Classical Collectors?

Motzart

Anyone else Collect Classical CD's out there?

Maybe share some of your very favorites?

I guess I'd hafta say Coplands Billy The Kid Suite or The Tenderland.

I have a great copy of "The Tenderland" 2 CD set with booklet on Virgin Classics Lable UPC 07679111326

Holst The Planets Montreal Sym Chales Dutoit Cond on London Lable UPC 028941755322

Holst The Planets Saint Louis Sym Susskind Cond...(Hybrid SACD) Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Lable UPC 8217974400565

These are just 3 of my favs and all are highly rated in various publications.

I also like anything with Bernstein or Karajan.

Motzart

Must be someone besides me that appreciates some "REAL Talent" music now and then?

Did I say REAL Talent? :eek:

thsmith

Motzart, I can not contribute since I do not listen to Classical but would like to try some.

For a noob would your favorites be a good starting point or is it an aquired taste and better to start off with something different?

My father inlaw loned me a couple of his but they had no depth or presence, just sounded flat to me so I did not enjoy them.

Thanks

Motzart

thsmith wrote: »

Motzart, I can not contribute since I do not listen to Classical but would like to try some.

For a noob would your favorites be a good starting point or is it an acquired taste and better to start off with something different?

My father in-law loaned me a couple of his but they had no depth or presence, just sounded flat to me so I did not enjoy them.

Thanks

What would interest you?
Vocals.....Symphonies.......Chamber?
I'm not overly partial to Vocals myself.

Personally I'd recommend Holst "The Planets"

Holst The Planets Montreal Sym Charles Dutoit Cond on London Lable UPC 028941755322

.

thsmith

I would most likely start with Symphonies

Motzart

Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture is a nice one.
Some nice highs and lows to checkout the old thumpers!

Also Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 or No. 5 is great also.

thsmith

Thanks Motzart, I will it a try

John30_30

You startin' up again Motzart?
I know there's some classical audiophiles in the group.

I've got a few various CD's I'll make a karma with here eventually, along with some world stuff.
Shostakovich may be too hardcore for him, Holst is lightweight. Copland is also easy listening.

For an audiophile test of a system, I'd recommend one of Mahler's symphonies 1-6 or so. My favorite would be Riccardo Chailly and the Royal Concertgebouw.

If that sounds flat to you, your system needs work. Or something.

Bernstein's versions, I don't think he understood Mahler.

thsmith, if you've got any symphonies of Beethoven or Mozart, Schubert, Haydn, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Schumann- those guys are the heavies of the Romantic Period (give or take) for a reason.

Motzart

John30_30 wrote: »

You startin' up again Motzart?

Maybe you are?

WTF! There goes another bruse.......what a buncha bullies!

bikezappa

Do you want goose bumps?

Do you like dynamic range?

Is emotion in music important to you?

Do you want to test your two channel system?

Yes, check out Mahler's second symphony by Claudio Abbado.

If you are impatient go to the last movement first.

If you like that start at the begining again.

Peter

Motzart

Good choice BZ!!

Knucklehead

one of my fav's is the emperor waltz.

fatchowmein

I'm no expert and not classically trained so one of the difficulties with classical music for me is finding only one or two movements (?) on a CD that I enjoy and being bored with the rest. In other words, you've been warned.

In no particular order...

Bach: The 6 Unaccompanied Cello Suites (Sony Classical Great Performances) 2 CD set
Yo-Yo Ma
~I bought this for track 1, The Prelude.

Pachelbel's 'Canon': Orchestral Favourites Vol 1
William Boughton and the English String Orchestra
~Pachelbel's Canon
~Albinoni's Adagio in G Minor

Beethoven Violin Concerto, Romances
Anne-Sophie Mutter, Kurt Masur, NY Philharmonic
~Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61: Rondo. Allegro

Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, etc
Christoph Von Dohnanyi and the Cleveland Orchestra
~Serenade No.13 in G major, Eine kleine Nachtmusic: I Allegro

Simply Anne-Sophie
Anne-Sophie Mutter
~I actually enjoy most of this CD

Mozart: The Violin Concertos; Sinfonia Concertante
Anne-Sophie Mutter
~I prefer the Sinfonie concertante in E flat major K. 364

Bach: Works for Trumpet
Alison Balsom
~Bach played with a trumpet. Interesting.

Beethoven Symphonien Nos 5 & 7
Carlos Kleiber and the Wiener Philharmoniker
~Supposedly the best Symphony #5 recording out there. I actually like this CD for Symphony #7 because I'm burned out on #5.

Copland: Rodeo-Billy the Kid
Leonard Bernstein, NY Philharmonic
~I mostly listen to "Hoe-Down" which was borrowed for the beef commercials.

Mercury Living Presence SACD: Rodrigo Concierto De Aranjuez
The Romeros, San Antonio Symphony
~A very good performance of Concierto de Aranjuez with multiple guitar players. Quite enjoyable departure from John Williams.

