Classical music - where to start? [Archive] - Audioholics Home Theater Forums

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frkuhn

03-05-2004, 12:56 PM

A. Vivaldi

03-07-2004, 04:12 AM

I don't have much experience with titles in high resolution yet, so all I can do is recommend some labels known for high sound quality. Harmonia Mundi, Hyperion, Chandos, Channel Classics, JVC XRCD (also has Jazz), Mercury Living Presence, BIS, Sony/Columbia Classical. All of these labels have some high-res titles. I'd also recommend not bothering with high-res versions of recordings of certain solo intruments like piano, female vocals, etc., as the differences may not be all that noticeable.

frkuhn

03-08-2004, 09:11 AM

Thanks! And what about conductors/performers/authors? I'm actually very afraid of ending up with some easy listening/elevator stuff so common in the radio.

SMaC

03-08-2004, 02:52 PM

One of my most recent favorite finds is an older recording of a classic piece, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.  The details of the CD are

Conductor: Karl Bohm
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic/Berlin Philharmonic
Title: Eine kleine Natchmusik/Serenata notturna/Posthorn Serenade/Haffner Serenade
Label: Deutsche Gramophone

Bohm's interpretation of Mozart's most popular work is different than most that are heard.  It is slower and heavier without dragging or being cumbersome.  It does not "bounce" or sound as springy.  This can be a turn-off for people, but I find it somehow more realistic.  I don't know how the score is noted, and I don't claim to know what Mozart's intent was, I'm just saying that I like it, perhaps because it takes a piece that has almost become monotonous and makes you listen to it again.

As far as the quality of the recording, I can't offer much help.  These were originally recorded in the 60's.

Hope you enjoy.

Rip Van Woofer

03-08-2004, 05:45 PM

Hello everyone from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico! Enjoying my vacation but had to chime in here.

With  more than 300 years of music to choose from (the range from Baroque thru the 20th century that covers most of what we think of as "classical music", it can be intimidating!

Good start with Mahler, IMO. He´s my man and maybe THE composer for hi-fi! Check out his 2nd Symphony next. Zander is an excellent Mahler interpreter, be sure to listen to his explanation of the piece and his conducting.

Everyone has faves but to start, go with the "Three B´s" Bach, Beethoven & Brahms. Bach´s Brandenburg Concertos are a good intro to him. Beethoven´s symphonies & Brahms symphonies for sure. Mozart for certain, too, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusic, and his later symphonies, esp. no. 40. Try the French "impressionists" Ravel and Debussy. Beautiful orchestration.

Then try some Stravinsky, like Rite of Spring and Firebird Suite. And Bartok. And maybe some of the more avant garde modernists of the early 20th century like Schoenberg and Varese. Frank Zappa was a huge Varese fan!

I could go on and on...but here´s a suggestion. Go to Amazon.com and to Arkivmusic.com and check out their "essential recordings" lists for some good first choices.

As with any other type of music you´ll find composers and styles you prefer...and otherwise. Enjoy!

Oh, I don´t think there´s much yet recorded in hi rez so don´t make that a prime consideration. Many digital remasters of analog tape recordings from the 70s and 80s have great sound and excellent performances.

Back to the hard work of being a gringo tourist...

Rob Babcock

03-08-2004, 06:17 PM

Many audio mags as well as music vendors have lists of the basic reportoire; Naxos has such a list of discs on their label. *This is a pretty good way to go as their sound quality is superb and the prices very low.

It's difficult to answer you question- as Rip stated, with centuries of music it's tough to recommend a starting point. *Still, I suggest you try different subgenres and styles to see what you like. *Some suggestions:

Classical guitar- *This can run from Bach transcriptions to Grananado & Sor, and all of it is interesting. *I am partial to Sor, Granados & Albinez (I'm somewhat biased in favor of Romantic Era music). *Fabio Zanon is one of my very favorites, but Julian Bream & John Williams have some very good recordings, too. *Try Danza Espanola #5.

