3 Favorite Classical Pieces

[SnarkHunter]

1)Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2
2)Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
3)Dvorak Violin Concerto 1

 

[rnatalli]

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Chopin: Can't remember the piece

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I am just starting to try classical, and content-wise the pieces suggested here are a good starting point. For a given piece, how can I find out the best recording?

 

[The Chukker]

Great thread

So nice to see classical in the limelight.
Guess I have to go downstairs and pop in "Amadeus" again.
God, Mozart was lecherous...

 

[Brett A]

I am just starting to try classical, and content-wise the pieces suggested here are a good starting point. For a given piece, how can I find out the best recording?

One thing I've done is, once I have a piece in mind, I'll to do a search over at Audio Asylum on their Music Lane page to see if there is a discussion about it in the archive.

 

[3db]

I am just starting to try classical, and content-wise the pieces suggested here are a good starting point. For a given piece, how can I find out the best recording?

Recordings with the "London" label or "Deutche Gramaphone" are a safe bet.

 

[Davemcc]

1) Mozart - Symphony #40 in G Minor
2) Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto #2 in C-Sharp Minor, esp. Prelude in C-Sharp Minor for Piano, #2, Op.3
3) Chopin - Concerto #1

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Recordings with the "London" label or "Deutche Gramaphone" are a safe bet.

Good. That is helpful. Deutche Gramaphone, in particular, has a huge catalog and they are easy to find.
I bought a 2 CD Naxos "Classical From A to Z" sampler, which should help me decide what I like. Classical will never be my favorite genre, but I do find myself enjoying it at times. I liked the Vivaldi sample, in particular.
Soundwise, none of the recordings I have heard so far can compare to the orchestral sections of Alan Parsons' CDs. Why is that?

 

[3db]

Good. That is helpful. Deutche Gramaphone, in particular, has a huge catalog and they are easy to find.
I bought a 2 CD Naxos "Classical From A to Z" sampler, which should help me decide what I like. Classical will never be my favorite genre, but I do find myself enjoying it at times. I liked the Vivaldi sample, in particular.
Soundwise, none of the recordings I have heard so far can compare to the orchestral sections of Alan Parsons' CDs. Why is that?

I don't know the label Naxos so its difficult for me to say. When you buy your classical CDs make sure its D D D through out the process.

 

[The Chukker]

Soundwise, none of the recordings I have heard so far can compare to the orchestral sections of Alan Parsons' CDs. Why is that?

I believe Alan Parsons' Project co-collaborated their recording techniques with members of Pink Floyd. Both sets of artists are famous for the fidelity (and complexity) of their recordings. I can't speak for Alan Parsons' Project, but Pink Floyd has a rather large studio budget allocated for its recordings. I doubt many symphonies and/or orchestras have the same kind of dedication (or budget) to pure fidelity. In fact they always sound best live.

 

[3db]

I believe Alan Parsons' Project co-collaborated their recording techniques with members of Pink Floyd. Both sets of artists are famous for the fidelity (and complexity) of their recordings. I can't speak for Alan Parsons' Project, but Pink Floyd has a rather large studio budget allocated for its recordings. I doubt many symphonies and/or orchestras have the same kind of dedication (or budget) to pure fidelity. In fact they always sound best live.

It depends on the conductor as well as the symphony. I picked up Beethovens complete set of Symphonies, 1 thru 9, from the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert Von Karajan back in 1961-193 time frame and despite these recordings being mono and on vinyl, I've never heard more detail in a recording than these. I/m not turning this into a vinyl/vs CD debate but I have a CD collection of Beethoven's symphonies recorded by another conductor/orchestra and the music detail is missing; not becuase of the format but because of the production. Herbert Von Karajan was a stickler for detail and it shows on his productions. So that being said, it depends really on the orchestra and on the conductor. Oh, the vinyl was made by Deutche Gramaphone.

I have a recording of Tchaikosvsky 1812 overture made by London records recorded by the London Philaharmonic I beleive and I can hear a 2 double bass' cabinet rattle or vibrate in the recording. How's that for good miking technique and picking up nuances?

 

[jostenmeat]

Im with Chukker that live often sounds best. I agree with 3db its the production.

I believe what you say about Karajan, but I wonder how much say these persons got, with the totalitarian power of some producers. I heard some outtakes of the iconic legend Stravinsky conducting his own work, I believe for CBS, and it was totally nuts to hear the producers dictate to Igor what they wanted. He complied without complaint. It was strange anyways, as he had the reputation of being egomaniacal.

