C L A S S I C A L M U S I C

COMPOSER LISTING
CLASSICAL CD BOX SETS
Classical Music - Two Favorite Artists
Arleen Augér (soprano) "possessed a pure-toned voice of great flexibility and absolute accuracy of intonation." Gary Karr (bass viol virtuoso) "in a league of his own" "a classical double bass virtuoso and teacher; he is considered one of the best bassists of the 20th and 21st centuries."
Classical Music ErasTempo Markings

Classical Music - Favorite Recordings

An Ever-Evolving List
Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Bach: Mass in B Minor
Robert Shaw/Robert Shaw Chorale & Orchestra (1960) RCASopranos: Saramae Endich & Adele Addison; Contralto: Florence Kopleff; Tenor: Mallory Walker; Bass: Ara Berberian
Klemperer/New Philharmonia Orchestra/BBC Chorus (1967) EMI/Kingsway Hall, LondonAgnes Giebel (soprano), Janet Baker (alto), Nicolai Gedda (tenor), Hermann Prey (baritone), Franz Crass (bass)
Karl Münchinger (1970) Decca (May 25-30 & June 1-3, 1970) Sofiensaal, ViennaElly Ameling ; Yvonne Minton; Helen Watts; Werner Krenn; Tom Krause
Gardiner (1985)Argenta; Nichols; Chance; Stafford; Milner; W. Evans
Bach: St. Matthew Passion Karajan 1972Gardiner (Rolfe Johnson, Bonney, von Otter, Chance, Crook)
Bach: St Matthew Passion (Excerpts)Karajan (1972)Tracks 10-13Track 16Track 18 - ChoralTrack 20 - Choral
Bach: St Matthew Passion (Excerpts)Bernstein (1962) (not a grat recroding but wonderful choral singing)CD 1 Track 03 - Leonard Bernstein - Part 1; No. 3 'O blessed Jesu'CD 1 Track 10 - Leonard Bernstein - Part 1; No. 16 'Tis I who should be sharing'CD 1 Track 15 - Leonard Bernstein - Part 1; No. 21 'Acknowledge me, my Keeper'CD 1 Track 17 - Leonard Bernstein - Part 1; No. 23 'Near Thee would I be staying'CD 1 Track 25 - Leonard Bernstein - Part 1; No. 31 'The will of God be alway done'CD 1 Track 29 - Leonard Bernstein - Part 1; No. 35 'O Man, bewail thy grievous sin!'CD 2 Track 02 - Leonard Bernstein - Whate'er may vex or grieve theeCD 2 Track 17 - Leonard Bernstein - O Thou with hate surroundedCD 2 Track 26 - Leonard Bernstein - When I too am departing
Bach: Violin Double Concerto BWV 1043Yehudi Menuhin Bach: Cello SuitesRalph Kirschbaum Bach: Goldberg Variations 1992 recording for Hyperion 66589 / Tatiana Nikolayeva - piano 1986 broadcast for the BBC / Tatiana Nikolayeva - piano (highly recommended)
Bach: The Art of Fugue (Kunst der Fuge) Tatiana Nikolayeva - piano Hyperion 66631 (very highly recommended) Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Rillling, The Oregon Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra Hanssler 92.126 Bach100 Best Adagio Voices CD3Tracks 1-2Track 8 EMI Bach Dinu Lipatti Last Recital (article link) EMI
Handel, George Frederick (1685-1759)
Handel: Messiah Arleen Augér (soprano) Anne Sofie von Otter (contralto) Trevor Pinnock (conductor) Recording Date: 1988 Label: DG Handel: Chandos Anthems No 1-11 Harry Christophers; The Sixteen Handel: Giulio Cesare in Egitto, HWV 17, Act III: Recitative: E pur cosi in un giorno Album: Anne Sofie von Otter sings Baroque arias Track 2 Arleen Augér (soprano); Gerard Schwarz (Conductor) Album: American Soprano Handel Arias Track 3 - Care Selve Track 5 - Lascia Ch’io pianga Track 8 - He Shall Feed His Flock (an absolutely wonderful performance)
Handel's Messiah - The Compleat Guide to Recordings
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)