Some of the old 'warhorses' became just that for a reason- they're great pieces that stand the test of time. *Some of my favorites:

Dvorak- Symphony #9, Carnival Overture, Slavonic Dances
Copeland- Fanfare For The Common Man, Rodeo
Rachmaninov- Piano Concerto #2 ( esp the Ashkenazy one on London)
Chopin- Piano Concerto #2, any of his Etudes (I recommend Vladimir Horowitz's favorite Chopin- CBS Masterworks, as a good starting point).
Howard Hanson- Symphonies #2 & #1,Merry Mount Suite
Holst- The Planets
Khachaturian- Gayane Suites #1-3
Mussorgsky- Night On a Bald Mountain, Pictures at an Exhibition
Berlioz- Symphony Fantastique
Strauss- Death & Transfiguration, Thus Spake Zarathustra
Debussy- La Mer, Nocturnes, Prelude A L'Apers Midi D'un Faune
Bach- everything! *You can't miss with Bach- I particularly like the organ works.

I highly recommend anything you can get your hands on by these musicians:

Fabio Zanon- Guitar
Hillary Hahn- Vioin
Marc Andres Hamelin- Piano

There's tons I missed but this is a good starting point. *Much of this is accessible, but none is elevator music.

hopjohn

03-08-2004, 10:48 PM

I recently purchased the newly released SACD Multi Channel Hybrid Disc -

Beethoven Violin Concerto - Romances
Kurt Masur / New York Philharmonic
Anne - Sophie Mutter - Violin
Deutsche Grammaphone 471 633-2

Terrific sounding disc! <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':;):'>

hlesser

03-09-2004, 07:58 AM

A few artists whose recordings are all first rate:
ANGELA HEWITT - piano -- A Canadian pianist with a specialty for Bach.  Spectacular recordings on Hyperion

MICHAIL PLETNEV - piano - He's about to release a Schumann Disc on SACD (Deutsche Gramaphone) as well as the Rachmaninoff 3rd piano Concerto (prev CD release).  All recordings stupendous but particularly the Scarlatti Sonatas (Verve), Carnegie Hall recital (DG), Homage to Rachmaninoff

RICHARD GOODE - phenomenal Beethoven piano sonatas in a boxed set of 10 (but available in smaller bunches, I believe)

STEPHEN HOUGH - Check out recordings of Mompou and a disc called the Piano Album (Hyperion)

MURRAY PERAHIA - stupendous recordings particularly Schumann.

More to come!!!

hlesser

03-09-2004, 08:11 AM

Additional recordings:
STEPHEN HOUGH - Liszt sonatas & Ballades. Mendelssohn piano concerto.

MAHLER - San Francisco Symphony - The 1st symphony is a stupendous recording.  They are doing the whole set of them.  I'm told that #s 3 & 4 are also wonderful.  Demonstration quality and great performances.  SACD/Multich

MOZART REQUIUM - Channel Classics - it's enough to make a heathen religious! SACD/multich

RAVEL - Dejan LAZIC piano - Channel Classics - jazzy, introspective, one of the best piano recordings ever. SACD/Multich

VIVALDI - La Stravaganza - Rachel Podger violin & Arte Dei Suonatori - Channel Classics - SACD/multichannel

BEETHOVEN - Symphonies - Barenboim - Teldec on DVD-A.  Wonderful.

hlesser

03-09-2004, 08:17 AM

Three more:
MANUEL BARRUECO - 300 years of Guitar Music - EMI 66575 - A great introduction to numerous composers.  -- Barnes & Noble often has this 3 disc set for $15.  

Also SHARON ISBIN - Guitar - Dreams of a World

JULIAN BREAM - Guitar - Granados/Albeniz - RCA recording

frkuhn

03-09-2004, 12:43 PM

WOW! Thanks a lot, fellas.

Lots of input, just what I need, given I'm 300 years late to the game! <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

I'm already researching some of the titles mentioned here. Please keep it coming!

rgriffin25

03-29-2004, 02:09 AM

frkuhn,

I started a new thread "Music to Consider" w/o looking down the page at your question.

I agree with hlesser on the Mahler SACDs by SFSO. I own all the symphonies that have been released. Both the 3rd and the 6th symphonies received grammy awards.

If you like.. check out my thread for other ideas.  <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Rob Babcock

03-29-2004, 08:29 AM

I wanted to add that HiRez is especially good for recordings of strings & piano.  The piano sounds more solid and "stable" for lack of a better, more audiophool approved term.  The attack and decay of the notes is so much more realistic on DVD-A (and on SACD, to some degree).

frkuhn

03-30-2004, 07:15 AM

<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">If you like.. check out my thread for other ideas.</td></tr></table>

I'm already there, my friend! <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

frkuhn

04-07-2004, 03:11 PM

av_phile

05-11-2004, 02:59 AM

Hi, there.

After 20 years in the rock and roll domain, and 5 in the jazz, I'm now starting to explore clasical music as a third source of enjoyment.

