Music to Consider

[rgriffin25]

<font color='#000000'>Hello all,

Here are some recordings that I feel are a good starting place for anyone interested in classical music. As with most things, I am sure there are some other recordings out there that may be superior to the ones I have listed. The performing group and conductor are listed only for a reference and because I have listened to them. I am interested in finding other performances of these works, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

On that note, has anyone heard a good multi-channel recording of Pictures at an Exhibition?



Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Mussorsgky (SACD 2 CH)
George Szell - Cleveland Symphony

Symphony Fantastique - Hector Berlioz (SACD Multi-channel)
Pavo Jarvi - Cincinatti Symphony

Symphony 5/ 6 - &nbsp;Carl Nielsen (CD)*
Symphonic Metamorphosis - Hindemith (CD)*

*Herbert Blomstedt - San Francisco Symphony

Symphony 5/9 - Dmitri Shostakovich (CD)
Leonard Bernstien - NY Philharmonic

Happy Listening!

</font>

 

[A. Vivaldi]

<font color='#000000'>I haven't heard your CD, but two outstanding recordings of Mussorgsky's &quot;Pictures&quot; are: Lorin Maazel/Cleveland Orchestra on Telarc (SACD-60042) 2-channel only, and Fritz Reiner/CSO on JVC-XRCD* (JMCXR-0016). I wouldn't be without either one of these. One legendary recording of the Symphonie Fantastique is by: Charles Munch/BSO on JVC-XRCD* (JMCXR-0001). *JVC-XRCDs are high resolution japanese import CDs that can be played in any cd player. I haven't had any SACDs to compare them to, but they sound awesome. Two big draw backs... they are expensive and have short recording times (like the original LPs).</font>

 

[A. Vivaldi]

<font color='#000000'>Hey rgriffin25, how the hell do you format your post like that? I've been trying everything and it won't let me write the way I want it to.

</font>

 

[rgriffin25]

<font color='#000000'>As far as I know I don't do anything special on my posts. I just hit enter as many times as I need to get it spaced out right.. Sorry I can't help more...</font>

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

<font color='#000000'>Here's a couple:

Brahms Symphonies 1-4 plus Haydn Variations and Tragic Overture. Kurt Sanderling, Staatskapelle Dresden. A 3 CD set from BMG Eurodisc.

Smetana: Ma Vlast. Rafael Kubelik, Boston Symphony Orchestra. Deutche Grammophon.

Both of these are early '70s recordings re-released on CD. The Smetana isn't the greatest sonically (though maybe Smetana's less than skillful orchestration might share some blame) but the performance is a classic. Sound on the Brahms is very good.

And there's lots of good Brahms performances to choose from. This is only one.

Gotta check out that Nielsen recording. I have an old Bernstein/NY recording of the 5th on vinyl I've about worn out. Crappy sound to begin with, as a lot of NY Phil recordings in Avery Fisher hall are.</font>

 

[A. Vivaldi]

<font color='#000000'><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Smetana: Ma Vlast. Rafael Kubelik, Boston Symphony Orchestra. Deutche Grammophon</td></tr></table> Ever hear Kubelik's first Ma Vlast from the 50's in mono on Mercury Living Presense CD? That's the one I hear everyone talk about the most. I guess it must be good!



<table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Gotta check out that Nielsen recording. I have an old Bernstein/NY recording of the 5th on vinyl I've about worn out. Crappy sound to begin with, as a lot of NY Phil recordings in Avery Fisher hall are.
</td></tr></table> I recently found a still sealed original pressing from the mid to late 60's of Brahms Symphony #3/Academic Festival Overture by Leonard Berstein with the NYP in stereo on Columbia. Price? $4.00! It's grooves have yet to lose their virginity by my stylus. Do you know if this was recorded in Avery Fisher Hall, or when it was recorded? Stupid old Columbia LP's never tell you anything!</font>

 

[rgriffin25]

I just bought a couple of classical SACDs. I would like to ad Beethoven's 9th Symphony, conducted by Herbert Von Karajan, perfromed by Berlin Philharmonic to the must hear list. The dynamics are incredible on the 5.1 surround playback. It is definatly one of the best recordings I have heard of this symphony.

I would also like to recommend www.acousticsounds.com as a great place to buy music. They have by far the best selection of multi-channel music that I have found. I had the order in my hands in less than 48 hours.

 

[av_phile]

I just bought a couple of classical SACDs. I would like to ad Beethoven's 9th Symphony, conducted by Herbert Von Karajan, perfromed by Berlin Philharmonic to the must hear list. The dynamics are incredible on the 5.1 surround playback. It is definatly one of the best recordings I have heard of this symphony.

Is this the early 60s analog recordings on DG label or later readings? I believe I had a karajan/berlin 5th in the LP format which was totally unlistenable due to surface noise. Would like to get hold of the SACD.

I have the Warner releases of Barenboim's reading with the Berlin Staatskapelle on DVD-A. I also have the Sir George Siolti/Chicago Symphony on DECA CD. I think I also have the Telarc Christoph von Dohnanyi CD. And another from Sony Classic. I find the Siolti interpretation most compelling and forceful. Definitive according to a review from Stereophile. Barenboim is gorgeous, if only for the new format. Karajan's would be a great addition to my collection.

 

[rgriffin25]

DG 9/1976
http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=10216
Link to SACD.

Hope this Helps,

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

Ever hear Kubelik's first Ma Vlast from the 50's in mono on Mercury Living Presense CD? That's the one I hear everyone talk about the most. I guess it must be good!

No, but those old Mercury recordings were supposed to be some of the best engineered recordings of the day. Our hometown boys, the Detroit Symphony, did some great recordings of French music under Paul Paray for Mercury.

I recently found a still sealed original pressing from the mid to late 60's of Brahms Symphony #3/Academic Festival Overture by Leonard Berstein with the NYP in stereo on Columbia. Price? $4.00! It's grooves have yet to lose their virginity by my stylus. Do you know if this was recorded in Avery Fisher Hall, or when it was recorded? Stupid old Columbia LP's never tell you anything!

Hmm...I think Avery Fisher hall opened in '63 or thereabouts. Hard to know. They did some recordings in Carnegie and other places before it opened. And maybe after, too. Avery Fisher recordings sound dry and "edgy", for want of a better description.

Better late than never for my responses!

 

[rgriffin25]

I think I might have mentioned this disc before. I gave it a spin again last night and I think it is a great recording. A must for any Beethoven fans.

http://store.acousticsounds.com/browse_detail.cfm?Title_ID=11498

 

[Rip Van Woofer]

This is a thread worth reviving. Anyway, remembering rgriffin25's original post I got the Blomstedt/San Francisco Nielsen Symhonies 4-6 just last week. Big thumbs up on those! Gotta look for others mentioned here, especially those Japanese imports Vivaldi mentioned.

Oh, and speaking of Schostakovitch, the Symphonies nos. 1 and 6 by Neeme Jarvi and the Scottish National Orchestra are quite fine, too. Also a recent acquisition.