the musicians' alternately majestic and ethereal melodies into the realm of dancefloor dramatics. Worldbeat influences are an important component of Bond's sound, with bits of Middle Eastern, Celtic, and Southern/Eastern European folk musics popping up on various tracks. However, appropriated classical themes and a movie soundtrack feel (often courtesy of film composer Magnus Fiennes) predominate. Classical fans will either find this watered down or a great way to hook younger listeners (though that logic is somewhat debatable, since they wouldn't really be listening to classical music in all its complexity); it's probably best to take Born simply for what it aspires to be -- exotic and melodic dance music for a non-purist audience. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Pass.

[wettou]

A few more on Blu Ray

Album title OLE BULL Violin Concertos

Performer Annar Follesø, violin

Norwegian Radio Orchestra
Ole Kristian Ruud, conductor

Album title GRIEG Piano Concerto

Performer Percy Grainger, piano

Kristiansand Symfoniorkester
Rolf Gupta, conductor
Edvard Grieg, piano
Øyvind Bjorå, violin
Rex Lawson, pianolist

Disc 1 Hybrid SACD

MCH 5.1 DSD
Stereo DSD

Disc 2 Pure Audio Blu-ray
DTS HD MA 192kHz/24 bit 5.1
DTS HD MA 96kHz/24 bit 7.1
LPCM 192kHz/24 bit STEREO

[Burke Strickland]

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet
Sergey Prokofiev (Composer), Paavo Järvi (Conductor), Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra)

Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 1 for orchestra, Op. 64
Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2 for orchestra, Op. 64
Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 3 for orchestra, Op. 101

[Thea-masta]

Hmm, wasn't too sure what catagory it falls into..but now i know!

Thanks kal.

[Johnloudb]

Thea-masta,

I can't think of a better way to dip you toes into classical, than Rimsky-Korsakov's Schehezade.

Can't image anyone not liking this, but you never know. This is a Hybrid SACD, very nice. I have the regular CD version too, both are nice.

[Burke Strickland]

Another memorable performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade:



I have both the Reiner/Chicago and the Dutoit/Montreal versions in my collection and enjoy them both (along with several others including a guitar-only performance featuring Kazuhito Yamashita). It appears that the Dutoit/Montreal disk is currently out of print, but used copies are available online and the performance can be downloaded legally for a fee per track.

Also, YouTube has a pleasing rendition of the opening movement by the Moscow Symphony with Arthur Arnold, conductor and Elena Semenova on violin performed Live from The Hague. Good way to check it out if you've never heard it before.

[Burke Strickland]

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony:



This is "it" for the 5th. Actually I have three Carlos Klieber recordings of Beethoven's 5th in my collection -- two on CD with different orchestras and an SACD. Although there are many other worthwhile renditions by other conducters of Beethoven's best known symphony, any of the Carlos Kleiber performances of the 5th are worth having as the ne plus ultra statement of this music.

Although Beethoven's 7th symphony (my personal favorite of his symphonies) is included on the Kleiber disk, due to Kleiber's quirky handling of rhythms in the second movement, I prefer the treasurable and highly enjoyable performance on hybrid SACD by the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Osmo Vänskä:



What a critic said about the Minnesota/Vänskä disk of the 2nd and 7th symphonies which completes their cycle of all the Beethoven symphonies:

“Brilliantly engineered, utterly natural sonics in all formats provide the finishing touch on a Beethoven cycle that stands with Barenboim's as a modern reference edition, and that features a Seventh that just may top them all.”
—David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

[Thea-masta]

Johnloudb, i listen to Korsakov's Schehezade and i think you have made me look at music in a different way. Magnificent! (cant say my "HT" does it many favours though :P

[Johnloudb]

(cant say my "HT" does it many favours though :P

Well, we need to do something about that! Glad you liked the Sheherazade.

[Johnloudb]

Gunter Wand is kind of an expert in interpreting Bruckner, and this symphony No. 8 is just an exceptional disc, in sound and interpretation. It also happens to be one of my favorite symphonies. The second movement is especially moving.

[wettou]

Very well worth listening


The Pyongyang Concert - New York Philharmonic & Lorin Maazel [Blu-ray]



Nutcracker; Le Sacre du Printemps; Piano Concerto No. 3: Rattle conducts Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky & Rachmaninov [Blu-ray]



Keeping Score-Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 [Blu-ray]

[Kal Rubinson]

Really?
The Rattle/BPO sucks.
MTT talks too much.
Have not heard/seen the Pyongyang Concert.

[wettou]

Really? The Rattle/BPO sucks. MTT talks too much. Have not heard/seen the Pyongyang Concert.

Yes Really, I guess it is a good thing not all of us likes the same stuff.

"The Rattle" You mean it was poorly recorded!!

MTT the concert is amazing I bypass the talks...