I know a lot of people here enjoy the classics, so I decided to ask for directions first. <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

What would be good titles (preferably available in Hi-rez, I acquired THIS habit too! <img src="http://www.audioholics.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> ) to start with? I already bought Mahler's sixth (with Zander) and Dvorak's New World (Harnoncourt) and I'm getting acquainted to those two (it takes me at least 6 months to really get into new music).

So, with the word, the experts!

For someone just starting out with the Classics, i am amazed that you started with Mahler - a composer not entirely known for his melodic lines and preferred using discordant harmonies to convey muscial textures that may not sit well with pop and rock afficionados. (Though rock music often use similar discordant harmonies.) But I guess, you're a rare breed and I congratulate you on your journey to this genre.

I started out with the trite and overplayed Beethoven's Symphony #5 from Karajan and the Berlin Symphony on Deutsch Grammophon (DG). Then bought Brahms, Bach , Straus, Paganini, Vivaldi, Mozart, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Back, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Wagner, Dvorak and some others who were in the classical, baroque and romantic eras. They have very melodic and tuneful lines with complex but pleasing harmonies that are so easily remembered and appreciated by one who came from a jazz and pop world.

It was a good 3 years or so before I ventured into the more complex, unmelodic and "heavy" classics from Mahler, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovitch, Belini, to mention some of the more 'modern' classical composers who prefer to experiment on radical polyphonic textures often at the expense of lyricsm and melody. I also had difficulty appreciating Opera and just couldn't sit through an entire Carmen or Marriage of Figaro, much less a Tosca or Aida without squirming in my listening couch. But I do like some opera excerpts and some songs culled from them, especially the melodic ones like Nessun Dorma from Puccini's Turandot (right?) or the suites from Bizet's Carmen. These are excellent starters for would-be classical affcionados.

Lately, I have grown fond of solo operatic singers belting out some famous, familiar or melodic songs. Offhand I could think of Andrea Bocelli (Sogno and Romanza albums and the Tuscany DVD live concert I have) and Sarah Brightman (more crossover between classic and pop with Weber's fussion Phantom Of The Opera, Harem, La Luna CDs and the Eden DVD live concert) that should be a good introduction to the world of Opera. Then there are new pop-classical artists like Charlotte Church, Russel Watson, Mario Frangoulis and Haley Westenra, just to mention the more popular ones who seem to have soem flexibility with their voice crossing from pop to classics. Ofcourse, there's the famous three tenors, Luciano Pavorotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras in their albums together or seprately.

You're a bit more advance in your journey, having started with Mahler and appreciated it. Some cross-over afficionadoes I know can't even get by with the album Classical Music For People Who Hate Classical Music. There's a huge world of classics out there. More than 400 years of music to say the least, in the form we know it. Wish you an enjoyable and pleasant journey. :D

rgriffin25

05-11-2004, 12:37 PM

For someone just starting out with the Classics, i am amazed that you started with Mahler - a composer not entirely known for his melodic lines and preferred using discordant harmonies to convey muscial textures that may not sit well with pop and rock afficionados. (Though rock music often use similar discordant harmonies.) :D

I agree and disagree. I agree for the most part Mahler is not the easiest composer to start with. However there is always plenty going on to keep the listener interested. As far as melodic lines go try his 4th Symphony. The 1st movement is simply beautiful, quite unlike most of his other symphonies.

av_phile

05-12-2004, 01:11 AM

I agree and disagree. I agree for the most part Mahler is not the easiest composer to start with. However there is always plenty going on to keep the listener interested. As far as melodic lines go try his 4th Symphony. The 1st movement is simply beautiful, quite unlike most of his other symphonies.

True, his adagieto from the 5th is hauntingly lyrical and most memorable. But I was talking in general terms.

frkuhn

05-12-2004, 09:44 AM

I actually bougth Mahler's 6th without listening to it first, and the same goes for every classical title I'm purchasing. I have no friends that enjoy classical music, and I don't have much time to shop, so I buy most of my stuff from the internet. That's why I asked for directions here first.

But I must say I really enjoy it. It has some kind of "Prog metal" feel to it. :p
And the hammer blows are just scary! Very nice. I must confess I have a taste for weird music (like Zappa and Crimsom), so it wasn't a shock for me.

