Great recordings of classical music

[computer-audiophile]

The performance of Dvorak's String Serenade Op. 22 on this album is..... I can't really put it into words. It's scored with an accompaniment piano. Play at least up to the 1:50 min mark to hear what the piano can add to this old standard. I discovered this piece at a young age around the same time I discovered the paintings of John Singer Sargent and the novels of Henry James. Hard to believe that there was a time in the past when this was "Pop" music....

A good tip, I heard it first thing this morning.

Everything about this melodious work seems to speak of the good humour of the then aspiring composer. It's relatively catchy, so I can imagine it was pop.

 

[Daverz]

I somewhat disagree. For a musical work like Beethoven's 9th, which can mean a lot of different things depending on interpretation, one has to take a survey of the available recordings and decide which one suits your taste the most,

For me, too many recordings founder in the Adagio, or are unable to sell that whacky Finale.

The recordings I've most enjoyed over the years are Munch, Markevitch and Fricsay. The Markevitch is particuarly thrilling. These are all decent stereo.

 

[Daverz]

@Keith_W

It looks like you have a large classic collection of vinyl records. Maybe you are also a musician or other insider of the scene.

I've already given away my record collection completely twice in my life, because at that time I thought I would only listen digitally. But then I started again from scratch 20 years ago. Fortunately, a collection from East Germany fell into my hands, the canon of classics obviously curated by a connoisseur. Many mint-quality recordings from the German Democratic Republic included. ETERNA e.g. I have heard them so far only in part. If I want to delve more today and look for multiple interpretations, I find a lot on Deezer. No record collection can do that. It's paradise conditions for a music lover.

I love the sound of many of those East German recordings, particularly the recordings Kurt Sanderling made of Sibelius and Shostakovich in East Berlin.

 

[computer-audiophile]

I love the sound of many of those East German recordings, particularly the recordings Kurt Sanderling made of Sibelius and Shostakovich in East Berlin.

Yes, they really worked very carefully, with equipment from the West.

 

[Daverz]

Is the download available for purchase separately? Or is it the same as:

Dvořák: Symphonic Works – Various Artists – SUPRAPHON.com

Antonín Dvořák - Symphonies Nos. 1-9* (complete set, recordings from 1972-74), Symphonic Poems, Opp. 107-110 (The Water Goblin, The Noon Witch, The Golden Spinning Wheel, The Wild Dove), Concert Overtures (In Nature's Realm, Op. 91, Carnival, Op. 92, Othello, Op. 93), Symphonic Variations for Large…

www.supraphon.com

Same basic recording in that box, just not this new remaster. Qobuz also has this new remaster for streaming and download, but only in 16/44 quality (which is perfectly adequate, of course).

Open Qobuz

open.qobuz.com

 

[pma]

Light to listen, nice music, well recorded

Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas

Biber: Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas. Harmonia Mundi: HMM90271213. Buy 2 CDs or download online. Amandine Beyer, Gli Incogniti

www.prestomusic.com

 

[Sokel]

Really good recording.

Arnold Schonberg - Gurrelieder, M. Gielen, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg - Hanssler Classic
The nice suprise here is Yvonne Naef that despite being young shows the maturity of older singers.

Arnold Schönberg - Michael Gielen • SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden Und Freiburg, Melanie Diener, Yvonne Naef, Robert Dean Smith, Gerhard Siegel, Ralf Lukas, Andreas Schmidt, Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig - Gurrelieder

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2007 SACD release of "Gurrelieder" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

 

[Keith_W]

I don't think anything can make Schoenberg sound good

 

[Leporello]

In the end, it's too much to listen to. Here are just a few examples of outstanding recordings

Vinyl:

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 - Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan (Deutsche Grammophon)
Bach: Brandenburg Concertos - Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Neville Marriner (Philips)
Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro - Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Carlo Maria Giulini (Deutsche Grammophon)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 - Boston Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Monteux (RCA Victor)

Which one of the Karajan Beethoven 9s?
Did Giulini actually record Figaro for DG? The usual recommendation is EMI (currently Warner).

 

[theREALdotnet]

I'll just pick out this example for my short description of #1.

Beethoven's 9th Symphony conducted by Herbert von Karajan is considered one of the best recordings of this work ever made. The Berlin Philharmonic plays with great precision and passion, and the recording quality is exceptional, offering excellent sound quality.

