Essential albums (classical)

[Pigmy Pony]

Following on from Thingfish's excellent thread, I got to wondering if such an idea could be used for classical music. There must be plenty of folk who like some classical music, but find getting a handle (Handl?) on this rather daunting, due to the sheer breadth and diversity of the genre. Or maybe it's just me.

Would there be certain classical "must haves" which might be a good way to get in to this?

[Barry]

That's an easy question to ask, and one which is impossible to provide a comprehensive answer.

You are talking about 9 centuries of music, of amazing breadth and diversity, and once you have chosen a composer there is the performance to consider also. One of the joys of classical music is to compare different artist's interpretation of the same piece. For example I must have at least eight sets of the complete Beethoven symphonies, performed by different orchestras and conductors. And that is just one composer and some of his work.

But to make a start, I'll recommend this (out of hundreds of different recorded performances):

Antonio Vivaldi - 'The Four Seasons' The Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41V5579NE0L.jpg

BIS CD-275 (1985)

There are of course several other equally fine recordings of the Four Seasons - but this is one of my favourites. No doubt there will be other recommendations.

[ReggieB]

The Classical CD that I would give up last is Verdi's Simon Boccanegra as conducted by Claudio Abbado (https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/gb/cat/4497522). Just beautiful.

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/imgs/s300x300/4497522.jpg

[AJSki2fly]

Richard Strauss, Los Angeles Philharmonic*, Zubin Mehta ‎– Also Sprach Zarathustra
Label: Lim ‎– LIM K2HD 035

https://img.discogs.com/v6mWAzeSZY5g3JkRoCcubrgpUI0=/fit-in/600x567/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():qualit y(90)/discogs-images/R-9999276-1489921955-9521.jpeg.jpg

Brahms* ‎– Robert Silverman ‎– Intermezzo: Works For Piano By Brahms
Label: Stereophile ‎– STPH003-2

https://img.discogs.com/SizBG60VOcBI_K_B50jq_9S_Lao=/fit-in/600x594/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():qualit y(90)/discogs-images/R-4769306-1432572358-6008.jpeg.jpg

Richard Strauss, Fabio Luisi, Staatskapelle Dresden ‎– Ein Heldenleben / Metamorphosen
Label: Sony Classical ‎– 88697084712
Format: SACD, Hybrid, Stereo, Album

https://img.discogs.com/rbXQkIaznq6nLrRQp31IbGBzgqI=/fit-in/180x157/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():qualit y(90)/discogs-images/R-9599910-1483450084-7935.jpeg.jpg

Abbess Hildegard Of Bingen* - Gothic Voices (2) With Emma Kirkby Directed By Christopher Page ‎– A Feather On The Breath Of God (Sequences And Hymns By Abbess Hildegard Of Bingen)
Label: Hyperion ‎– A66039
Format: Vinyl, LP

https://img.discogs.com/Hl2pleCmOvZqyVzLjvq6Cr4g_mI=/fit-in/559x555/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():qualit y(90)/discogs-images/R-1593049-1294928484.jpeg.jpg

Vivaldi* - Anne-Sophie Mutter, Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert Von Karajan ‎– Le Quattro Stagioni / The Four Seasons / Die Vier Jahreszeiten
Label: EMI ‎– 42 099 2, His Master's Voice ‎– 42 099 2
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Club Edition, Gatefold

https://img.discogs.com/fxv3h8dlnAlDAkSaEuyb7Q8J1ME=/fit-in/600x598/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():qualit y(90)/discogs-images/R-2663161-1322132206.jpeg.jpg

[Pierre De Grenoble]

Richard Strauss, Los Angeles Philharmonic*, Zubin Mehta ‎– Also Sprach Zarathustra
Label: Lim ‎– LIM K2HD 035

https://img.discogs.com/v6mWAzeSZY5g3JkRoCcubrgpUI0=/fit-in/600x567/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():qualit y(90)/discogs-images/R-9999276-1489921955-9521.jpeg.jpg



This is also one of my favourites especially the original SXL pressing.

just ordered this CD off the bay. I didn't know it existed.