Classic Williams: Romance of the Guitar
John Williams
~I love this CD.

Handel Royal Fireworks Music
Trevor Pinnock, The English Concert
~I like The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

Debussy: La Mer
Leonard Slatkin, Saint Louis Symphony Orch
~Quite relaxing.

Handel Concerti grossi Op.3 Sonata a 5
Richard Egarr, Academy of Ancient Music
~Superb recording. Load it and crank it.

Beethoven Symphony No.9 'Choral'
Wilhelm Furtwangler
~I love 'Ode to Joy' but the recording leaves a bit to be desired.

Living Stereo
Berlioz: Harold in Italy Overtures
~Enjoyable background music.

Living Stereo
Mahler: The Song of the Earth
~Dark.

I also have other recordings by Murray Perahia, Joshua Bell, Lang Lang, and more Anne-Sophie Mutter but nothing truly stands out for me but they may work out for you. Of course, with such variety in classical music, what I like may sound like nails across a chalkboard to you so good luck and happy hunting. Hope this helps a little.

Check out http://www.kickassclassical.com/

Motzart

Right now I'm working on my collection of Shostakovich.
I found Shostakovich The String Quartets on 6 CD Set NEW SEALED for $13.16!!
At Amazon and a few others it's almost $50!!

http://www.amazon.com/Shostakovich-The-String-Quartets/dp/B0000042HV/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1231934230&sr=1-4



IF anyone is interested I actually found a sealed one a lil cheaper even on evilbay $12.22 after the fact :rolleyes:
seller with good FB.(Not afiliated in anyway)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270319724485&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=017

This is a very highly rated set from the reviews I have seen.....IF anyone is interested?

Motzart

fatchowmein wrote: »

I'm no expert and not classically trained so one of the difficulties with classical music for me is finding only one or two movements (?) on a CD that I enjoy and being bored with the rest. In other words, you've been warned.

Hey when I first met my Wife 22yrs ago I was mostly all ROCK at the time.
(Judas Priest...RUSH...Scorpions...ect)
My Father-in-Law was a Music Teacher for many years so Classical kinda peaked my intrest.
I guess in my older age my Musical taste changed?

Yo Yo Ma is great MUCH talent with that Guy!
Anne-Sophie Mutter is a great choice.
Anything Copland...Any conducting by Bernstein or Karajan is a fav of mine.

Debussy: La Mer Leonard Slatkin, Saint Louis Symphony Orch was one of my 1st for my Collection!

Hilbert

thsmith wrote: »

Motzart, I can not contribute since I do not listen to Classical but would like to try some.

For a noob would your favorites be a good starting point or is it an aquired taste and better to start off with something different?

Very likely I'm missing something---feel free to disagree and all that---but this sounds to me like a guy who has listened to very little classical and isn't sure if he even likes the stuff. Is it really wise to send him off in the direction of Mahler?

If thsmith has really never listened to classical, why not begin with the stuff that everyone likes: Mozart, Jupiter symphony or later piano concertos or Eine Kleine whatever it is, Beethoven 5th symphony or piano sonatas, Bach brandenburg concertos etc.

I'm rather a newb too so am hesitant to recommend particular recordings, but (what the hell) for Brandenburg I like Matin Pearman & Boston Baroque, for Beet sonatas Paul Lewis (lots of competition there), for Mozart concertos (ditto) John O Connor.

Thanks for a great thread, guys. I've been looking for classical suggestions every since last fall when I landed an xpa-5 and some LSis.

bikezappa

fatchowmein wrote: »

I'm no expert and not classically trained so one of the difficulties with classical music for me is finding only one or two movements (?) on a CD that I enjoy and being bored with the rest. In other words, you've been warned.
[/url]

Interesting selections. I will try some out.

Like most CDs there is stuff on it that we like and don't like as much.

Mahler: The Song of the Earth
~Dark.
Got that one right.

bikezappa

Hilbert wrote: »

Very likely I'm missing something---feel free to disagree and all that---but this sounds to me like a guy who has listened to very little classical and isn't sure if he even likes the stuff. Is it really wise to send him off in the direction of Mahler?

Well WTF try it. You will know very quickly if it's your cup of tea.

On my first listen to Mahler I was blow any. No sound system has ever come close to reproducing the sound of Mahler. However your point is taken the second is a long and a difficult journey. The fourth is very short and easier to listen to for a first time, in my opinion.

Motzart

Hilbert wrote: »

Thanks for a great thread, guys. I've been looking for classical suggestions every since last fall when I landed an xpa-5 and some LSis.

OH MAN looks like your in for a real treat!!
Put those babies to use.....I'm sure you'll be a convert quick.

Hilbert

bikezappa wrote: »

Well WTF try it. You will know very quickly if it's your cup of tea.

On my first listen to Mahler I was blow any. No sound system has ever come close to reproducing the sound of Mahler. However your point is taken the second is a long and a difficult journey. The fourth is very short and easier to listen to for a first time, in my opinion.

