Classical Music anybody ?

[MSmelik]

I have Beethovens symphonies conducted by Bohm, Karajan (I like the least), Masur and Toscanini, I like the music but I am looking for a recording which "completes"

Like Wagners ring ... Sollti is the absolute winner, I am looking for an equal Beethoven recording. Has anyone got tips? .....

[sdai]

It's like the choice of cameras, there can't be an absolute winner ...

If you're tired of the classics of classical ... try something new, which is what I did:

Amazon.com: Beethoven: Complete Symphonies; Sir Simon Rattle/Vienna Philharmonic: Music: Barbara Bonney,Thomas Hampson,Birgit Remmert,Kurt Streit,Ludwig van Beethoven,Sir Simon Rattle,Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

[Edward S. Isaacs]

Bach is the boss. If you want to knock yourself out, listen to
www.wkcr.org from December 24th to the 31st 24 hours a day every year they have the Bach Festival. Well worth it.





.

[jacksparrow]

Abbado!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Co...e=UTF8&s=music

And of course, Verdi's Requiem to match. If you like Mahler, Beethoven... then you'll love this. Warning, get the recording by Claudio Abbado, please don't even get near the Karajan version, it sucks big time.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verdi-Requie...e=UTF8&s=music

and Strauss - Four Last Songs. I've listened to a few, and for me the best is Schwarzkopf's

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Strauss-Four...e=UTF8&s=music

Also, not so well known from Vivaldi, the "Vespri per l' assunzione" amazing performance by Sara Mingardo, the Nisi Dominus is just breathtaking.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vivaldi-Vesp...146239-3515850

edisaacs said go for Bach, go for it, but try the brandenburg concertos by the "Giardino Armonico" it's so refreshing and original it almost feels like something else.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...146239-3515850

And... you cannot just go without La Traviata by Georg Solti and Angela Gheorghiu!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verdi-Travia...e=UTF8&s=music

Then, you must have some of Jordi Savall:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tous-matins-...e=UTF8&s=music


Oh... well... I guess I must stop... there's just so much stuff to hear!! I didn't have time for Bruckner (8th and 9th by Celebidache), Schoenberg' s night, Rachmaninoff, Arvo Part, Cesar Frank, Faure, Cecilia Bartoldi... As you see from my recommendations I lean more towards vocal music, but I'm sure you'll like Verdi's requiem a lot.

anyway just be careful, Classical music is more addictive, and I'd even say more expensive than Leica gear!, but from you message I get the impression that you have already know that!

Cheers

[TimF]

Originally Posted by MSmelik

Like Wagners ring ... Sollti is the absolute winner .....

Still an amazing achievement, but you should definitely look into some of the live recordings around, eg, the ongoing Keilberth 1955 series on Testament, and the complete sets by Keilberth (1952), Clemens Krauss (1953), Knappertsbusch (1956) and Bohm (1966) - all from Bayreuth; plus either or both of the Italian made Furtwangler versions, etc.

As for Beethoven, I have a soft spot for Harnoncourt and the COE. Pretty much all the complete cycles are uneven in one way or another, so don't exclude the idea of picking out individual symphonies.

The Verdi Requiem: I don't know that Abbado recording, but do own the very fine Gardiner. The only problem with that is the extreme dynamic range which means if you turn the volume up to hear the quietest sections, the fortissmos might cause the walls to collapse!

[gdb]

Some other ideas, probably less famous but so beautiful:

Verdi Requiem conducted by Leonard BERNSTEIN with soprano Martina ARROYO: the last high b flat in the "a cappella" piece of the Libera me is second to none, even that of Schwarzkopf...

Strauss Four Last Songs by Lisa della Casa and Karl Böhm, or even better (than Schwarzie), Gundula Janowitz with Karajan, though Kiri Te Kanawa is not so bad!

Cheers
Gérard

[MSmelik]

Jack Sparrow: I have most of the music listed by you, I am also more into vocals than orchestral.
Lately though I have been getting into Beethoven but I seem not to able to find the right recordings, I will try Abbado for I have heard before that he is a brilliant Beethoven conductor.

I quit like Toscanini, it's rather minimal, his 6th is almost perfect for me, but his 9th just doesn't cut the cake, whereas his 3rd is good but almost without "the love of it" if you know what I mean.

Anyway I will purchase Abbado

Thanks....

[MSmelik]

Originally Posted by TimF

Still an amazing achievement, but you should definitely look into some of the live recordings around, eg, the ongoing Keilberth 1955 series on Testament, and the complete sets by Keilberth (1952), Clemens Krauss (1953), Knappertsbusch (1956) and Bohm (1966) - all from Bayreuth; plus either or both of the Italian made Furtwangler versions, etc.

As for Beethoven, I have a soft spot for Harnoncourt and the COE. Pretty much all the complete cycles are uneven in one way or another, so don't exclude the idea of picking out individual symphonies.

The Verdi Requiem: I don't know that Abbado recording, but do own the very fine Gardiner. The only problem with that is the extreme dynamic range which means if you turn the volume up to hear the quietest sections, the fortissmos might cause the walls to collapse!

I have the Böhm and the Furtwängler, but Solti is still the reference I think.

Neville Gardiner is excellent on Mozart, a tick fast, like most British conductors, but St. Martins and Gardiner cannot be beaten for most Mozart, they made the best Requim I think. I also like Solti's magic Flute, again a tick fast but an excellent recording.

As for Beethoven I do think that picking individual recordings might be good.

[TimF]

Originally Posted by MSmelik

Neville Gardiner is excellent on Mozart, a tick fast, like most British conductors, but St. Martins and Gardiner cannot be beaten for most Mozart, they made the best Requim I think.

