My Essential Classical Albums.

[highEnd]

21 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

However.. I checked out Furtwangler's Beethoven 9th from Lucerne Festival 1954 https://www.pristineclassical.com/products/pasc261 (mono 24bit) from Pristine Classical recommended by @rando (thanks!) and IMO it sounds just fantastic in comparison to Tahra 2008 SACD (the original 1994 CD edition received Gramophone Award for best historic non-vocal recording!) I have. The SACD sounds very brittle and dry with very little reverberation. The Pristine Classical XR remaster is IMO much more realistic timbrally - warmer and fuller has more realistic (added!) reverb and bass extension which makes timpani sound like ..well timpani. Really well done, just check it out for yourselves, guys. I'd personally highly recommend their XR remasters (https://www.pristineclassical.com/pages/xr-remastering) of historic recordings based on the above mentioned albums comparison.

I've never heard Opus Kura remasters though.

I am new to this forum, so I don't know whether or not anyone else has mentioned this, but there is another source of Furtwangler remasterings at http://furtwanglersound.com/. Henry Fogel favorably reviewed these in Fanfare magazine in 2007 and 2011, and stated that he preferred these even over Pristine's remasterings. They are also available on High Definition Tape Transfers's web site, which has a 20% off sale at the moment. Here is the link:
https://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/collections/furtwanglersound-com
You can download the PDF booklet and a sample before you purchase the downloads. I have 6 of these downloads, and am very impressed with the concert hall's sense of depth, as well as the orchestra.

[highEnd]

On 4/20/2017 at 7:39 PM, sphinxsix said:

Please post any number of albums you personally consider essential, the ones without which in your opinion no classical albums collection can be called 'complete' or 'satisfying', the ones you can't imagine your own collection without, the recordings you'd wholeheartedly recommend to anyone interested in the genre - your real desert island albums - from any period you like - starting from early music and ending with contemporary composers. Don't hesitate to post albums that have already been mentioned by  somebody else as this can be an important signal and even stronger cofirmation that the recording is an important one.

 

Additional comments on performance and sound quality are welcome!

Derailing the thread in order to go into any specific details is welcome too!

Every post is appreciated!

Hello sphinxsix,

 

I have many recordings I would like to recommend to you, but I will have to give my suggestions in small doses- I hope you
don't mind. I have included links to reviews and the downloads themselves, as well as my impressions. Hope this helps!

 

Early Music

 

Gothic Voices: The Unknown Lover
Linn Records ECHO Series (CD Quality)
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-the-unknown-lover.aspx
This download is only available in CD Quality, but you can follow individual voices, and the singers appear to be standing
in your listening room (at least that was my experience). Strongly recommended.

 

Magnificat, Linn Records:

The Tudors At Prayer
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-the-tudors-at-prayer.aspx
High Resolution (96/24 in my case)

 

Tallis: Spem in alium
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-thomas-tallis-spem-in-alium.aspx
High Resolution (96/24 in my case)

 

Da Palestrina: Song of Songs
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-giovanni-pierluigi-da-palestrina-hdcd.aspx
CD Quality

 

Recently, I listened to the Palastrina and "Tudors at Prayer" downloads on my audio system. I was able to follow individual
voices easily across a wide soundstage. Even though the Palastrina was CD quality (44.1/16) and "Tudors at Prayer" was 96/24,
the sound quality of both was very close- the Palastrina was that good. I was easily immersed in both recordings and resented
having to pull myself away from my system when the listening session was over.

 

Baroque

 

Vivaldi: L'Estro Armonico
Podger, Brecon Baroque
Channel Classics
Reviews: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1723882
Here is the link to the downloads at Channel Classics's website:

https://www.channelclassics.com/catalogue/36515-Vivaldi-LEstro-Armonico

 

Vivaldi: La Stravaganza
Rachel Podger, Arte Dei Suonatori
Channel Classics
Reviews: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=74053
Here is the link to downloads at Channel Classics's website: https://www.channelclassics.com/catalogue/19503-Vivaldi-La-Stravaganza-12-Violin-Concertos/

Here's what Stereophile magazine had to say: https://www.stereophile.com/recordingofthemonth/882/index.html

I realize you don't want to read a lot about music, but I'd strongly suggest you read this review, particularly near the
end, where the reviewer says of the sound quality, "at just the right volume level, the room practically vibrates."
I own both of these Channel Classics recordings on SACD, with the Redbook layer ripped to my laptop, and I can
say that the room DOES seem to vibrate.

