Building a Classical Music Library (My Version)

[stingo]

Inspired by Mahler's excellent series of both holiday music and workout music, I've decided to put up a thread of my own regarding classical music recordings. These are recordings of works that are either basic or unusual repertoire (e.g., Beethoven's 9th Symphony or Torke's Adjustable Wrench) that feature (what I consider to be) excellent performances. That said, sound quality and technical skill will generally take a back seat to a less polished, but more involving (older?/historic?) recording. Please feel free to comment on the works selected or more particularly if you have or acquire the recording I mention.

[stingo]

Vivaldi: Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione, Op. 8 (The Contest between Harmony and Invention)
Europa Galante
Fabio Biondi, conductor/violin
Virgin Classics

This set of 12 concerti, published in 1725, remains his most enduring work. This is due to the overwhelming popularity of the first four concerti, each of which describes in music a season of the year, based on sonnets which some say Vivaldi himself wrote. Thus you'll hear Vivaldi's interpretation of birds, storms, bagpipes and other things as you listen to the music. (My personal favorite is Winter - L'Inverno.) Though the Four Seasons are often played on their own, the other 8 pieces in the collection are of similar quality and deserve hearing.

Fabio Biondi and the Europa Galante play all 12 concerti with gusto - the type of music making you just have to keep listening to. Even if you're familiar with these works and have recordings of them, this set is worth seeking out. I have to admit I'd always written off Vivaldi until I heard these CDs - Biondi and his band really turned me around. Here was a Vivaldi that was vital, and virtuosic. If you're looking for more of the same, their other CDs are of similar quality. And if you don't believe me, check out the audio samples. I'd also add that you get 2 CDs for the price of one making this a bargain selection as well.

Basic Library Selection (Repertoire and Performance)

[Jean-Paul]

A promising start to this thread, Tom... Looking forward to parusing your collection.

[Mahler]

A great kick off.
It's good to see the complete set of Op.8 recommended.

Ruth and I will be hearing the "Four Seasons" in a few weeks as Joshua Bell performs them with the York Symphony. I am really looking forward to it.

[Jean-Paul]

Wow! No kidding! Josha Bell eh? I just posted about him in another thread. Watched him last night as a matter of fact. Check it out.

[stingo]

Brahms: Violin Sonatas 1-3; Hungarian Dances
Joachim: Romance in B-Flat
Aaron Rosand, violin
Hugh Sung, piano
Musical Concepts

Here's a recording Brahms three violin sonatas, and his Hungarian Dances. For a major composer, he has remarkably few extant works but what has survived is of very high quality. This is because Brahms did not hesitate to surpress/destroy any of his works he felt were not up to his standard.

The sonatas comprise the first disc, and reward multiple hearings indeed. The shifting moods of the 1st movement of the Sonata #1 are well caught by Messrs Rosand and Sung. The 2nd movement continues this weaving of meditation and passion, with what borders on nostalgia at times. The last movement with its dancelike cadences brings the piece to a satisfying close. The other sonatas are like it in spirit (I'd say #2 is my favorite) and are certainly worth hearing. (I should add that unlike other composers, Brahms really makes the accompanist work too - and Mr. Sung does so very well.)

The second disc holds the Hungarian Dances, which Brahms originally wrote for four hands piano. The version heard here was arranged for violin and piano by Joseph Joachim (a long time friend and collaborator with Brahms), whose romance is heard at the end of this disc. And what a contrast to the classical side of this collection! Rosand and Sung play the dances as the gypsy music which inspired it, breaking any number of rules along the way. But what fun it is! I can't help but imagine both of them having a lot of fun playing them - I for one can't help but grin like an idiot hearing them traverse the cycle with virtuosity and a fine sense of mayhem.

Joachim's Romance after the dances returns the mood back to traditional classical music and is a fine piece in its own right. Lyrical, and dramatic without being melodramatic, it shows why he did such a good job with his arrangement of the Dances.

The maxim "Those who can't, teach" does not apply here - Mr. Rosand teaches at the Curtis School of Music, and clearly shows a command of his instrument as well as a sensitivity to the composer's intentions. Mr Sung, a Curtis graduate, follows his soloist's lead, but adds some great passages of his own. For a lively interplay between two accomplished artists, this recording is almost self recommending.

Basic Library (Repertoire and Performance)

Audio Samples, Brahms

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Jean-Paul

Wow! No kidding! Josha Bell eh? I just posted about him in another thread. Watched him last night as a matter of fact. Check it out.

Mr. Bell is getting around I see - I saw him perform the Barber Violin Concerto with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Quite an amazing performance.

[RacerBill]

Cool! I'm glad you've created this thread outside your log. I'm really curious to see what's next.

The maxim "Those who can't, teach" does not apply here - Mr. Rosand teaches at the Curtis School of Music, and clearly shows a command of his instrument as well as a sensitivity to the composer's intentions.

I think I've heard that maxim among musicians more than any other field; the idea that a successful performer has so much work they don't teach on the side as most musicians do. Plus the best performers don't always make the best teachers. However, anyone who teaches (or attends) Curtis is definitely at the top of their game!

