Your favorite recorded Classical performance(s)?

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DrumsAndBeer

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I am a big classical music fan, but I also feel I am stuck in one gear when it comes listening to the music of the greats, & I mean truly listening to the point of hearing a masterpiece and immediately recognizing the piece of music, composer, etc.

I know there are a few on board here that appreciate classical music, & I would love to know what your favorite recording(s) are and perhaps why, if you have the time to elaborate. :D

Here are my all time favorite recordings

1. Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 and Beethoven Piano Concerto #5, Fritz Reiner (Conductor) Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Van Cliburn piano - RCA Living Stereo

Personally I would rather listen to Rachmaninoff playing his music rather than Cliburn, but Cliburn's rendition of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto is jaw dropping. The touch he displays on the Adiago section is pure heartfelt emotion. When I was a kid I used to drop the needle over and over again on this particular section. Lovely.

2. J.S. Bach - Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6, Triple Concerto & Organ Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ton Koopman and Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (2 discs) - Elecktra/Wea

Typical, I know. But I absolutely love the tonal depth of these recordings. Everything is audible, even the percussion of the harpsichord keys. Koopman's performance alone is sparkling.

3. Beethoven Symphony No. 9. Herbert Von Karajan and Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra - Deutsche Grammophon 1977.

I believe Karajan recorded this 3 different times for Deutsche Grammophon. I love the sound of this particular recording. It's very spacious and grand. I particularly love the tempo of each of the movements, and the Timpani's have a distinct pop to them that's really nice. What can I say, I am a drummer. I appreciate details like this.

Honorable Mention - Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 2 Resurrection, Simon Rattle conducts The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Chorus - EMI Classics

I don't pretend to know Mahler. I find his music too obscure and full of strange tangents. I am slowly warming up to this piece though. It's a lovely choral piece. The more I listen to it the more I like it. As a musical recording, it's nicely done.




 
There's a few London and Vienna recordings from about 20 years ago of Mendelssohn that I've been into lately, pretty much all of them. *shrug* I played a lot of stuff classically for a while, and I think I recognize them more by sound than name anymore. :lol: Put a lot of that out of my brain.

Charles Ives has some very odd scores if you want something to test your mettle in listening ability. Enjoyable stuff.
 
You'll probably enjoy this one. Solti gives a little explaination of the piece and then the performance. A great piece performed by a world-class orchestra and led by one of the greatest conductors of our time. Enjoy!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EirO7sKFeP0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
 
Lately I've been listening to and collecting recordings by John Eliot Gardiner and the English Baroque Solists. I find his interpretations of Bach most refreshing and the fact that period instruments are used adds to the enjoyment.

Faves so far - Magnificat in D, B-minor Mass, All 9 Beethoven symphonies, Mozart's Requim

I've also begun an immersion in Mahler symphonies conducted by Bernstein. Symphony #5 is incredible.

Right now, I'm listening to Rush to celebrate their long overdue induction into the R&R Hall of Fame.
 
If you are interested in a book with this theme, written by someone who seems to know what he's talking about, I would recommend Jim Svejda's "The Record Shelf Guide to the Classical Repertoire." He has some strong opinions on which performances are the greatest and explains why.
 
Camille Saint-Saens - Symphony No. 3 with Organ.

In the video, only the 4th movement (finale) is played, but you get the idea.
Truly one of the last great symphonies to be written.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TCKiZRWyv20" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
MisterE":msnnfxj9 said:
You'll probably enjoy this one. Solti gives a little explaination of the piece and then the performance. A great piece performed by a world-class orchestra and led by one of the greatest conductors of our time. Enjoy!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EirO7sKFeP0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
I forgot to post I played this yesterday while bopping around the forum, and it was an hour well spent. :cheers:
 
Been meaning to get back to this post. Thanks everyone for your input so far. When I get some alone time I'll check out the video posts.

Was listening to Mahler's 5th in the car this morning. Great driving music, love the horn arrangements. Another composer who's music Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic does a great job with.
 
I've been listening to chorale-esque classical lately. The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir recordings are really nice.

Dmitry Bortniansky, Choral Concerto No. 27, With my voice I cried out to the Lord

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MfajZ617qg8" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Peteris Vasks - Dona Nobis Pacem

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YwUmP_Zpanc" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Josquin Des Prez - Praeter Rerum Seriem

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mzy-uk08A3E" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
:jawdrop:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fQRt28P9dsg" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
I've been listening to Gould's "Well-Tempered" for thirty years and haven't gotten tired of it yet. I'm a classical pianist, but I figured out pretty quickly that there's no point in trying to imitate him.
 
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