 

I have many others I would like to suggest in the near future, from all periods, including some real stunners!

[highEnd]

48 minutes ago, sphinxsix said:

Not at all. Quite the contrary - small doses reduce the risk of overdosing which happened to me on more than one occasion while checking music recommended on this thread

Linn and Channel Classics practically guarantee top-notch sound. I have some recordings issued by them but none of these. Will certainly check them out.

Thanks in advance, I'm awaiting your next posts!

Hello sphinxsix,

 

I'm glad you liked my last post. Consider this a sidebar, perhaps, but you said that you liked jazz and related music. Have
you heard the Analogue Productions reissues of Nat King Cole, remastered by Kevin Gray and Steve Hoffman? I have 5 of these on
SACD, and even the Redbook layers are stunning! Nat is dead center, 3-dimensional, rich and warm-sounding. Read some of the
reviews of the SACDs, and listen to the samples- You will immediately understand how special these are.

 

Love Is The Thing
http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/93839/Nat_King_Cole-Love_Is_The_Thing-FLAC_176kHz24bit_Download

 

The Very Thought of You
SACD: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/64376/Nat_King_Cole-The_Very_Thought_of_You-Hybrid_3-Channel_Stereo_SACD
Download: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/93705/Nat_King_Cole-The_Very_Thought_of_You-DSD_Single_Rate_28MHz64fs_Download

 

Just One of Those Things
SACD: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/64381/Nat_King_Cole-Just_One_of_Those_Things-Hybrid_3-Channel_Stereo_SACD
Download: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/93844/Nat_King_Cole-Just_One_of_Those_Things-FLAC_176kHz24bit_Download

 

I realize you wanted classical recordings, but these are essential as well. Sorry that some of these links aren't working
properly. When I highlighted, copied, and pasted them into my browser, they worked fine.

Have a nice day!

[highEnd]

9 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

 I'm a big AP remasters fan.

Hello sphinxsix,

 

I've been listening to several recordings, recently, that I consider essential for any serious library. I collect recordings of many different vintages, from 1940s up to brand new releases. I especially love the "Golden Age of Hi-Fi" as some audiophileslike to call the 1950s and 1960s, such as RCA Living Stereo, Mercury Living Presence, Everest, Decca SXL, etc. I'll start with some RCAs. I have several Analogue Productions remastered RCA Living Stereo SACD releases, and they all sound wonderful, with very wide, three-dimensional soundstages, plenty of "bass slam", and lots of details. You can hear pages turning, noises in the background, etc. My opinion of the sound is limited to the Redbook layer of the SACD (my DAC will not decode DSD), and my memory of the sound of my Classic Records 180-gram LPs (my turntable has been on the fritz, so I am unable to play them). Here are three of my favorites:

 

Spain
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
RCA Living Stereo
SACD: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/91652/Fritz_Reiner-Spain-Hybrid_3-Channel_Stereo_SACD
Download: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/120158/Fritz_Reiner-Spain-DSD_Single_Rate_28MHz64fs_Download

 

Rimsky-Korsakoff: Scheherazade
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
RCA Living Stereo
SACD: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/91663/Fritz_Reiner-Rimsky-Korsakoff_Scheherazade-Hybrid_3-Channel_Stereo_SACD
Download: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/110040/Fritz_Reiner-Rimsky-Korsakoff_Scheherazade-
DSD_Single_Rate_28MHz64fs_Download

 

Moussorgsky/Ravel: Pictures At An Exhibition

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner
RCA Living Stereo
SACD: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/91650/Fritz_Reiner-MoussorgskyRavel_Pictures_At_An_Exhibition-Hybrid_3-
Channel_Stereo_SACD
Download: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/110037/Fritz_Reiner-MoussorgskyRavel_Pictures_At_An_Exhibition-
DSD_Single_Rate_28MHz64fs_Download

 

Next, I recently purchased two Deutsche Grammophon downloads of historic recordings, and I am continually stunned by the sound:

* I do hope you are taking advantage of the 20% off code on the left of the thumbnail photograph on the product pages!