[nutbar]

Here you are. Subbing so I can follow along. (You're such an enabler.)

[stingo]

Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 7
Vienna Philharmonic
Carlos Klieber, conductor
Deutsche Grammphon SACD

What do you get when you put together one of the world's great orchestras with one of the world's great albeit reclusive conductors with a pair of the greatest works in the symphonic literature? The answer, thankfully, has been recorded on this wonderful SACD. Klieber takes us through both symphonies with a very sure hand, and Vienna Philharmonic responds beautifully. He strips off all the dross and varnish that has accumulated to the 5th over the years, infusing it with an energy that is unforced yet vital. The 7th fares equally well - those who remember the funereal music as used in Mr. Holland's Opus may be disappointed as Klieber takes it at Beethoven's indicated tempo (allegretto) rather than the slow tempo on the version used in the film.

There is much to delight the ear here, mine (on this listening) being drawn to the woodwinds, as they provide the needed character and contrast to bring the score alive. Also, I'm not sure if it's the orchestra, or the recording or both, but I heard details in this interpretation I've missed in others. That said, this mid 70's recording really blossoms with the SACD layer - as the sound expands the virtual concert hall in which they play.

Beethoven of course is a composer who, if you're into classical music, you really can't ignore. (You know you'll end up owning all nine symphonies and his other works as well.) And like any great composer he wrote music for which perfection in performance is impossible, but excellence is expected. You may find things you prefer in other performances of these works and vice versa, but as far as these readings go, they go a long way to fulfilling the promise of Beethoven's score.

Basic Library (Repertoire and Performance)

Audio Samples, Beethoven

[Mahler]

Another great choice. Interesting that you should mention the woodwinds, since Beethoven was critcized in his day for using them too much in his works. I think their use is connected to his love of nature and the woodwinds seem to be the intstruments that best capture that sound. And, I am in full agreement, you can't ignore Beethoven.

[RacerBill]

Originally Posted by Mahler

Another great choice. Interesting that you should mention the woodwinds, since Beethoven was critcized in his day for using them too much in his works.

Hmmm... I don't recall reading or hearing that. Sounds like a disgruntled string player if you ask me.

One of the interesting things about Beethoven's orchestration is that he often pits the strings vs the winds. It makes for some great dramatic tension, but it also highlights the "personality conflict" that already exists amongst the musicians.

Originally Posted by Mahler

I think their use is connected to his love of nature and the woodwinds seem to be the intstruments that best capture that sound. And, I am in full agreement, you can't ignore Beethoven.

Absolutely - love him or hate him, Beethoven is one of the pivotal figures. The Romantic movement that continued after Beethoven saw the winds continue to expand as tone color became more and more prominent.

[stingo]

Satie: Piano Works
Aldo Ciccolini, piano
Gabriel Tacchino, piano
EMI

Much like Pachelbel before him, Satie is known mainly for one piece of music - Gymnopedie No. 1. The title may be unfamiliar, but I'd find it hard to believe that the music would be. The 3 Gymnopedies are inspired by figures in various poses painted on a Grecian urn. The music suggests a kind of Western-style Kabuki setting where the figures move ever so slowly in an elegant dance. The rest of the pieces here highlight how talented (if eccentric) a miniaturist Satie was. Reading the titles of some of the pieces those eccentricities are apparent: Three Pieces in the Form of a Pear, Truly Flabby Preludes for a Dog, 3 Sketches and Exasperations of a Big Wooden Fellow. But the music the titles sit on is all very high quality.

Aldo Ciccolini is probably the most renowned of Satie interpreters - and the playing on this recording will bear witness to why. Phrasing, dynamics, and tempi all seem to be as they should be - I couldn't think of a case where I wished something was played differently. Perhaps the greatest testament to Ciccolini's abilities is that there are no less than four sets of Satie's piano music with his name on it. The present volume is the first (and cheapest) taken from Ciccolini's digital traversal of Satie's piano works in 1986. (Note though that some reviews have noted that the sound quality is serviceable, but not outstanding.) The second is a more expansive 2 Disc set drawn from Ciccolini's original late 60's-early 70's analog set of recordings. The other two options are the remastered analog set or digital set (both are 5CDs) of the complete piano works. The main difference between them is that in the original set, Ciccolini overdubbed himself in the pieces requiring 4 hands. In the digital set, he is joined by Gabriel Tacchino. In other words, if you really like what you hear on the present volume you could spring for one of the 5CD sets of Satie's complete piano works. But if you want just the hits (or hit in this case) and don't mind that the recording isn't the best of the best, you'd be well-served by this CD.

Gymnopedie No. 1 - Basic Library (Repertoire and Performance)
The Rest - Worth Hearing (Repertoire), Basic Library (Performance)

Audio Samples, Satie

[tcoy777]

So I have a friend that works for Naxos ,there office is right down the street from where I work. He told me he can get me a discount on any of there Classic series stuff. So can you give me any recommendations for starting my collection? From my past I seem to like Rachmonioff and Tchaikovsky but am open to anything really.

[jax]

I really enjoy Satie's stuff, but I'm only really familiar with the Daniel Varsano versions Sony put out. Would like to check this out sometime for some comparison.