What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[cma29]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

I've heard it said that the only pianist sufficiently proficient to play the music of Rachmaninoff was the composer himself. All of his music is beautiful but extremely complex and difficult to play. A number of recordings, many of which sound "good" are available of Rachmaninoff playing himself - remembering, of course, that the composer/pianist died in 1943, well before modern recording techniques were available.

That having been said, you've chosen well in picking Artur Rubinstein as your hero. His nimble fingers and interpretive skills played Rachmaninoff extremely well, and RCA did an excellent job of recording him.

Others include Ashkenazy, Horowitz, Sviatoslav Richter, Pletnev, Argerich, Byron Janis, and Van Cliburn played Rachmaninoff reasonably well.

Notice, I've not included any "modern" pianists because I really don't have any favorites among the current crop, with the possible exception of Leif Ove Andsnes who plays a flawless Rachmaninoff.



Several "good" Rachmaninoff recordings are available in high def (SACD) on Amazon at: Amazon.com: rachmaninoff sacd: Music

And, the only XRCD I could find is a Rubenstein, which is too expensive for my meager budget, but you may wish to look:




One of my favorites in "almost high def" is Rachmaninoff himself playing his music on the Zenph piano roll remastered disc. "Rachmaninoff Plays Rachmaninoff"

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Hi, everyone. I have been away on a business trip, but happy to be home now with my family, stereo, music and my AA friends!

There have been many good posts here during the past two weeks, but I wanted to jump in here because I have an easy Rachmaninov recommendation for Bob on top of all the good stuff Julian recommended.

Rachmaninov:
Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 - arrangement for orchestra
Aleko - Intermezzo & Women's Dance
London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn



This interpretation and recording are magnificent. Rare to get both from one of the major labels, but EMI struck gold on this one. This disc was also included in The Absolute Sound's Top 40 Best Sounding Recordings. One of my reference discs. To top it off, the CD is very inexpensive and widely available. Go for it.

[Robert_Anderson]

Thanks, Carlos!!

[cma29]

Instead of flying, I decided to drive for this business trip and got to hear some music on my way up to and back from Chicago. One of the sets I enjoyed was...

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (complete)
Sinéad Mulhern (soprano), Carolin Masur (mezzo-soprano), Dominik Wortig (tenor) & Konstantin Wolff (bass-baritone)
La Chambre Philharmonique (on period instruments) & Choeur de Chambre les Éléments, Emmanuel Krivine



Not a well-known conductor or orchestra, but I enjoyed listening to this Beethoven symphony cycle. This is keenly played on period instruments and always engaging. Spatially divided violin desks make musical sense as the recording captures their antiphonal banter. I usually judge Beethoven cycle by the Eroica. In this set, its first movement is lithe but with plenty of punch in key moments. The Marcia Funebre is solemn and has impact. Best symphonies in this release are 3 through 7. The recording is very good (even through the cheap rental car stereo).

[Haydn]

The Previn Rach Sym No. 2 is also on the 2009 box set Andre Previn: The Great Recordings: The LSO Years 1971-1980, 10 CDs. I am only assuming that the sound is the same as the original recording, since I don't have the original.

[cma29]

Based on a recommendation by Julian, I ordered this from Presto Classical and it was waiting for me when I got home...

Handel: Water Music Suites Nos. 1-3, HWV348-350
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan



I have several versions of this music, but this an excellent addition to my favorites: L'Arte dell'Arco/Guglielmo and Le Concert des Nations/Savall. This is such great music that is hard to have too many great interpretations. The Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra plays brilliantly with nice emphasis on key phrases while the recording captures all the details.

The version I received is a re-issue of the original release on the HMGold Harmonia Mundi label. A very nice Made in Italy package and presentation.

Thanks, Julian.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by Haydn

The Previn Rach Sym No. 2 is also on the 2009 box set Andre Previn: The Great Recordings: The LSO Years 1971-1980, 10 CDs. I am only assuming that the sound is the same as the original recording, since I don't have the original.

The version I have is not the original release of the Rachmaninov Symphony No. 2, but rather the recent EMI Masters re-issue. This may sound crazy, but I cannot imagine any improvement is possible on the sound of this CD (!)

[AudioNut]

Listening to a very nice LP box set of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos

Academy of St. Martins-In-the-Fields
Sir Neville Marriner, Conductor

Henryk Szeryng - Violin
Jean Paul Rampal - Flute
Heinz Holliger - Oboe
Andre Bernard - Trumpet
George Malcolm - Harpsichord
and an all star cast.

Old but good! A Philips recording featuring some of the best musicians of the last century.

I love it when I pull out an old box set and find the records in "mint" condition with pristine surfaces and this one fit that bill perfectly.

A great recording!

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by cma29

Based on a recommendation by Julian, I ordered this from Presto Classical and it was waiting for me when I got home...

Handel: Water Music Suites Nos. 1-3, HWV348-350
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan



Thanks, Julian.

Don't know if you noticed, but this was recorded in San Francisco by (the) Peter McGrath - currently the marketing guru for Wilson speakers, and who was (and probably is) one of the best recording engineers in the business - as well as being one of the most knowledgeable people in the audio world.

I suppose he started recording during the time he owned and operated a world class audio store, Sound Components, in Coral Gables, Florida. (A store I visited many times during the 1970's)

This recording and McGrath's Corelli - Concerti Grossi recordings are favorites of mine. (Also Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Nicholas McGegan on Harmonia Mundi) The first Corelli album was on the TAS/HP list of the best LP's - and both recordings are available on CD. (and I highly recommend them)

. . .

[MtnHam]

Great Artists at the Met
Ten Arias
Leontyne Price


'Prima Donna Assoluta'
A wonderful recording of one of the greatest voices of all time.

[Antonmb]

Aaron Copland - Appalachian Spring Suite, Songs of Emily Dickinson. Performed by the Pacific Symphony, conducted by Keith Clark, on an hdtracks download of a Reference recording. A very nice recording and performance, nice dynamics and not overly dramatized.


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