Mozart: Piano Sonatas K.310, 331 & 533 Murray Perahia (a simply delightful performance)
Mozart: Mass in C Minor, K.427 / Exultate, jubilate, K.165 / Ave Verum Corpus, K.618 Leonard Bernstein, Bavarian Radio Choir and Orchestra, Arleen Auger, Frederica von Stade, Frank Lopardo, Cornelius Hauptmann Live Recording Date: April 4-6, 1990 CD DVD - PCM stereo and DTS 5.1 (Arleen Auger is outstanding here too—listen to her sing the Credo: Et incarnatus est) YouTube Concert Video Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus K618Harry Christophers (Live) (for deep listening, this is a sublime performance) Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction From the Seraglio) Arleen Auger; Reri Grist; Peter Schreier; Harald Neukirch; Kurt Moll; Otto Mellies; Rundfunkchor Leipzig; Staatskapelle Dresden; Karl Bohm DG LP DG CD (Arleen Auger is outstanding here!) Mozart: Don Giovanni
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K.620 ('The Magic Flute') (Year 2000 - Remaster) Act II: Aria, "Queen of the Night" [Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (Königin)] Lucia Popp/Philharmonia Orchestra/Otto Klemperer Lucia Popp: Queen of Night, Maiden of Light(CD - EMI Classics / Warner Classics #5099969851) Disc 2, Track 14 Mozart: Clarinet Concerto A major K622
Mozart: RequiemMarriner orCelibidache Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 "Elvira Madigan" Géza Anda (piano) Camerata Academica des Mozarteums Salzburg Recording Date: 1961 DG Mozart: Sinfonia ConcertanteYehudi Menuhin (violin & conductor); Rudolf Barshai (viola) Bath Festival Orchestra Recording Date: 1962 EMI
Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770-1827)
Beethoven: Violin Concerto D Major Opus 61 Yehudi Menuhin / Klemperer / Philharmonia Orchestra Beethoven: Violin Concerto D Major Opus 61 Schneiderhan; KarajanRecording Date: 1962Label: DG Beethoven: "Ah, perfido" (Concert Aria)Régine Crespin; Thomas SchippersEssential Classics Take 2 Sony Classical ‎– SB2K 63240 Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2Argerich; Abbado Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 'Emperer' Piano Sonata Opus 101 Horowitz Horzowski Vladimir Ashkenazy Dubromsky Afanasiev
Piano Sonata Opus 106 'Hammerklavier' Charles Rosen Vladimir Ashkenazy Emil Gilels Claudio Arrau
Piano Sonata Opus 109
Piano Sonata Opus 110 Charles Rosen
Piano Sonata Opus 111 Charles Rosen Symphony No. 6 Pastoral Abbado / Berlin Philharmonic (Deutsche Gramophon 471489)
Symphony No. 9 1996 Salzburg Easter Festival Claudio Abbado; Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra; Swedish Radio Chorus; Eric Ericson Chamber ChoirSoloists: Ben Heppner (Tenor), Bryn Terfel (Bass Baritone), Jane Eaglen (Soprano), Waltraud Meier (Mezzo Soprano)
Missa Solemnis Rilling String Quartet in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2 ("Razumovsky") Alban Berg Quartett - Studio (1978-1983) EMI/Warner Alban Berg Quartett - Live (1989) EMI/Warner Quartetto Italiano - Philips Guarneri Quartet Budapest String Quartet String Quartet Opus 127 Alban Berg Quartett Studio Recordings between (1978-1983) EMI/Warner Recorded Live in Concerts (1989) EMI/Warner Quartetto Italiano Philips Guarneri Quartet Budapest String Quartet String Quartet Opus 130 Alban Berg Quartett - Studio (1978-1983) EMI/Warner Alban Berg Quartett - Live (1989) EMI/Warner Quartetto Italiano - Philips Guarneri Quartet