Went back and looked at my classical CD rack and realized I was confusing Mahler and Bruckner. I have a CD of Bruckner's 7th and don't much like it. Have never (that I can recall) heard any Mahler. So...another recommendation to go with Shostackovich or whatever his name is.

Motzart

Hilbert wrote: »

Went back and looked at my classical CD rack and realized I was confusing Mahler and Bruckner. I have a CD of Bruckner's 7th and don't much like it. Have never (that I can recall) heard any Mahler. So...another recommendation to go with Shostackovich or whatever his name is.

Ahhh yes I just scored Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 Conducted by Leonard Slatkin SEALED CD off evilbay for a whooping $5.24 shipped! :eek:

My Buddy who helped turn me onto Classical recommended it.
Said it has the drums and the whole deal to enjoy! :rolleyes:

John30_30

Hilbert wrote: »

Went back and looked at my classical CD rack and realized I was confusing Mahler and Bruckner. I have a CD of Bruckner's 7th and don't much like it. Have never (that I can recall) heard any Mahler. So...another recommendation to go with Shostackovich or whatever his name is.

Bruckner is boring and tedious, even by classical standards. Mahler is anything but that, although his choral symphony can get to be a bit much. Also, his later music gets depressing, as he had some hard circumstances happening.

That list by bikezappa is full of nice, melodic music that won't assault your senses like Shosty or Bartok.

I saw Joshua Bell play,oh I guess about 4 years ago, likewise Yo-Yo Ma a few years before. These guys play million $ instruments, and play them right; nor do they smash them after a show.:p

reeltrouble1

The Albinini Adagio for Strings and Organ in G-minor will take the tough guys to their knees and leave them crying like a spanked baby left on cold porch. Its Baroque so use an amp with some steam to it.

It is often paired on albums with the Pachabel Canon as mentioned above.

RT1

Danny Tse

Motzart wrote: »

Anyone else Collect Classical CD's out there?

I'm trying to collect some of the earliest classical CDs ever released. These were released by CBS/Sony in Japan. However, hardly any ever shows up on the used market.

This is the CD of John Williams - Rodrigo: Concerto De Aranjuez. Catalog number is 38DC 155. The CD is from 1984, I believe (I'm at work and don't have the CD in front of me). The card in the foreground is a survey (in Japanese) asking for opinion on this new format called CD.

Danny Tse

By the way, I want to give a "bump" to the sale over at Telarc. $14.00 for hybrid SACDs. Telarc is famous for its sound quality and now you pick up some of its best titles at a discount. See below thread....

Sale at Telarc

Motzart

Danny Tse wrote: »

I'm trying to collect some of the earliest classical CDs ever released. These were released by CBS/Sony in Japan. However, hardly any ever shows up on the used market.

Haha funny you should mention Sony/CBS!
I was adding this to my database and found it's VERY RARE!!
CBS Masterworks Portrait....don't remember where I got it but can't find it anywhere now!
I do remember it was VERY highly rated at the time.
No telling what it's worth now...apparently Sony never re-issued it?

Absolutely stunning performance!!

It's a IMPORT CBS France.

John K.

Motzart, I have about a thousand classical CDs, and I'll mention some of my favorites that I especially suggest to new listeners since the music is colorful and likely to more immediately appeal rather than the heavier compositions such as those by Mahler or Shostakovich(which I also enjoy and have numerous CDs of). Since you share my enthusiasm for The Planets(I have six)I'll direct your attention to the Mehta performance in my list, which I put ahead of Dutoit by a narrow margin. But for THSmith and others looking for items to start a collection here're links to Amazon of some suggestions: Holst, The Planets ; Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake ; Respighi, Symphonic Poems; Rachmaninoff, Symphonic Dances ; Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe ; Brahms, Hungarian Dances ; Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue ; Khachaturian, Spartacus .

Motzart

Thanx for shareing JK!
This is great maybe more will become interested in Classical?

For you Metal Guys.....we won't tell any of your buddies outside of CP!

Motzart

WOW this has turned out to be a great thread!

JK has turned me onto EXCELLENT sources for Classical!


I would like to share em here.....
Presto Classical is in the UK but you can order from them in USD.
Highly rated CD's available and if you go under the 1/2 off section you can get many for less than $10 shipped.
http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/

Another source He turned me onto....
Classics Today which also rates CD's and is excellent!
http://www.classicstoday.com/index.asp

YES if you look there are several titles on SACD!!

.

polktiger

Any suggestions for a CD of Vivaldi's 4 seasons?

John30_30

polktiger wrote: »

Any suggestions for a CD of Vivaldi's 4 seasons?

Nigel Kennedy.
After you've heard this 50-100 times by other artists, it sounds like they recorded it 350 years ago; i.e. boring. Not this guy. He's powerful, precise, and really puts some sparkle into it without it getting overly flamboyant.

Oh, and not to forget the English Chamber Orchestra. They all sound like they're having a blast on this.

edit: Well, maybe he does get a bit flamboyant, but I like it.