Favourite Classical Music Recording?

[admin_exported]

Hi All,

Which classical music recording do you most enjoy listening to on your hi-fi system - both for musical content and recording quality?

For me it is hard to beat the original recording of Steve Reich’s ‘Music for 18 Musicians’. It is an absolutely fantastic piece of music and given its beautifully complex musical texture it is a perfect partner for a quality hi-fi system.

I would also recommend the studio master of Beethoven Symphony no. 7 (1812) Budapest Festival Orchestra available from Linn Records.

So, what about you?

Conor

 

[Mr Morph]

So many I can't count... Many songs by Haley Westenra, it's like having her in the room singing to me personally. Anything containing Chloe Hanslip's or Tamsin Little's violin.

There was a recording I heard on Classic FM the other day of Allegri's Miserere, and the wall at the end of my room disappeared and the chasm of a Cathedral opened up in its place, all you had to do was close you eyes, and I wasn't even sitting directly between the speakers at the time!

 

[Anonymous]

RCA Living Stereo, specially Munch and Reiner recordings (50' !!!).

 

[CnoEvil]

I have two at the moment - both from Linn Records in 24 bit:

Handel's Messiah (24/88.2)

Beethovan Piano Concertos No. 3 4 5 (24/192)

It seems were on the same page here. 🙂

Anyone into classical music should check out Linn Records - they pay a great deal of attention to the quality of the recordings. Their 24 bit stuff is as good as it gets.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm torn between Heinrich Schiff, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Shostakovich: Cello Concertos #1 & 2 and Perlman, Brahms Violin Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Then there's Barbirolli's "Peer Gynt"....

 

[CnoEvil]

I'm torn between Heinrich Schiff, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Shostakovich: Cello Concertos #1 & 2 and Perlman, Brahms Violin Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Then there's Barbirolli's "Peer Gynt"....

I certainly understand

I personally would go with Itzhak Perlman and the Brahms - very emotional.

 

[Naxos]

+ 1 for the Living Stero CDs. I also have the Reich, which does indeed sound great.

Some of my favourites are the early digital Deccas with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony, particularly the Ravel works like Daphnis and Chloe - they have an extraordinarliy likelike soundstage. I love French repertoire from this period anyway, and these are still my favourite versions by a mile. I'm also passionate about English stuff, so many of the Chandos titles such as the Vernon Handley Bax symphonies set are wonderful. In the same vein, to see just how good analogue orchestral recordings can be you could do worse than sample some of the Lyrita releases, particularly the Malcolm Arnold Dances with Arnold conducting and the Moeran Symphony in G minor with Adrian Boult.

One other recommendation: if you like organ, try the Liszt 'Ad Nos'and other works from Ingolstadt Minster on Guild with Nicolas Kynaston - a fab reading, and the recording will just blow you away, and possibly your speakers with it.

 

[Anonymous]

I am also a fan of Cloe Hanslip and Tamsin Little violin concerto's.

Another of my current favourites is Sol Gabetta's recording of Elgars cello Concerto a totally different interpretation from the reference Du Pre version but very enjoyable.

 

[Anonymous]

RCA Living Stereo, specially Munch and Reiner recordings (50' !!!).

I agree, particularly Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" with Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Also:

Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony (original 1913 version) / Butterworth: The Banks of Green Willow, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox (Chandos).

Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs, Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and Jessye Norman (Philips Remaster).

 

[Anonymous]

Bartok played by Dorati on Mercury Living Presence is also superb.

I remember that I was impressed with the sound of the violin concertos of Mozart, played by Manze. With good headphones are an unforgettable experience.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. Looking forward to checking out these recommendations 🙂

 

[6th.replicant]

... I agree, particularly Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" with Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra...

+ 1.

Also...

Murray Perahia's Goldberg;

Jordi Savall's Marais - Suitte d'un Gout Etranger (SACD)

Beaux Arts Trio's Schubert: Complete Trios

Hilary Hahn/Colin Davis/LSO's Elgar: Violin Concerto; Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending (SACD);

Retrospect Trio's Purcell - Ten Sonatas In Four Parts (SACD)

And many more... 🙂

 

[Thaiman]