As a sidenote, I found out Naxos is ditributed here in Brazil, and is reasonably priced, so I'm getting to know lots of stuff from their catalog, and discovering lots of great music! :)

MrKlister

05-12-2004, 10:03 AM

Here's a link to 50 recommended recordings from NPR's Performance Today.
http://www.npr.org/programs/pt/pt50.html

I highly recommend the Brandenberg Concertos recording listed here. Great performance and great sound.

spenny

08-22-2004, 02:29 PM

i would have reccomended getting the ClassicFM 'music for...' series but this isn't a UK site is it?
:(

either-way; I would recommend the following:
(all available on Naxos)
Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th Symponies are fantastic.
The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky
Carmen (suites) by Bizet
The Four Seasons by Vivaldi
----
Echoes: The Einaudi Collection
Shapes by Dominic Miller (classical pieces done on Acoustic Guitar)
:cool:

Polkfan

08-22-2004, 03:54 PM

I'd like to recommend Mendelssohn's (Felix) 8th, 9th, and 10th symphonies for strings by the Orpeheus Chamber Orchestra recorded by Deutsche Grammophon. It is pure digital and very good. He is very melodic and entertaining. I did not see a mention of Haydn any where. His stuff is pretty good too. I really like his 94th symphony. Mahler and Stravinsky can be rather shocking at times. :p

Rock&Roll Ninja

02-17-2005, 07:32 PM

'Classics' you're probably already familiar with (and didn't even know it):

*Beethoven's 9th symphony
*Moussorgsky - Night on Bald Mountain
*Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King
*Bach - Toccata & Fugue
*Beethoven's 14th Piano sonata "midnight"
*Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture
*Orff - Carmina Burana "O Fortuna"
*Holst - The Planets "Mars: Bringer of War"
*Wagner - Die Walkure (The Valkyrie) Act 3. "Ride of the valkyries"
*Strauss - Blue Danube Waltz
*Mozart - Eine kleine nachtmusik serenade
*Pachelbel - Canon and Gigue in
*Bizet - Carmen: Overture

JJNab

02-19-2005, 07:30 PM

I recommend Barenboim's first (1960s) recording of the Beethoven piano sonata cycle as a start for piano music. Also his recordings of the Brahms piano concertos. Both are very cheap these days. And the late Schubert sonatas, by Richard Goode, Alfred Brendel, or Stephen Kovacevich. For guitar, I highly recommend the recordings of Antigoni Goni, Franco Platino, Fabio Zanon, and Denis Azabagic on Naxos. I agree with an earlier poster that Bream's Albeniz/Granados disc is superb. Also check out David Russell, arguably the best classical guitarist in the world today, especially his Bach CD on Telarc and either of his Plays Baroque CD's. The earlier one, on GHA, has a recording of Handel's 7th Harpsichord Suite that will knock your socks off. The latter (on Telarc) has a magnificent transcription of a suite by Lloieillet, an French contemporary of Bach. Williams' early recording of the Bach Lute Suites is still the best, IMHO. A wonderful disc too is Ramirez' Barrios disc on Deutsche Gramophone.

For violin music, I cannot recommend highly enough the wonderful Sibelius Violin Concerto. I love the Francescatti recording, but Heifetz and Kremer both have great renditions as well. Don't go Perlman on this one, but he's great for Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and other romantics. Anything by Isaac Stern is awesome. Check out his old (1970s) recording of the Bartok sonatas. Fantastic.

For symphonies, I say start with Karajan's Beethoven cycle, and Klemperer's Brahms. Throw in Tchaikovsky's 4-6, with Temirnekov, Mozart 35-41 with Karajan or many others, and don't forget Bruckner. Karajan's recording of the 8th is possibly my favorite classical CD. Tintner's Naxos recordings are very good, and cheap. For Mahler, try Bernstein -- very idiosyncratic, but great. I agree with the earlier posters that Michael Tilson Thomas is good for Mahler as well. In fact, he's better than good for anything. Try, for example, his Villa-Lobos CD.

I'm out of space and didn't even get to chamber music. Well, happy discovering. JJ

Zarg

02-19-2005, 11:13 PM

I'd like to chime in here to recommend an approach that has worked for me... join a music club.

I joined BMG, with an emphasis on classical music, and received a catalog every so often, listing a bunch of worthy discs. You need not order, but remember to notify the club or else they send you discs automatically.

For me, it wasn't so much ordering what I already knew, or thought I knew, but taking a chance on a new composer or orchestra once in a while.

Kreisler is killer for violin, by the way.