Budapest String Quartet String Quartet Opus 131 Alban Berg Quartett - Studio (1978-1983) EMI/Warner Alban Berg Quartett - Live (1989) EMI/Warner Quartetto Italiano - PhilipsGuarneri QuartetBudapest String Quartet String Quartet Opus 132 Alban Berg Quartett - Studio (1978-1983) EMI/Warner Alban Berg Quartett - Live (1989) EMI/Warner Quartetto Italiano - PhilipsGuarneri QuartetBudapest String Quartet String Quartet Opus 135 Alban Berg Quartett - Studio (1978-1983) EMI/Warner Alban Berg Quartett - Live (1989) EMI/Warner Quartetto Italiano - PhilipsGuarneri QuartetBudapest String Quartet
Rossini, Gioachino (1792-1868)
Petite Messe solennele
Schubert, Franz (1797-1828)
Schubert: String Quintet in C, D. 956 / Melos Quartet & Wolfgang Boettcher Harmonia Mundi HMA 1951494
Schubert: Piano Trios 1 & 2, D. 898, 929 The Odeon Trio Capriccio 10387 Schubert: Piano Sonata in B flat D. 960Alicia de Larrocha Recording Date: 1981 Album: The Art Of Alicia De Larrocha [7 CD Box Set - late 1960s to 1980s]Label: Decca Barcode: 028947381327 (for deep listening, this is a wonderful performance)
Brahms, Johannes (1833-1897)
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem Abbado Recording Date: 1992 Label: DG (for deep listening, this is a wonderfully conducted performance)
Fauré, Gabriel (1845-1924)
Faure Requiem (1901 version for full orchestra) Johannette Zomer (soprano)Collegium Vocale Gent; La Chapelle Royale Philippe Herreweghe (conductor) Recorded: Le Grande Salle de l’Arsenal de Metz, November 2001 Label: Harmonia Mundi FLAC File Download (CD quality, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit) CD # HMM931771 or # 901771 Vinyl (for deep listening, this is a wondeful performance)
Faure: Pelleas and MelisandeRobert Shaw?
Tchaikovsky, Peter Ilyich (1840-1893)
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for StringsOrpheus Chamber Orchestra
Chopin, Frederic (1810-1849)
Chopin: Nocturnes Ivan Moravec Maria Joao Pires Arthur Rubinstein
Satie, Erik (1866-1925)
Satie: Gymnopedie No. 1
Strauss, Richard (1864-1949)
Strauss, R: Vier letzte Lieder (Four Last Songs) Jessye Norman; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Kurt Masur
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf; Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra / George Szell
Elizabeth Schwarzkopf; Philharmonia Orchestra; Otto Ackermann 1953
Gundula Janowitz; Berlin Philharmonic; Herbert von Karajan
Soile Isokoski; Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; Marek Janowski
Te Kanawa; VPO; Solti Handel; Mozart; Richard Strauss: Opera Arias & Duets, Trios CD No. 1&2Janowitz, Troyanos and Auger's trio and duet (Auger/Troyanos) in 'Der Rosenkavalier' by Strauss alone would be worth the price of this dual album. Gundula Janowitz and Auger blend together perfectly in the glorious 'Arabella' duet, and all three join together for a truly sumptuous account of the Final Trio from 'Der Rosenkavalier'. I am not sure I have ever heard all three voices so clearly distinguishable and delineated as in this rendition. Let alone we hear in this compilation also the young Auger's Queen of the Night in 'O zittere nich', her Zerbinetta in 'Ariadne auf Naxos' (in two versions), and even more amazing, her 'Ou va la jeune Indoue' from Delibes' 'Lakme'. Janowitz sings two of Strauss's 'Vier letzte Lieder' - 'Fruehling' and 'Im Abendrot'. And these are Janowitz in her prime!