Whoops! Some crossed wires here I think You're thinking of Sir Neville Marriner, whilst I'm talking about John Eliot Gardiner. I'm not sure I'd agree with the idea that they (the British) are too fast (even marginally). A lot of these pieces are in - or derived from - dance forms, so going too slow is a no-no for me.

I also like Solti's magic Flute, again a tick fast but an excellent recording.

Solti does have a tendency to be hard driven a lot of the time, which some like and others don't.

[MSmelik]

.... ooops ... Yes Mariner is the one I mean ....

[mahler_one]

Originally Posted by MSmelik

I have Beethovens symphonies conducted by Bohm, Karajan (I like the least), Masur and Toscanini, I like the music but I am looking for a recording which "completes"

Like Wagners ring ... Sollti is the absolute winner, I am looking for an equal Beethoven recording. Has anyone got tips? .....

Well, Gardiner's cycle is not bad albeit abit bright and very forward. I must say that the very best rendition I have ever heard of the 7th ( with the 5th on the same disc ) is Carlos Kleiber with the Wiener Philharmoniker. Truly unforgettable. An old recording of Toscanini leading the NBC Philharmonic is also not bad.... BUT, treat yourself to a Christmas present and get the Kleiber 5th and 7th.

EP

[rosuna]

-Wagner (Ring), Knappertsbusch and Furtwangler.
-Beethoven (Symphonies), Klemperer, Szell, Furtwangler.

I would recommend to look for separate jewels.

Try Stokowski for Beethoven (3, 5, 7, 9, Piano Concerto 5). Also Carlos Kleiber (5,6,7), Celibidache (all the recordings are very interesting), Beecham (the "classical" synphonies), Reiner, Giulini (3,6), Monteux (great versions!)...

[Enoteca]

Try to get: George Szell and Chicago Symphony Orchestra (something in the late 50th or early 60th.
And: outstanding but not the complete symphonies: Nikolaus Harnoncourt 6th Symphony (don't remember the orchestra)

[TimF]

Nikolaus Harnoncourt 6th Symphony

Chamber Orchestra of Europe on Teldec? (now on Warners I think following the elimination of the separate strands - sigh). I'm unsure if that's available on its own or just as part of the complete set now.

I agree with Ruben. Klemperer is definitely worth a listen. His mono 1955 Eroica is superb.

Bohm in the 6th on DG.
Weingartner and the Vienna Phil from the 1930s. I have the 3rd and 8th from that series which are excellent.

As for the 9th, there are several Furtwangler recordings worth a look for starters (his live 1942 Berlin rendering is astonishing, despite the relatively limited sound), and also, as recommended here earlier this year by someone, keep an eye out for the DVD release of Klemperer and the New Philharmonia in 1964.

[MSmelik]

Thank you all, I am very pleased with all the suggestions and will not be able to control myself to buy just one set. I will be browsing about, later today I will go to my favorite classical music store and see what they have.

In the mean time I guess I should be selling some of my Leica gear to cover the cost :-)

[stunsworth]

Don't disregard the Cluytens set from the late 50s / early 60s. I bought them all in a CD box for under £10. Worth it just for the 6th IMHO. Typical EMI sound of the period too.

[silvergull]

I have to chime in with a suggesting that you have a listen to Christopher Hogwood and The Academy of Ancient Music for a more intimate presentation than one gets from the big orchestral treatments one often hears from the 60's.

Cheers,

Jim

[peter_n]

I am involved with kids and classical music:

[Bruno Frisch]

I couldn't help myself, normally I lurk in the background not participating in any written thread but this one I simply could not resist.

I am a great follower of Beethoven, I do believe I have appr. 90% of all his recordings which I have been collecting over the 25 years, and I mean all his recordings inclusing 78's 33's and even a couple of 45's ... not to speak of all the CD's.

There is no best Beethoven, one starts off listening as a so called newcomer and will respect the recording that he/she is currently listening too. If and when really interested one might read books, encyclopedia entries and watch the film, one will also expand the Beethoven collection with piano pieces, violin pieces etc. etc. during this stage you will acquire a certain atmosphere when listening to Beethoven, this setting will be the basis for what you go for or not.
The musically educated will most definitely have their favorites, but this will be based upon musical qualities rather than "environmental" qualities such as atmosphere and history/remembrance of the first piece ever heard and appreciated. There are of course recordings which are better than others, but if you were originally drawn to Beethoven because of the Larghetto in the 2nd you will appreciate other recordings than people that have been drawn to Beethoven because of his Molto Vivace in the 9th......

My advice is buy the most you can afford and enjoy each and every one for they all have their good and not so good parts, there are even some which are totally hopeless and should be banned from the market as being sold as Beethoven masterpieces (HvK) but again this is a personal choice....

As for a really nice beginners set I would go for Abbado and Klaiber .... and perhaps the Masur with the leipzig Gewandshausorchester, which is certainly not the finest, but one of the most reasonable easiest to listen too.

Kindest regards to all, happy end of year days whatever religion you might practice.....

Bruno.

[TimF]

I am a great follower of Beethoven, I do believe I have appr. 90% of all his recordings

I wasn't aware that ''he' had made any recordings, but there we go. How great would it have been if recording had been available back then, eh.

Speaking for myself, one of the joys of classical music is discovering new works and new composers rather than endless purchasing of music I already own (leaving aside the value of having certain select pieces in more than one version of course).

Having said that, my next intended purchase will be to find Strauss's "Don Juan" and "Till Eulenspiegel" in early 50s recordings by Clemens Krauss and Karajan to sit alongside contemporaneous versions by Toscanini and Furtwangler.