Bunny

03-03-2005, 02:05 PM

People, have anyone here heard Daniel Barenboim's DVD-As of Beethoven symphonies? Are they any good?

I can get a good deal in some of them (1&2, 3, 6 and 7&8), and was wondering if they are worth buying. In case they are ok, witch one is better?
I couldn't find anything on Barenboim dvd-a. If they are the same as the recordings on Teldec that were recently released as a cycle, then they are very good indeed, and have garnered great reviews. You need to give a little more information about the recordings.

Here is a review from Classics Today (http://www.classicstoday.com/Classics/ConcertReview_ASPFiles/ViewConcertReview.asp?Action=User&ID=395).

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004S1EV.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Available from Tower (http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1834921) and Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004S1EV/qid=1109873921/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-3915730-2112749?v=glance&s=classical)

Bunny

03-03-2005, 02:14 PM

I recommend Barenboim's first (1960s) recording of the Beethoven piano sonata cycle as a start for piano music.
I prefer Rudolph Serkin for Beethoven Sonatas or Claudio Arrau's complete cycle. The reference for Beethoven Sonatas is, ofcourse, Artur Schnabel. As he died in 1951 if sound quality is more important than or as important as interpretation, then these recordings are not for you. The Serkin recordings are newer, but they are also a reference and are being re-released as they are remastered. Claudio Arrau's complete cycle of Beethoven Sonatas is also one of the finest. It also includes the Beethoven Piano Concertos which I haven't listened to yet. Stay away from John O'Conor. He is much too fond of the pedal and tends towards the schmaltzy.

For Beethoven's Piano Concertos, look for either the DG recordings featuring Maurizio Pollini and Claudio Abbado conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker Orchester, or my personal favorites, the Leon Fleischer and George Szell conducting the Cleveland Orchestra. The Murray Perahia/Bernard Haitinck (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) cycle is also excellent, but more lyrical rather than the heroic interpretation of the former two.

For music clubs, try yourmusic.com, which gives a lot of flexibility.

rgriffin25

03-04-2005, 12:26 AM

Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Claudio Abbado does the complete Beethoven Symphony Cycle on DVD-A. Very good quality, I plan on getting the whole cycle for my collection even though I already own it!

Look Here (http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=12719)

ducker

04-08-2005, 03:10 PM

Great thread... with over 20 Mozart cd's, and I haven't bought any more in a while since I have a good portion of his work (it would require most likely ordering specific pieces now). Now I'll have to hunt down some of the SACDs of Mozart's pieces... As well as early Bach organ pieces, and Harpsichord... man I so can't wait!!!

it's funny, much like contemporary music, I can't stand listening to Eine kleine nachtmusik really since it's very much overplayed.

I'm sure there are recordings of "The Carmina Burana" that are quite impressive. Quite a long piece of music overall, but has many pieces that are well known.

Thanks for the great info here!

mfabien

04-28-2005, 08:13 AM

After reading this thread, I just ordered:

Bach, The Uncommon Bach

in DTS 5.1 music disc.

JoeE SP9

04-28-2005, 07:43 PM

Although classical is only a small percentage of my music collection. The following get a lot of play here.

Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Roger Norrington Cond. EMI D100467
The Jazz Album, Simon Rattle Cond. EMI 172226
The Firebird, Robert Shaw Cond. Telarc CD 80039
W. A. Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Raymond Leppard Cond. MHS 11059A
Verdi La Traviata with Beverly Sills, Aldo Ceccato Cond. EMI 7 69827 2
Copland Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Wuilliam Boughton Cond. Nimbus NI5246
Ein Straussfest, Erich Kunzel Cond. Telarc 80098
Orff Carmina Burana, Eugene Ormandy Con. Sony SBK 47668

I live in the inner city. Any one of these is guaranteed to cause the neighborhood street urchins to find somewhere other than in front of my house to play. No, that is not the reason I play them. I just open my windows and try to raise the level of music appreciation in the area. If it's worth anything, they don't like jazz either. Jazz however, does not cause them to go elswhere.
:cool:

Rock&Roll Ninja

04-28-2005, 08:30 PM

I live in the inner city. Any one of these is guaranteed to cause the neighborhood street urchins to find somewhere other than in front of my house to play.

A certain chain of convenience stores has a corporate policy of playing classical music at very-loud level over the exterior loudspeakers if groups of youth start to gather in the parking lot. Not only do surley teens want nothing to do with Hayden, but the store doesn't have to pay royalties to use it.