Elgar, Edward (1857-1934)
Elgar: Enigma Variations Leonard Bernstein (conductor) BBC Symphony Orchestra Label: DG Michael Stern (conductor)Kansas City SymphonyRecording Engineer: Keith JohnsonLabel: Reference Recordings (Note: This is another incredibly lifelike recording by Keith Johnson)HRx 176.4 kHz/ 24 bitCD w/HDCDSACDLP
Liszt, Franz (1811-1886)
Liszt: Consolation No. 3 Album: Horowitz (1976-77)
Schumann, Robert (1810-1856)
Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4 Wolfgang Sawallisch; Staatskapelle Dresden EMI/Warner
Delibes: Où va la jeune Indoue Patricia Petibon (soprano) · Orchestre de l'Opera National de Lyon · Yves Abel (conductor) Album: French Touch Delibes: 'Bell Song' (from the opera Lakmé) Arleen Augér (soprano); Gundula Janowitz (lyric soprano); Tatiana Troyanos (mezzo soprano) Album: Handel; Mozart; Richard Strauss: Opera Arias & Duets, Trios CD Nos. 1 & 2
Massenet, Jules (1842-1912)
Massenet: Meditation from ‘Thais’Anna Akko Meyers (violin); Philharmonia Orchestra; Andrew Litton (conductor)Album: Violin for RelaxationTrack 1
Saint-Saëns, Camille (1835-1921)
Saint-Saens: The Swan Mischa MaiskyAlbum: AdagioTrack 1
Delibes, Léo (1836–1891)
Delibes: Où va la jeune Indoue Patricia Petibon (soprano) · Orchestre de l'Opera National de Lyon · Yves Abel (conductor) Album: French Touch Delibes: 'Bell Song' (from the opera Lakmé) Arleen Augér (soprano); Gundula Janowitz (lyric soprano); Tatiana Troyanos (mezzo soprano) Album: Handel; Mozart; Richard Strauss: Opera Arias & Duets, Trios CD Nos. 1 & 2
Wagner, Richard (1813-1883)
Wagner: Lohengrin: Prelude Abbado/Vienna Philharmonic (for deep listening, this is an absolutely incredible performance)
Grieg, Edvard (1843-1907)
Grieg: Holberg SuiteMarriner
Vaughan Williams, Ralph (1872-1958)
Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending - Romance for Violin and OrchestraAnna Akko Meyers (violin); Philharmonia Orchestra; Andrew Litton (conductor)Album: Violin for RelaxationTrack 5
Scriabin, Alexander (1872-1915)
Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy (Le Poème de l'extase), Op. 54 Scriabin: Prométhée, Le Poème du feu (Prometheus, The Poem of Fire), Op. 60
Rachmaninoff, Sergei (1873-1943)
Rachmaninov: Vocalise Anna Moffo (soprano); American Symphony Orchestra; Leopold Stokowski Album: Rachmaninov for Relaxation Track 4
Holst, Gustav (1874-1934)
Holst: The Planets Seiji Ozawa Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1979 William Steinberg Boston Symphony Orchestra, 1970 Michael Stern (conductor) Kansas City Symphony Recording Engineer: Keith Johnson Label: Reference Recordings (Note: This is another incredibly lifelike recording by Keith Johnson) 176.4 kHz/ 24 bit Download CD w/HDCD SACD
Peter's Planets - RECORDINGS compendium of 'The Planets'
Schoenberg, Arnold (1874-1951)
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht ('Transfigured Night')
Villa-Lobos, Heitor (1887-1959)
Villa-Lobos: Bachianis Brasilieras Album: American Soprano Arleen Augér (soprano) Tracks 11-12
Orff, Carl (1895-1982)
Orff: Carmina Burana Gundula Janowitz; Gerhard Stolze; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Berlin Orchestra of the German Opera; Eugen Jochum (Conductor) Recording Date: 1968 Label: DG
Messiaen, Olivier (1908-1992)
Messiaen: Turangalîla-SymphonieAntoni Wit; Polish National Radio Symphony OrchestraNaxos 8554478/9 or Simon Rattle; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Warner Classics Catalog No: 5865252 (originally released on EMI 586 5252 prior to being obtained by Warner Classics)
Messiaen: L’Acension: especially 4th movment: Priere du Christ montant vers son PereAntoni Wit; Polish National Radio Symphony OrchestraNaxos 8554478/9
Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps ("Quartet for the End of Time")Ensemble Walter BoeykensHarmonium Mundi(for deep listening, this is an absolutely riveting performance)
Messiaen: Visions de l'Amen ("Visions of the Amen")
Messiaen: Trois petites Liturgies de la Présence Divine ("Three Small Liturgies of the Divine Presence")
Messiaen: Le banquet céleste
Messiaen: Apparition de l'église éternelle ("Apparition of the Eternal Church")
Messiaen: La Nativité du Seigneur ("The Lord's Nativity")
Messiaen: Les Corps glorieux ("The Glorious Bodies") especially the 4th movement
Barber, Samuel (1910-1981)
Barber: Adagio for Strings Schippers/New York Philharmonic Sony Classical MHK 62837 (for deep listening, this is an absolutely incredible performance) Barber: Violin Concerto Kyoko Takezawa (violin), Leonard Slatkin, Saint Louis Symphony Orcheastra
Ramirez, Ariel (1921–2010)
Ramirez: Misa Criolla Jose Carreras Tracks 1-3
Rautavaara, Einojuhani (1928-2016)
Rautavaara: Piano Concerto No. 1 (1969) Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus (1972)