My Essential Classical Albums.

rando · October 15, 2017

5 hours ago, Musicophile said:

Maybe @sphinxsix should comment on whether we can do an opera detour here.

Now I'm confused. Is there such a hard line between symphonic classical, which can include singing almost from start to finish, and an opera by the same composer?

AnotherSpin · October 15, 2017

2 hours ago, rando said:

Now I'm confused. Is there such a hard line between symphonic classical, which can include singing almost from start to finish, and an opera by the same composer?

Some people love symphonies and do not like operas. Other people like operas but are quite indifferent to symphonic music.

Musicophile · October 15, 2017

4 hours ago, rando said:

Now I'm confused. Is there such a hard line between symphonic classical, which can include singing almost from start to finish, and an opera by the same composer?

There’re is no hard line, but only a few symphonic works include singing, so as Anotherspin said it’s a question of taste.

Although I love opera, I personally still feel much more at home in orchestral music.

sphinxsix · October 15, 2017

23 hours ago, AnotherSpin said:

I do not have trouble to read, let's say, Charles Bukowski, but your posts language seem to be too much... baroque.

@rando You really use extremely sophisticated grammar structure. I too usually have to mobilize all my language skills to extract the meaning of your posts..(and I'm not always successful)

22 hours ago, rando said:

Rococo prose, moi?

Peut-être même Rococo

11 hours ago, Musicophile said:

Maybe @sphinxsix should comment on whether we can do an opera detour here.

Absolutely no problem with me. As I said in my very first post here :

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

I believe I used to be the biggest threads derailler on CA myself.. I'm not interested in opera now but can't be sure this won't change in the future so an opera detour may be useful for me too some day.

BTW how do you guys create links like that on this forum?

On 14.10.2017 at 7:40 PM, rando said:

Are you referring to the record I posted, AnotheSpin?

rando · October 15, 2017

Making text links is actually very simple. You just highlight the text you wish to use and click on the icon that looks like a chain link next to the quotation marks in the second panel above every post. Paste your link in and Voila!

sphinxsix · October 15, 2017

@rando Thanks. I think I got it.

sphinxsix · October 27, 2017

How about Chopin solo piano music (etudes, preludes, nocturnes, ballades scherzos) and piano concertos, guys? Something else you'd recommend.?

WAM · October 27, 2017

Now listening to one of my favorite Bach recordings:

Musicophile · October 28, 2017

3 hours ago, sphinxsix said:

How about Chopin solo piano music (etudes, preludes, nocturnes, ballades scherzos) and piano concertos, guys? Something else you'd recommend.?

Chopin is just fantastic: I've written a a lot about him on my blog, and have discussed most of my favorite recording there:

Preludes: Blechacz (https://musicophilesblog.com/2015/10/04/rafal-blechacz-magnificent-chopin-preludes/)

Etudes: Pollini, Perahia

Nocturnes: Moravec, Pires (https://musicophilesblog.com/2015/10/07/my-favorite-versions-of-chopins-nocturnes/)

Scherzos: Grosvenor (https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Benjamin-Grosvenor-Chopin-Liszt-Ravel-Recital/hnum/2277015)

Ballades: Zimerman (https://musicophilesblog.com/2016/10/18/musicophiles-top-10-all-time-favorite-classical-pianists/), Perahia

Piano concertos: Zimerman (Polish Festival version, though the other one is magnificent as well) or Argerich/Dutoit

I'm not such a big fan of the Mazurkas, but Rubinstein is a safe bet.

Others:

Argerich Legendary 1965 Chopin recording (Sonata no. 3) on EMI and Argerich plays Chopin on DG

Pretty much all Rubinstein has ever recorded on Chopin

Cortot Ballades (historic...)

Claudio Arrau was another excellent Chopin pianist, grab what you can find

AnotherSpin · October 28, 2017

6 hours ago, Musicophile said:

Chopin is just fantastic: I've written a a lot about him on my blog, and have discussed most of my favorite recording there:

Preludes: Blechacz (https://musicophilesblog.com/2015/10/04/rafal-blechacz-magnificent-chopin-preludes/)

Etudes: Pollini, Perahia

Nocturnes: Moravec, Pires (https://musicophilesblog.com/2015/10/07/my-favorite-versions-of-chopins-nocturnes/)

Scherzos: Grosvenor (https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Benjamin-Grosvenor-Chopin-Liszt-Ravel-Recital/hnum/2277015)

Ballades: Zimerman (https://musicophilesblog.com/2016/10/18/musicophiles-top-10-all-time-favorite-classical-pianists/), Perahia

Piano concertos: Zimerman (Polish Festival version, though the other one is magnificent as well) or Argerich/Dutoit

I'm not such a big fan of the Mazurkas, but Rubinstein is a safe bet.