[Kal Rubinson]

Yes Really, I guess it is a good thing not all of us likes the same stuff.

"The Rattle" You mean it was poorly recorded!!

Yup. Didn't you notice that the center channel goes in and out?

MTT the concert is amazing I bypass the talks...

There's a lot bandwidth wasted on his talking so you get only the Shosty 5 on a whole BR. Even if you want to hear what he has to say (and I accept that many will), how many times will you want to? I think the whole series is "poor value."

Kal

[wettou]

Yup. Didn't you notice that the center channel goes in and out?

I didn't as I was seating in the sweet spot! I will check it out tonight

There's a lot bandwidth wasted on his talking so you get only the Shosty 5 on a whole BR.

Yes, especially compared to disks from 2L :T

Even if you want to hear what he has to say (and I accept that many will), how many times will you want to?

Only once, but the concert many times

I think the whole series is "poor value."Kal

Agreed it is way over priced, but the symphony is still stellar. I bought them at a 30% discount. My kids have been watching them several times as they play classical music, and enjoy watching pros.

This is their favorite recording



Kal, any good recommendations??

[Kal Rubinson]

Agreed it is way over priced, but the symphony is still stellar. I bought them at a 30% discount. My kids have been watching them several times as they play classical music, and enjoy watching pros.

This is their favorite recording



Kal, any good recommendations??

Hey, I don't have to pay for them at all and I still think it is overpriced. Recommendations, not these but, of course, I put them in my column. :W

[wettou]

Hey, I don't have to pay for them at all and I still think it is overpriced. Recommendations, not these but, of course, I put them in my column. :W

Nice I wish I could have free music

How about Night on Bald Mountain which do you like best, I am curious?

Any of these: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...n+SACD&x=0&y=0

or

[Kal Rubinson]

Nice I wish I could have free music

Free? I have to write about these things or my supply dries up.

How about Night on Bald Mountain which do you like best, I am curious?

?? It is not a piece that moves me much but both of these are OK for me. I like the Slatkin (and a few others of the Rimsky version like the Reiner and Maazel), the Serebrier (of the Stokowski version although I have not heard the 7.1BR, only the 5.1 SACD), the Abbado (of Mussorgsky's original orchestration). I do not care for the Liebowitz.

[Burke Strickland]

A stellar performance of Mahler's 5th Symphony that does not compete for disc space with a lecture:



Leonard Bernstein conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra -- a memorable rendition worthy of repeated listening. Bernstein really owned this piece, and the VPO performance is reputedly better recorded than the earlier one he did with the New York Philharmonic if you can even still find that one.

Another fine interpretation comes from Rafael Kubelik conducting the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra:



I enjoy listening to either one (the Bernstein or the Kubelik). Kubelik also did one of the "must have" interpretations of Mahler's First Symphony. Bernstein did "must have" interpretations of just about everything else by Mahler.

[Burke Strickland]

Alexander Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau (The Mermaid) / Psalm XIII, Op. 24
Riccardy Chailly conducting the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra



Kind of "off the beaten path", but "The Mermaid" is a selection that should appeal to those who enjoy Vaughn-Williams' Antarctica Symphony,
or the film music of Erich Wolfgang Korngold (which should be nearly everybody). :>) The Psalm XIII is pretty dramatic, too, and may appeal to folks who liked the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony, but thought a choir should be singing along with the organ. :>) In this piece, the human voices in the choir are effectively additional instruments in the orchestral palette and bring to mind some passages in Vaughn-Williams' "A Sea Symphony".

[Johnloudb]

Mahler 6th

Hi Burke, I'm also a big fan of Mahler!

I've been enjoying this Mahler Symphony No. 6, "Tragic" symphony. This SACD with the Eschenbach conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra is really nice. Very good performance and the sound quality is excellent, as are most of the Eschenbach/Philadelphia recordings are. The Philadelphia Orchestra is a great orchestra!



His Tchaikovsky 5th is also very, very nice.



His Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 is another good'n. The second movement on this is just really beautiful. I've read complaints that Eschenbach takes this symphony too fast, but I don't really hear it ... I think it's really nit picking. The second movement is not fast at all ... just really nice.

And the organ on this really great, no sissy organ here ... gets down there! They must have a really nice music hall there in Philadelphia, 'cause the sound is just really smooth and open ... the string section is gorgeous.

[Johnloudb]

This Tchaichovsky 4, 5, 6th with Mravinsky and LPO is one of my longtime favorites. It's still available.

[Brandon B]

Thea-masta,

I can't think of a better way to dip you toes into classical, than Rimsky-Korsakov's Schehezade.

Can't image anyone not liking this, but you never know. This is a Hybrid SACD, very nice. I have the regular CD version too, both are nice.

Amazon have a couple dozen of the RCA Living Stereo series on SACD (all CD hybrids) for $10.49:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rca+sacd&x=0&y=0

Best deal around I know of for sampling classical. I've picked up about 14 od them so far.