 

I have a feeling you'll love this one.  You are transported to the concert hall!
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 / Ravel: Piano Concerto In G Major
Martha Argerich, Berlin Philharmonic, Abbado
Download: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/105293/Martha_Argerich-
Prokofiev_Piano_Concerto_No3__Ravel_Piano_Concerto_In_G_Major-FLAC_96kHz24bit_Download

 

Sorry, these links aren't pasting properly: the above links are on two lines.

 

In this download, the 'cello is three-dimensional, and sounds deadly real.
Beethoven: Triple Concerto / Brahms: Double Concerto
Geza Anda, Fournier, Starker, Ferenc Fricsay
Download: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/116779/Geza_Anda-Beethoven_Triple_Concerto__Brahms_Double_Concerto-
FLAC_96kHz24bit_Download

 

Finally, last year I discovered the Symphonies of Carl Nielsen, and I fell in love with his music. I originally purchased the first set of symphonies, but the second set was released a few months later, and I decided that I didn't want to live without either of them, so I purchased the second set as well. Both of these sets transport you to the concert hall, and are full of detail, snarling brass, and deep bass.

 

*Are you on the ProStudioMasters email list? They send discount codes every week, by email, for 15% off their downloads.

 

Carl Nielsen: The Symphonies & Concertos (Live)
New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert
Dacapo Records 88.2/24
Here's a review: http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1855502
Download: http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/4627

 

Carl Nielsen: Symphonies
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Sakari Oramo
BIS 96/24

 

Here's the reviews:
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1664883
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1803624
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1065029

 

Downloads:
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/6705
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/6707
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/6704

 

I hope I didn't overwhelm you with all this!
 

[highEnd]

On 9/6/2017 at 5:13 PM, sphinxsix said:

Thanks for your fantastic contribution to this (costly ) thread,, I'm counting on your further suggestions.

Hello sphinxsix,

 

I'm happy to help! 

 

I have many more suggestions in the near future, but first, how about a FREE high-resolution download? This was recommended in a review in Stereophile magazine a few years ago. I believe the reviewer uses this to judge equipment he is testing. The company, Less Loss, produces high-end wire, cables, conditioners, etc. in Lithuania. Here is their website:

 

http://www.lessloss.com/

 

Here are some studio installations they created:

http://www.lessloss.com/private-recording-studio-installation-project-p-208.html

http://www.lessloss.com/recording-studio-installation-project-p-201.html

 

However, they also have several free 96/24 downloads of live recordings they made using their equipment.
Bach Sonatas in St. Martin's Church transports you to the church. Here is the link:

 

http://www.lessloss.com/bach-sonatas-in-st-martins-church-p-197.html

 

When you click on a download link, you'll be sent to a page that wants you to add two numbers together and type in the answer, just to prove you are not a robot! Then you are sent to the page to download the track. It's well worth it!

[highEnd]

Hello sphinxsix,

 

I don't like to keep steering you toward such expensive downloads as the Linn, which have gone up in price in the last year or so, so I have another freebee I'd like to share with you: Rediscovery Catalog. These are all MP3 downloads, but DON'T let that put you off! These have been carefully remastered and have to be heard to be believed. When you unzip the file, you will get a couple of .jpg files that contain the cover art and fairly extensive liner notes- a very nice package: all free.

 

I would like to suggest you try the following to start with: 

 

Command Spectaculars! Start with tracks 2 and 3 (Debussy: Iberia), I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.
Music of the World's Great Composers (A remastered Reader's Digest set, probably from the 1950s or 1960s)
Wagner: The Forgotten Recordings

 

These can be downloaded from http://www.rediscovery.us/compilations.html

 

These recordings, to the best of my knowledge, aren't available anywhere else. Their copyrights have expired, and major labels like RCA don't seem interested in reissuing them, for some reason.

 

Back to the high-resolution recommendations:

The following three Linn downloads all have excellent music and stunning sound quality. If you only want to pick one to start with, I would suggest the last one, La Gamme by Trio Sonnerie. The recording puts the musicians right in your listening room. Don't have the volume up too high the first time you play this one.

 

Linn Records: Early Music

 

Lawes: The Royal Consort
Phantasm
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-lawes-the-royal-consort.aspx

 

Linn Records: Baroque Music

 

Corelli: Concerti Grossi, Opus 6
The Avison Ensemble
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-corelli-opus-6-concerti-grossi-avison-ensemble-ckd-411.aspx

 

La Gamme: Trio Sonnerie
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-la-gamme.aspx

 

These last three are reissues of Everest recordings from the 1950s, two recorded using Westrex 35mm film recorders. The sound of the film is nothing less than amazing. The 35mm film masters are in very bad condition, and are turning to vinegar, as I understand, due to the metal cannisters they were stored in. Making digital masters from them is not a pleasant experience.

