Dark Classical Recommendations
Feb 14, 2003 at 1:06 PM Post #16 of 38
I just purchased a cd last night at the used cd shop near my house called "Opera Goes to Hell" Pretty dark stuff here!
Includes highlights from the following:

Gluck: Orphee Et Eurydice
Offenbach: Orphee Aux Enffers
Gounod: Faust
Wagner: Tannhauser
Verdi: Requiem
Boito: Mefistofele
Mozart: Don Giovanni

Anyway, well worth the $5.99 I paid!
 
Feb 18, 2003 at 4:27 AM Post #17 of 38
Mahler's Ninth Symphony is one of my absolute favorites of this type of genre.

Here's some of the best recordings:

Karajan, Berlin Phil Orch, DGG
Haitink, Concertgebouw Orch, Philips
Bernstein, Berlin Phil Orch, DGG
Barbirolli, Berlin Phil Orch, EMI budget

Both the Penguin and Grammophone Guides list the Karajan as a first choice. I'd put the Haitink and the Bernstein on equal footing with the Karajan. Sonically, the Haitink is probably the best. Note that Bernstein recorded this twice. I've never heard his Concertgebouw Orch recording. Word has it that it's a bit drawn-out. Both the Karajan and Bernstein BPO recordings are from live performances.

I list the Barbirolli because it's a budget and because I'm a bit of a fan of "Glorious John."
 
Feb 18, 2003 at 5:20 PM Post #19 of 38
I second:

Rachmaninov: Isle of the Dead
Bach: Mass in B minor

Certain Gregorian Chants come across as dark.
 
Feb 19, 2003 at 5:15 AM Post #20 of 38
There is also the symphonic poem. This is a great form of classical music.

Try:

Tchaikovsky: "Romeo and Juliet, overture".
and "Francesca da Rimini".

Richard Strauss: "Don Juan". "Salome, Dance of the Seven Veils".
"Til Eulenspiegal's Merry Pranks" .


Sibelius: "Finlandia".
 
Feb 19, 2003 at 9:29 AM Post #21 of 38
If we're talking dark, how about Schubert's "Winterreise"? Check out any number of Fischer-Dieskau's recordings (his earlier ones are better IMHO), but don't miss Hans Hotter on EMI or Peter Pears on Decca (with Ben Britten at the piano!).

Mahler's Ruckert Lieder" especially "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen." <<I am lost to the world...>>

Shostakovich's String Quartet #8

******

Just three listed here, but many, many more dark pieces have been written.
 
Feb 22, 2003 at 7:25 PM Post #22 of 38
Quote:

Originally posted by KR...
I have this one
Mahler – Das Lied Von Der Erde (Reference Recordings)

You should add that to your collection longship, that is if you want another one.


I have Haitink's recording with Janet Baker!! and James King on Philips, another one of my favorites.

Edit: I've never heard Michelle DeYoung, but Eiji Oue is doing some good things. I may have to take this disc out for a spin.
 
Mar 28, 2003 at 3:26 PM Post #24 of 38
Goreki's 3rd Symphony can be found for cheap on Naxos, but there's an even better version conducted by David Zinman. A slow, painful, but very tonal meditation on the genocides of WWII. You've been warned.
 
Mar 29, 2003 at 1:12 AM Post #26 of 38
I would suggest listening to for example:

Bruckner's 7th, 8th and 9th symphony (incredibly powerful)

Shostakovich's 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th symphony (horror of world war 2 and Stalin dictatorship)

Mahler's 5th and 9th symphony (very mellow at times, e.g. Adagietto in 5th symphony)
 
Apr 23, 2003 at 5:01 AM Post #28 of 38
Shostakovich String Quartets, especially the late ones, are very dark. There is an SACD called 'Dedicated to the Victimes of War and Terror' which has a symphonic version of his 8th 4tet which may depress you nicely.

Messaien's Quartet for the End of Time is also delightfully depressing.


Steve
 
Apr 25, 2003 at 11:03 AM Post #30 of 38
Gorecki, 3rd symphony
Wagner: tristan und isolde, parsifal & ring
sibelius: 7th symphony, kullervo
beethoven: 3rd, 7th and 9th
bruckner: 6 & 8
mozart: requiem, don giovanni
elgar: cello concerto
bach: almost everything.. check Chaconne from 2nd violin partita
mahler: kindertotenlieder

enough angst for few lifetimes
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top