Classical Music

New recording of Herrmann's MOBY DICK CANTATA and SINFIONETTA out on Chandos.

http://www.amazon.com/Herrmann-Moby-Sinfonietta-Richard-Edgar-Wilson/dp/B005JA9U3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323552548&sr=8-1

The rarely recorded SINFIONETTA (entirely for string orchestra) is of particular interest. The 3rd movement, the Adagio, was later recycled for PSYCHO - in particular the "Madhouse" motif.

Oh, thanks for the heads-up on that. It's nice to have the MOBY DICK CANTATA in better quality.

Could anyone suggest some essential classical recordings? I don't mind who the composer is. I'm just looking to fill my collection with must-have albums.

Sick of relying on digital shit.

Depends what era or movement you're talking about. Medieval, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, late romantic, nationalist, impressionist, primitivist, expressionist, neo-classical, neo-romantic, serialist, sonorist, spectralist, electroacoustic, minimalist, sacred minimalist, post-minimalist, post-expressionist, or post-specialist.

I'm a 20th century guy myself, but there's a shitload of variety in the last 112 years.

Tell me some classical stuff that you like, and I'll go from there.

Anything that belongs in an enthusiast's collection. We could start with 19th century, 20th century, romantic, late romantic, and neo-romantic, though.

TBH, I'm not big on those kind of easy listening collections they do at Classic FM. I think the best greatest hits CDs are of individual composers.

You like Stravinsky's Firebird don't you? The thing about the guy (and why he's my favourite composer) is his career is so varied. He was the ultimate musical chameleon.

I recommend the Works of Igor Stravinsky box set. 22 CDs for 31 bucks is a hell of bargain.

http://www.amazon.com/Works-Igor-Stravinsky/dp/B000PTYUQG

Wow, holy shit. That's an excellent price.

Do you have any Mahler, Ravel, and Delius recommendations?

For Mahler:

http://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Complete-Works-150th-Anniversary/dp/B003D0ZNWY/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327466591&sr=1-1

Delius:

http://www.amazon.com/Delius-Orchestral-Works-Frederick/dp/B00000IX80/ref=sr_1_10?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327466641&sr=1-10

and:

http://www.amazon.com/Delius-Frederick/dp/B004ZARXVU/ref=sr_1_12?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327466641&sr=1-12

Ravel:

http://www.amazon.com/Ravel-Orchestral-Works-Maurice/dp/B000UZ4EYI/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327466859&sr=1-4

Other composers I recommend:

Sibelius:

http://www.amazon.com/Sibelius-Symphonies-Tone-Poems-Box/dp/B000SSPL2Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327467281&sr=1-2

Debussy:

http://www.amazon.com/Debussy-Orchestral-Music-Claude/dp/B00000417P/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327467455&sr=1-6

Dutilleux:

http://www.amazon.com/Dutilleux-Complete-Orchestral-Neal-Davies/dp/B00004YU78/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327467360&sr=1-2

Takemitsu:

http://www.amazon.com/Toru-Takemitsu-flows-Twilight-Requiem/dp/B0000029WL/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327467609&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Toru-Takemitsu-Quotation-Sinfonietta-Knussen/dp/B00000I0L6/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327467697&sr=1-2

Many thanks, Sharky. Going to work on the Stravinsky, Ravel, and Debussy recordings for starters.

Stravinksy - Symphony of Psalms/Oedipus Rex

Belioz - Symphonie Fantastique

Rossini - Stabat Mater

Orff - Carmina Burana

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos

Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini

Khachaturian - Adagio from Spartacus



And that's before we get to the operas.

Symphony of Palms is great, but Le Sacre will always be Stravinsky's masterwork.

Carmina Burana is an overrated, hamfisted heap of shit.

Sharky wrote:

Carmina Burana is an overrated, hamfisted heap of shit.

Don't hold back, Shark. Say what you mean. ;)

Albinoni's Adiago in G Minor for Strings and Organ.

It may be an obvious choice, but no one's mentioned it yet.

Problem with the Shark is he's really been beatin' about the bush lately.

Beatin' about or not, at least it has hair.

Mr. Brown wrote:

Could anyone suggest some essential classical recordings? I don't mind who the composer is. I'm just looking to fill my collection with must-have albums.

I stand by this recording of Puccini's TOSCA, an essential entry in anyone's classical music collection.

And this recording of Shostakovich's 5th Symphony, Shostakovich's finest musical accomplishment, is astonishingly good. Arguably definitive, even.

For my money the best recording of Berg's WOZZECK. From the 1960s conducted by Boulez in pristine audio quality.

http://www.amazon.com/Berg-Wozzeck-Pierre-Boulez/dp/B001UJSW6E/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327536606&sr=1-1

For Bartók:

http://www.amazon.com/Bart%C3%B3k-Orchestral-Masterpieces-Bela-Bartok/dp/B000068Q5U/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327536777&sr=1-6

Ligeti.

http://www.amazon.com/Gy%C3%B6rgy-Ligeti-Clear-Cloudy-Gyorgy/dp/B000HWZALK/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1327536999&sr=1-2

Sharky wrote:

Beatin' about or not, at least it has hair.

Furred not shaven, eh?

Harmsway wrote:

I stand by this recording of Puccini's TOSCA, an essential entry in anyone's classical music collection.

Not Callas and Gobbi then?

I've never liked Callas.

Hmmm, I understand she's a bit like Marmite. My Dad couldn't stand her; I think she was utterly amazing. It's very much a personal thing.

My Dad liked Vittoria de los Angeles, but I find her voice reedy and annoying. Joan Sutherland, as magnificent as she was, suited some roles better than others. I've heard her sing some arias and really been quite disappointed. Monserrat Caballe is generally good. Angela Gheorghiu is a current favourite of mine.

I prefer warmer, fuller voices, particularly where sopranos are concerned.

Harms is a Sarah Brightman man. Rave prefers Pat Benatar tar.