Others:

Argerich Legendary 1965 Chopin recording (Sonata no. 3) on EMI and Argerich plays Chopin on DG

Pretty much all Rubinstein has ever recorded on Chopin

Cortot Ballades (historic...)

Claudio Arrau was another excellent Chopin pianist, grab what you can find

Nice recommendation! It covers almost everything. I can not recall immediately which essential recording or performer is missed here. Maybe two or three contrasting albums would be added, but the list is very fine by itself.

Musicophile · October 28, 2017

1 hour ago, AnotherSpin said:

Nice recommendation! It covers almost everything. I can not recall immediately which essential recording or performer is missed here. Maybe two or three contrasting albums would be added, but the list is very fine by itself.

I'd be very interested in hearing your suggestions for the contrasting albums.

Bob Stern · October 28, 2017

7 hours ago, Musicophile said:

I'm not such a big fan of the Mazurkas, but Rubinstein is a safe bet.

Your impression of the mazurkas might improve if you try Rubinstein's 1952 recording (volume 27 in RCA's Rubinstein Collection issued in 2001). It's much more varied and spontaneous than his stereo recording.

+1 re Zimerman's Ballades and concertos.

Don’t overlook the cello sonata, which is a late, mature work. One good recording is Du Pre & Barenboim.

Musicophile · October 28, 2017

48 minutes ago, Bob Stern said:

Your impression of the mazurkas might improve if you try Rubinstein's 1952 recording (volume 27 in RCA's Rubinstein Collection issued in 2001). It's much more varied and spontaneous than his stereo recording.

+1 re Zimerman's Ballades and concertos.

Don’t overlook the cello sonata, which is a late, mature work. One good recording is Du Pre & Barenboim.

Let me check that early Rubinstein out. But overall it's just a style of music I don't relate that much to. Same for Schubert's Deutsche Tänze or similar works.

On the cello sonata, I only recently discovered it on Sol Gabetta's recent Chopin album with Bertrand Chamayou. I have no comparison, but I quite liked that version, and very much the work itself. I need to check out more versions.

AnotherSpin · October 28, 2017

3 hours ago, Musicophile said:

I'd be very interested in hearing your suggestions for the contrasting albums.

Such as Perlemuter, Pogorelich, Yundi, Freire, Ugorsky, Pizarro, Gavrilov (last recording). It is not a substitution - you list is perfect, just to add some other recordings, which may sound non-orthodox to some ears.

Rubinstein - I think I like his pre-war Chopin recordings more than those from 50s. On the contrary I have very soft spot for his late Nocturnes. I had it an ages ago on GDR' Eterna LPs.

sphinxsix · October 29, 2017

Thanks for yet another fantastic response, guys! Lots of names I'm familiar with as far as Chopin recordings are concerned - Pollini, Perahia, Pires (love her nocturnes, have to check out Moravec, any other suggestions.?), Grosvenor, Zimerman and Argerich (both were my choice as far as PCs are concerned too), Rubinstein, Pogorelich and Pizarro but also some to be checked out. @AnotherSpin As for: Perlemuter, Yundi, Freire, Ugorsky, and Gavrilov could you recommend some specific recordings.?

AnotherSpin · October 29, 2017

1 hour ago, sphinxsix said:

As for: Perlemuter, Yundi, Freire, Ugorsky, and Gavrilov could you recommend some specific recordings.?

For nocturnes, you may also try Freire. Sonatas and Ballades from Perlemuter. Yundi excels in fine recording of Scherzi, Ugorsky is good in Polonaises and various short pieces. Gavrilov has highly idiosyncratic, nevertheless remarkable 2014 recording of selected Nocturnes on Fazioli piano which was coupled to his book about Richter, music and his life in USSR. I am not sure Gavrilov CD was on sale separately without the book, but the book is exceptional - everyone who have an interest for Soviet performing tradition would be much enlightened by this reading. Andrei Gavrilov is extremely talented person, and his writing is mesmerizing. He created lot of enemies in Russia, because his Richter depiction is very far from apologetic. I am not sure about other languages translations quality though, was reading Russian original.