Regardng Naxos, its a good budget line. When I last shopped for those, they were $6 I think. Its kinda hit or miss sometimes. There were a few very excellent recordings, but when I try to remember, they were often works that were a bit more obscure, or less popular. Anyways, Naxos is well worth the 1 or 2 dollars than some other seriously cheap lines, like Lydian, IIRC, which I believe used to $4 way back in the day.

Lastly, regarding close-micing of orchestras... Im not sure how I feel about that. Classical musicians play very differently depending on how far away they are from the audience, and those funny sounds usually wouldn't make it to the audience. That's not to say some cd listeners do not completely enjoy it. For instance, even Glenn Gould knew about his unfixable issue with constant humming, and Im sure the audience never heard that. But cd listeners are pretty familiar with it, heh.

 

[3db]

......


Lastly, regarding close-micing of orchestras... Im not sure how I feel about that. Classical musicians play very differently depending on how far away they are from the audience, and those funny sounds usually wouldn't make it to the audience. That's not to say some cd listeners do not completely enjoy it. For instance, even Glenn Gould knew about his unfixable issue with constant humming, and Im sure the audience never heard that. But cd listeners are pretty familiar with it, heh.

I went to a concert in my home town and we were sitting about 20 rows back. It was full blown orchestra that was playing and I heard the rattle of a double bass. I'm surprised the conductor let him play that instrument. I don't know if people in the back rows wouldn't be able to hear it but i most certainly did.

 

[TLS Guy]

Joe,

I will give this serious consideration and give you my top ten, with disc numbers and where to buy.

Do you have an FM radio? Is there a good public radio station in your area? If not, do you have a good sound card in a computer connected to your system?

Minnesota public radio is the nations premier public radio station and now has a world wide audience. Their streaming audio is a good cut above the rest, even I have to admit the BBC. This, or your local public radio station is a really good way to explore classical music. If you find your public radio station valuable, please support it.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/music/

 

[Joe Schmoe]

The only radio I have is in my HT receiver, and I don't have an antenna connected to it.
At this point, it looks like my classical experiment is kind of fizzling out. The samples I have tried are pleasant enough, but don't compel me to listen to more.
I do enjoy what I would call "pop/classical crossover" stuff, such as Sarah Brightman and Chris Botti.

 

[TLS Guy]

Dear Joe,

I'm not touching your dating plans with a barge pole! However I said I would put some classical picks together.

Now I have a fairly good idea of your system. This does have a bearing, as classical music is very vulnerable. I have tried to avoid huge block busters, especially huge choral block busters as they tax even the best of systems severely. If one knows the work, you can listen through equipment limitations.
I'm trying to pick well produced discs that one returns to again and again.

I have the impression you like song, and so I'm starting there. I think the art of the English song writing reached its zenith in Tudor England.

These songs are superbly sung by Emma Kirkby. Her diction is crystal clear. She is on pitch throughout, without vibrato. The recording is in Forde Abbey Dorset. The superb Hyperion recoding captures the acoustic beautifully.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=30771

For further exploration any in this series from Dowland's first booke of songs are a delight. This is the first of the series.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=3178&name_role1=1&comp_id=200335&bcorder=15&name_id=13567&name_role=2

Now I think any one who values song should have a copy of the Four Last Songs of Richard Strauss. This is one of the most profound utterances in all music. Written by an aged sick composer in Germany right after the second WW. This is for mezzo soprano and orchestra. None wrote for the mezzo voice like Richard Strauss. He married one!

These are my picks.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=173959

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1569

Now onto the best selling classical album of all time. This has never been unavailable since its release and with good reason. It is the great performance of Sir Edward Elgar's cello concerto by Jacqueline Dupre, under Sir John Barbirolli, "Glorious John," as Ralph Vaughn Williams called him. This is beautifully recorded in in the Kingsway Hall before modern acoustic engineers ruined it. It has Elgar's Sea Pictures and a performance of the concert overture Cockaigne, In London Town.

Elgar wrote himself out with this cello concerto. It is a deep work, brooding on the disaster that was the WW I, and the death of tonality. It ends with a great enough of that, sod it it all, lets get on with it. The collaboration between the 20 yr old Jackie and the ailing conductor, is something that created a musical event of the century.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1569

I guess no collection is complete without a Beethoven Symphony cycle. My current favorite is the MSO cycle under Ostmo Vanska. I would start with the fifth.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=858&name_role1=1&comp_id=3822&bcorder=15&name_id=56145&name_role=3

Having some of the Mozart piano concertos in your collection is very rewarding. This is one of my all time favorites.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=6398

For a cycle this set is hard to beat.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=128587

Now for something that is really fun!

Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazarde under Sir Thomas Beecham. Tommy Beecham just has no equal in this type of music.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2901

Now let's switch gears a little, and go to the Baroque.

Bach's Brandenberg concertos have already been recommended. Here is a new recommended version.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=185092

I do think Bach's cantatas are well worth exploration. The music is so sublime. These are a good place to start as the melodies are likely to be familiar to you.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=527&name_role1=1&comp_id=28445&genre=90&bcorder=195&name_id=26870&name_role=3

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=527&name_role1=1&comp_id=3674&genre=90&bcorder=195&name_id=26870&name_role=3

Now on to Georg Frederick Handel. Beethoven said of him, "Only before the tomb of Handel does one raise the hat and bend the knee. He achieved such striking effects and with so little means." A composer born in Germany, who started his composing career in Italy, and moved to England in the reign of Queen Anne, in preparation for the arrival of the Elector of of Hanover, the Prince of Saxborg Gotha. In other words George the first. To he English he is as English as the "Walls of Oak", that protected the "Fair Isles" for centuries. He is buried in Westminster Abbey. His music has been a staple of big royal occasions since the reign of Queen Anne.

You really can't go wrong with anything by Handel. He never fails to give pleasure. I think I would start with the Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2547

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=5023&name_role1=1&comp_id=1280&bcorder=15&name_id=13646&name_role=3

The organ concertos are also great fun.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=5023&name_role1=1&comp_id=6303&genre=1&bcorder=195&name_id=9707&name_role=2

Now to Brahms. If you want to be put on the edge of your chair try this.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=146847

For Piano concerto no 2. I just love this one. The soloist died a few days later of congestive heart failure.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=144722

Returning to song, this album is a delight. You can't fail to enjoy the Liebeslieder Waltzes.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2553

For an introduction to the Piano Sonata, these Schubert Sonatas have to be on the highly recommended list.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=4579

If you like the art of song, this is on the recommended list.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=3624

This disc is worth the money fro the Schumann Marchinbilder.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=52976

And finally a romantic choral work. This will not overtax your system. I have selected the Faure Requiem. Gabriel Faure was a church organist. Towards the end of his life he left us this masterpiece. He left out on purpose the Dies Ire with the references to the fires of hell. He wrote to bring comfort to bereaved families. There was ecclesiastical opposition. These are my picks.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=3657&name_role1=1&comp_id=1020&bcorder=15&name_id=95511&name_role=3

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=32440

I think that is enough to give you some variety and choices. We have not scratched the surface. Try a few two or three of these discs and see how you get on.

If you want a recommendation for an opera or two for you Home theater set up let me know.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Thank you for all the effort you went to to compile such a detailed list. I may try some of the items on it but, as I said, I am not sure that classical is going to be an avenue that I pursue at all.
As for my system, I am happy with the all Cambridge setup I have now, but that is always subject to change. Indeed, I am already starting to consider either B&W 685s or Paradigm Studio 20s.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thank you for all the effort you went to to compile such a detailed list. I may try some of the items on it but, as I said, I am not sure that classical is going to be an avenue that I pursue at all.
As for my system, I am happy with the all Cambridge setup I have now, but that is always subject to change. Indeed, I am already starting to consider either B&W 685s or Paradigm Studio 20s.

Dear Joe,
You are welcome.
I no you still have restless speaker syndrome. We will talk about that anon. I do get the impression from your posts that you have a good ear. I'm sorry to tell you, you have a little saving to do. I think you need speakers a cut above those you mentioned.

I did mean to include this disc.

It is Paul Paray's 1959 recording of the Symphony Fantastique with the Detroit symphony. Another edge of the chair performance, and beautifully recorded.

This is a three channel SACD. These Mercury living presence recordings were made by Robert Fine, using three spaced Telefunken omni directional microphones, each connected to a channel of a 3 track Ampex recorder.

These three track tapes have now been lovingly remastered to SACD by his very elderly widow, Wilmar Cozart Fine.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=1007&name_role1=1&comp_id=6386&bcorder=15&name_id=9130&name_role=3

Anyway, I have tried to list some real chestnuts that I think you would like. Try two or three and see how you get on.
Regards, Mark

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I'm sorry to tell you, you have a little saving to do. I think you need speakers a cut above those you mentioned.

I have decided that I really hate ordering speakers online and waiting for them to arrive. The two bookshelves I mentioned are among the best locally available (selection is extremely limited here.) I have heard the more expensive B&Ws, and not found them worth the extra cost above the 600 series.