Sunday, August 23, 2009

DESERT ISLAND DISCS: MY TOP 25 CLASSICAL ALBUMS. In response to Weaverman's intention to do his own top classical albums (which was in response to my top 50 desert island discs), here is my vaguely alphabetical list of my favourite 25 classicals albums. And keep in mind, these albums do not necessarily represent my favourite classical pieces (that would be another list) but instead complete classical albums.
  1. J.S. Bach: The Complete Sonatas for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord - Trevor Pinnock & Rachel Podger
  2. Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"/Fidelio Overture - Riccardo Muti & the Philadelphia Orchestra
  3. Brahms: The Violin Sonatas - Augustin Dumay & Maria Joao Pires
  4. Francois Couperin: Harpsichord Works - Skip Sempe
  5. Frescobaldi: Works for Organ - Liuwe Tamminga
  6. Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American in Paris - Leonard Bernstein & the New York Philharmonic
  7. Grieg: Peer Gynt/Sibelius: Finlandia/Valse Triste/Swan of Tuonela - Leonard Bernstein & the New York Philharmonic
  8. Hanson Conducts Hanson: Symphony No. 1 "Nordic"/Symphony No. 2 "Romantic"/Song of Democracy - Eastman-Rochester Orchestra
  9. Holst: The Planets/Elgar: Enigma Variations - Sir Adrian Boult London Philharmonic Orchestra London Symphony Orchestra
  10. Mozart Weber Clarinet Quintets - Emma Johnson
  11. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition/A Night On Bald Mountain & Other Russian Showpieces - Fritz Reiner & Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  12. Orff: Carmina Burana - Eugene Ormandy & Philadelphia Orchestra
  13. Arvo Part: I Am the True Vine - Paul Hillier
  14. Arvo Part: Te Deum - Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra & Tallium Chamber Orchestra Tonu Kaljuste, conductor
  15. Purcell: Instrumental Music - Freiburger Barockorchester
  16. Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherezade - Yuri Temirkanov & New York Philharmonic Orchestra
  17. Sibelius: Finlandia/Karelia Suite/Tapiola/Valse Triste/Swan of Tuonela/Festivo - Hans Rosbaud & Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra
  18. Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 6/The Lark Ascending/Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - Andrew Davis & BBC Symphony Orchestra
  19. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons - Giuliano Carmignola
  20. Ansermet Conducts Wagner
  21. Great Pianists of the 20th Century - Martha Argerich I
  22. Music for the Odhecaton: Celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the First Printed Music - Piffaro
  23. Priest On the Run - Red Priest
  24. Carlos V Mille Regretz: la Cancion del Emperador - La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Hesperion XXI / Jordi Savall
  25. Devil's Dance - Gil Shaham
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3 comments:

Weaverman said...

Well. again we don't seem to have specific albums in common. I am familiar with much on your list although there are a few there I must catch up. Obviously I'm more into the human voice as an instrument The same Gershwin almost made it to my list and I was sorry there was no Holst or Sibelius - I'm only just discovering the latter.

5:39 PM
Cerpts said...

I actually found this list to be an odd experience since, as I say, most of my absolute favourite classical pieces do not appear on these albums! Perhaps I need to do YET ANOTHER classical list; this time listing my fave classical pieces instead of whole albums. Yes, I have been a Sibelius fan ever since I was a kid when I bought that "Great Performances" Bernstein Peer Gynt record which included Sibelius on Side Two.

7:51 AM
Star said...

oh! i meant to tell you that our miss karen said that she has totally surpassed you in knowledge of all things classical back at the hellmouth! you got dethroned, suckah!!

8:28 PM

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