[Johnloudb]

Brandon, yeah, those Living Stereo CDs are usually a nice buy. We have a lot of those too.

The Art of Virgil Fox is a wonderful recording of really nice music. It's organ music performed by Virgil Fox of course. Highly recommended!

[Theresa]

Beethoven Symphonies, The Academy Of Ancient Music, directed by Christopher Hogwood. I like them all.

[audioqueso]

Vivaldi. In my collection of classical music, (though more sympthony), this is absolutely my favorite! It's so pleasing to listen to. Relaxing, yet powerful. I love this album.

http://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Cello-Concertos-Antonio/dp/B000FTWABS/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1290486121&sr=8-13

[Johnloudb]

This is one of the best quality recordings I've heard. It's Mozart improvisation by Bobby McFerrin (vocals), and he also conducts the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra with Chick Corea on piano. This is classical, but with some McFrerrin vocals in parts and other differences from just straight Mozart. Corea and McFerrin pictured Mozart as an improviser. I like it.

[Johnloudb]

Strauss - Last 4 Songs, 12 orchestral songs

I especially like song 4 of the "4 songs", and it was also the theme song for a particular movie (played over and over again) years ago ... I think it was a romantic movie. Can't recall the name, but if someone here has an idea what movie, I'd like to know.

Anyway, this is just a wonderful recording/performance and one which pulls you in and you just melt. Unless you hate opera singing, but still that doesn't mean you wouldn't like this, IMO. But what do I know.

I'm glad my dad listens to a lot of different classical music, cause I get to hear a lot of good stuff I'd never look up on my own. He was really good at the French horn and played in school orchestras and for the Air Force Ceremonial Band. He always loved classical, though he listens to a bit of everything.

Anyway, when I hear something like this I just am in awe of all the great classical music and talent out there. Too bad there not many classical composers out there now writing classical other than for movie soundtracks.

George Szell conducts the Berlin Radio Symphony, with singing by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

[Kal Rubinson]

Anyway, this is just a wonderful recording/performance and one which pulls you in and you just melt. Unless you hate opera singing, but still that doesn't mean you wouldn't like this, IMO. But what do I know.

It is, indeed, wonderful. I have the original on LP as well as several other versions on LP, CD and SACD. Can't get enough.

Anyway, when I hear something like this I just am in awe of all the great classical music and talent out there. Too bad there not many classical composers out there now writing classical other than for movie soundtracks.

Really? There is a lot out there. Let me suggest you take a look at the BMOP label, if you are any bit adventurous:
1010 John Harbison: Full Moon in March | Mirabai Songs* | Exequien for Calvin Simmons
1017 Lisa Bielawa: In medias res | Roam | Double Violin Concerto | unfinish'd, sent | Synopses #1-15 (Also on SACD)
1008 Derek Bermel: Voices | Dust Dances | Thracian Echoes | Elixir Derek Bermel, clarinet (Also on SACD)

*I also have the exquisite Mirabai Songs on another outstanding disc with Dawn Upshaw http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/knoxville-summer-of-1915

With few exceptions, composers writing for movie soundstracks today are annoyingly derivative.

[Johnloudb]

Really? There is a lot out there. Let me suggest you take a look at the BMOP label, if you are any bit adventurous:
1010 John Harbison: Full Moon in March | Mirabai Songs* | Exequien for Calvin Simmons
1017 Lisa Bielawa: In medias res | Roam | Double Violin Concerto | unfinish'd, sent | Synopses #1-15 (Also on SACD)
1008 Derek Bermel: Voices | Dust Dances | Thracian Echoes | Elixir Derek Bermel, clarinet (Also on SACD)

*I also have the exquisite Mirabai Songs on another outstanding disc with Dawn Upshaw http://www.nonesuch.com/albums/knoxville-summer-of-1915

Must have missed those on the Billboard top 10. No, really, thanks Kal, I'm glad to know they are out there. So, I did listen to some sample tracks of John Harbison's music on Amazon and he some nice stuff alright - will try some of the titles you mention there.

With few exceptions, composers writing for movie soundstracks today are annoyingly derivative.

Yeah, I agree. Though my favorite movie composers are probably Bernard Herman and Jerry Goldsmith (really like music he did for the movie Basic Instinct).

[Kal Rubinson]

deleted

[Kal Rubinson]

Must have missed those on the Billboard top 10. No, really, thanks Kal, I'm glad to know they are out there. So, I did listen to some sample tracks of John Harbison's music on Amazon and he some nice stuff alright - will try some of the titles you mention there.

You need to read my column. :W

Yeah, I agree. Though my favorite movie composers are probably Bernard Herman and Jerry Goldsmith (really like music he did for the movie Basic Instinct).

Sure but those guys are hardly "today."