Here are some ads and history of 35mm film, including Mercury Living Presence, Everest, and Command Records:
http://aes-media.org/historical/pdf/fine_35mm-fad.pdf

 

Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra
Houston Symphony Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski, recorded in 1960 on 3-track 35mm film and played back on a modified Westrex-1551
http://www.hdtracks.com/hso-stokowski-bartok-concerto-for-orchestra?___store=default&nosto=nosto-page-search2

 

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5
London Symphony Orchestra, Malcolm Sargent recorded in 1959 on 3-track 35mm film and played back on a modified Westrex-1551.
http://www.hdtracks.com/lso-sargent-prokofiev-symphony-no-5?___store=default&nosto=nosto-page-product3

 

Copland: Symphony No. 3
London Symphony Orchestra, Copland conducting, recorded in 1958 on 3-track half-inch tape.
http://www.hdtracks.com/copland-symphony-no-3

 

Much more to come from Linn, Everest, etc.!

[highEnd]

4 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

Actually Spanish influences in classical music is the question and suggestions request for all of you guys.

Hello sphinxsix,

 

IMHO, the most legendary recording of Spanish-influenced music is the famous Decca SXL from 1957:

 

España!, Rimsky-Korsakov, Granados, Chabrier & Moszkowski
London Symphony Orchestra, Ataulfo Argenta
Mastered by Willem Makee
Analogue Productions

 

SACD: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/105124/Ataulfo_Argenta-Espaa__Rimsky-Korsakov_Granados_Chabrier__Moszkowski-Hybrid_Stereo_SACD

 

FLAC 176kHz/24bit: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/125604/Ataulfo_Argenta-Espaa__Rimsky-Korsakov_Granados_Chabrier__Moszkowski-FLAC_176kHz24bit_Download

 

DSD: http://store.acousticsounds.com/d/125629/Ataulfo_Argenta-Espaa__Rimsky-Korsakov_Granados_Chabrier__Moszkowski-DSD_Single_Rate_28MHz64fs_Download

 

I have another recommendation that continues the Spanish-influence theme: Have you ever heard of High Definition Tape Transfers? They remaster commercially-released reel-to-reel tapes, and work magic on them. Unfortunately, some of them are from the 1950s to 1970s, and they may have a drop-out here and there, but when you hear them, you may well be willing to ignore that issue because they frequently pull better sound quality from those tapes than major record labels pull from the original masters!

 

Here is a recommendation, that happens to be a needle-drop of a legendary Decca SXL Lp, in remarkable condition. I don't remember this recording having any drop-outs or any other problems, including surface noise.

 

Albéniz: Iberia & Turina: Danzas Fantásticas
Ernest Ansermet Conducts L’orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Transferred from a DECCA LP SXL 2243 from 1960

https://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/products/albeniz-iberia-turina-danzas-fantasticas-ansermet-l-orchestre-de-la-suisse-romande

 

If you want proof that this is stunning, download the 2-minute 96/24 sample and the PDF booklet before you purchase, and judge for yourself. Also, scroll down the page, and read all the rave reviews in the left-hand column. And if you purchase this download soon, you will also get a good sale price (20% off, I believe).

 

I realize you are trying to get away from jazz and rock at the moment, but while you are on this website, listen to the 2-minute sample of the brand-new Mike Garson, "Monk Fell On Me" from International Phonograph, Inc. (Pure DSD), recorded in Chicago - Garson was David Bowie's pianist. I recently purchased this download, and it

puts a real piano in my room! (I have a vague idea of what a real piano sounds like, as I've studied classical piano for 19 years.)

https://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/products/mike-garson-monk-fell-on-me-international-phonograph-inc-pure-dsd-ipi

 

[highEnd]

On 9/9/2017 at 4:44 PM, sphinxsix said:

This is a lovely composition after all. I actually listened to my Perlman version yesterday. All I have to do to enjoy it (beside being in the mood for it of course) is to forget I've heard it a thousand times.