Karajan recorded it 3 times (at least), I suppose you mean the most famed ‘63 recording.

If you value precision and passion you’ll like the recent one by Currentzis with MusicAeterna, sadly not released as a recording yet but on Youtube:

You’ll wonder why everybody else has been sleepwalking through this piece, such is the eloquence and energy.

Speaking of Currentzis, I think he’s also made the definitive (so far) for me recording of Tchaikovsky’s 6th symphony.

 

[computer-audiophile]

I don't think anything can make Schoenberg sound good

Why not? Listening to Schoenberg, is not especially demanding, imo.
But there is another tread which fits better for this genre.

Not trying to be arrogant here, but who listens to this?

Topic for attention One of the main reasons I got into Roon was music discovery. Both genres I listen to already, but also new genres/artists. I fell over this music (on the radio but still) one day, and I’m presumable just not smart or sophisticated enough to understand the music. It sounds...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[computer-audiophile]

Which one of the Karajan Beethoven 9s?
Did Giulini actually record Figaro for DG? The usual recommendation is EMI (currently Warner).

I would have to look what I currently have in my collection. Most of my vinyl records are stored away in the basement.

 

[computer-audiophile]

Karajan recorded it 3 times (at least), I suppose you mean the most famed ‘63 recording.

If you value precision and passion you’ll like the recent one by Currentzis with MusicAeterna, sadly not released as a recording yet but on Youtube:

You’ll wonder why everybody else has been sleepwalking through this piece, such is the eloquence and energy.

Speaking of Currentzis, I think he’s also made the definitive (so far) for me recording of Tchaikovsky’s 6th symphony.

Great example. We enjoy 'Arte concerts' quite often.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

I don't think anything can make Schoenberg sound good

This is early Schoenberg. It's relatively easy. (And this is a good one.)

 

[MRC01]

Great performance, but not very high sound quality. I love it ofcourse.

I agree. Here's another Scheherazade that has better sound quality:

Not on YouTube of course, but you can find the recording from your favorite sources.

 

[MRC01]

Like many classical music listeners, I've heard the Beethoven symphonies so many times, so many performances, I wore out my ears and got tired of them. When I heard the Honeck recordings with Pittsburgh on Reference, it got my attention as fresh interpretations with excellent recordings.

 

[Tangband]

I think we are missing a thread like this, with recommendations of great recordings of classical music.

I would start with this one:

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor "From the New World" – Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Václav Neumann – SUPRAPHON.com

Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World" / Czech Philhamonic, Václav Neumann Antonín Dvořák - Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, "From the New World", analogue recording from 1972 Czech Philharmonic, conducted by Václav Neumann On two occasions during his tenure as chief conductor…

www.supraphon.com

and I am also posting a link to a 54 second full quality sample: https://pmacura.cz/Moltovivace.zip

Check out this label :

Jordi Savall · Alia Vox – Producteur et éditeur exclusif de tous les nouveaux enregistrements de Montserrat Figueras & Jordi Savall

www.alia-vox.com

This is a very good recording , the best I have found of Mozarts symphony nr 40.

W.A. MOZART – Le Testament Symphonique – Jordi Savall · Alia Vox

www.alia-vox.com

 

[Pilot]

[..]
I would be glad have a another good Dvorák No. 9. Recently I acquire the version, below, which is a very decent performance and excellent sound quality; it was 'Grammy Best Engineer Album: Classical' winner in a recent year 2001.
[..]

Thanks for pointing to this award! Here they all are.

 

[pma]

Check out this label :

Jordi Savall · Alia Vox – Producteur et éditeur exclusif de tous les nouveaux enregistrements de Montserrat Figueras & Jordi Savall

www.alia-vox.com

This is a very good recording , the best I have found of Mozarts symphony nr 40.

W.A. MOZART – Le Testament Symphonique – Jordi Savall · Alia Vox

www.alia-vox.com

Thank you, I have most of Alia Vox production with Jordi Savall, definitely worth listening.

 

[MRC01]

Thanks for pointing to this award! Here they all are.

Nice reference!
BTW, Honeck/Pittsburgh/Reference won in 2018 (though it wasn't Beethoven).
I also see that Emerson's Mendelssohn String Quartets won in 2006, also a fantastic recording in my collection.