Musicophile · October 29, 2017

Thanks @sphinxsix for the inspiration, I just turned this question into a blog post:

https://musicophilesblog.com/2017/10/29/musicophiles-top-10-chopin-albums/

I also just noticed that DG has a truly outstanding box that combines most of my must-haves into a 17 CD box, kudos to them.

https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/products/7983107--the-complete-chopin-edition

accwai · October 29, 2017

30 minutes ago, AnotherSpin said:

[...] Yundi excels in fine recording of Scherzi, [...]

This one right?

Chopin: Scherzi, Impromptus Yundi Li

It's very fine indeed. And it's from the old days before he dropped his last name. So the album cover still says Yundi Li

He also has another Chopin album before that, shortly after he won the Chopin Competition:

Chopin Recital Yundi Li

The most mesmerizing piece here is the Andante spianato - Grande Polonaise brillante. He probably has some kind of special affinity to it. It's in his Chopin Competition program and his performance there was well publicized. When he was playing at Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall, he originally had it in the regular program but dropped it last minute. Turns out that's a cleaver move to free it up for the encore, and he brought the house down *big time* with it at the end

By the way, any recommendation for definitive version of Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2 in D flat major to be used as reference by young person learning it?

accwai · October 29, 2017

24 minutes ago, Musicophile said:

[...] just noticed that DG has a truly outstanding box that combines most of my must-haves into a 17 CD box, kudos to them.

https://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/classical/products/7983107--the-complete-chopin-edition

Yup. At the going price, there is very little reason not to pick up the whole thing. I got the big silver box edition long time ago. Then they stripped the packing and cut the price in half to come up with this new version.

sphinxsix · November 11, 2017

On 29.10.2017 at 4:04 PM, Musicophile said:

I just turned this question into a blog post:

https://musicophilesblog.com/2017/10/29/musicophiles-top-10-chopin-albums/

Great idea IMO. And as usual - great read. Let me thank you for the kind words about this thread too. The contribution of you all guys who recommended great stuff here is much more important than mine though.

As you've probably noticed, guys I've slowed down the speed of my posts recently. I've got little time and my audio gear (including hard drives) still isn't here in the Netherlands with me so I can just consider future music purchases (almost no free space on my laptop's HD). Fortunately I have my old Sony headphones with me (acceptable SQ) and a computer speaker borrowed from a friend (much less acceptable but I don't want to do investments in this field, I'm still planning to do my hopefully last upgrade of the amp and DAC). I've been actually thinking about the sound difference between $30-$50 computer speaker and my (IMO) great value $15k speakers (still suprisingly good after all these years!) and I think I've found a good paralell. It's like a difference between going to a nearby grocery store and a journey around the world At least to my ears. Nevertheless I am able to enjoy music while listening to a decent cheap gear (with no obvious, disqualifying SQ artefacts) . Music simply comes first (agree with @Musicophile on that)

Thanks again for your Mozart and Chopin recommendations guys! Lots of new, exciting performances!

I'd like to ask you about a composer whom I like a lot too but is much less well represented on my HD collection - Claude Debussy. Hope you aren't tired of this thread yet so I can plan my future spendings and meanwhile - enjoy new, exciting music. And as usual - thanks in advance!

Musicophile · November 11, 2017

44 minutes ago, sphinxsix said:

I'd like to ask you about a composer whom I like a lot too but is much less well represented on my HD collection - Claude Debussy. Hope you aren't tired of this thread yet so I can plan my future spendings and meanwhile - enjoy new, exciting music. And as usual - thanks in advance!

Thanks for your kind words.

And while you have your $50 Computer Speakers active this may be the ideal time to check out Giesking's complete recordings, as unfortunately they won't sound much different on your $15K speakers than on the current setup. But the playing is out of this world.

Slightly better SQ (but still mainly 1970 DG "piano in a shoebox" style), but again, outstanding playing, with ABM.

And if you prefer modern SQ and still outstanding playing, my personal favorite are the complete recordings by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet on Chandos, available in 24/96.