I think Zen Buddhists call it 'beginner's mind' - not always an easy thing to do

Sorry, I guess I missed your request for no Four Seasons- I was going to suggest a recording that I think you would enjoy. Did you know that the Four Seasons is only the first four concertos of a 12 concerto collection by Vivaldi? The collection is subtitled "The Conflict Between Harmony and Invention." All of the concertos are worth listening to, so if you weren't aware of the other eight, you have new music to discover, along with the warhorses. If you don't mind too much, I'd still like to suggest the complete Four Seasons: To see what you've been missing, sample Track 13. By the way, if you do purchase this recording, read the PDF booklet while you're listening to the Four Seasons concertos themselves. There is an excellent description of what Vivaldi was trying to convey, on pages 7 and 8, such as the drunken hiccups of harvesters enjoying the wine in Autumn, and people slipping and falling on the ice in Winter. I think it will shed a new light on those over-recorded concertos.

Vivaldi: Concerti Opus 8, nos. 1 - 12
The Avison Ensemble
Linn Records
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-twelve-concertos.aspx

 

I have another Spanish-themed recommendation as well, an Everest from 1960 on 35mm film- another legendary recording.
De Falla: The Three Cornered Hat (Complete Ballet)
Enrique Jorda, London Symphony Orchestra
http://www.hdtracks.com/de-falla-the-three-cornered-hat-complete-ballet-150358

 

[highEnd]

21 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

Unfortunately I will have to leave my main system for at least some weeks. Just my old Sony headphones and the desktop. Hope I will survive this situation somehow. Thanks once more to everybody for their contribution. I'm not finished with classical - quite the opposite. I promise

I'll tell you one way you can more than survive the situation- Unless you already have a DAC connected to your desktop, I strongly recommend an Audioquest Dragonfly Black or Red. I'm shocked at how it makes my laptop sound, not only with tiny computer speakers/subwoofer, but with my laptop connected to my main system in particular. I can hear loads of detail, from guitar strings squeaking and chairs creaking to musicians breathing. The Dragonflies are designed to work with iPhones and Androids as well, and many people report huge improvements in sound. By the way, the Dragonfly's maximum resolution is 96/24.

 

Good luck in your move!

 

[highEnd]

13 hours ago, accwai said:

 

What's your impression of the SQ of this album? I have it but hadn't listened to it for quite a while. If I recall the album as a whole is great except for the title track Spem in Alium. I have multiple recordings of Spem in alium and it's twin brother Alessandro Striggio's Missa Ecco so beato giorno. Never has any luck with any of them. When things got complicated, they would always turn into a mush of harsh noises. These pieces might be beyond the currently available recording technology to capture. Comments?

 

I'll have to listen to Spem in alium again when I get the chance. I don't remember any problems with the sound quality on the Linn recording.

[highEnd]

I strongly recommend these Mercury Living Presence downloads by the renowned composer/organist Marcel Dupre, recorded in the 1950s. Thomas Fine, son of the renowned Mercury engineer C. Robert Fine, remastered these wonderful recordings in 96/24.

 

Marcel Dupré Organ Recital: Music by Widor and Dupré (Remastered 2015)
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/5893

 

Franck: Pièce Héroïque - Three Chorales: No. 1 in E Major - No. 2 in B Minor - No. 3 in A Minor (Remastered 2015)
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/5892

 

Dupré At Saint-Sulpice, Vol. 5: Dupré and Messiaen (Remastered 2015)
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/5898

 

Dupré At Saint-Sulpice Vol. 3: Franck (Remastered 2015)
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/5896

 

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78 (Remastered 2015)
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/5899

 

On a side note, as AnotherSpin mentioned above, I don't know whether or not you are interested in opera, but at least listen to the samples of these two downloads of Deccas from the 1960s by Solti- They are mandatory for anyone's music library. The realism of the sound is stunning: At a high volume, the double basses and the singer's voices pop out of nowhere and just about knock you out of your seat! If you've read any of the rave reviews about Solti's Wagner Ring Cycle, these are on par with that set IMHO.

 

Strauss: Salome - Birgit Nilsson, Gerhard Stolze, Eberhard Wächter, Vienna Philharmonic/Solti
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/14757

 

Richard Strauss: Elektra - Birgit Nilsson, Regina Resnik, Marie Collier, Gerhard Stolze, Tom Krause, Vienna Philharmonic, Sir Georg Solti
http://www.prostudiomasters.com/album/page/14756