Quote:
Originally Posted by viator122
Please let me know what you think and/or recommend something else for a beginner from yourmusic.com.
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I found that as far as classical music is concerned a _LOT_ depends on the performance and recording (unlike pop/rock/etc.). The same piece of music may be boring or exciting depending on the orchestra and conductor.
I don't know what you might like so maybe I'll just simply give you some examples of what I enjoyed when I started my adventure with classical music.
1) Vivaldi "Four Seasons" - Marriner/ASMF/London (ASMF stands for Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields)
This is the sweetest "Four Seasons" I have ever heard. It is a _mandatory_ recording for classical music lover.
2) Handel "Water Music" - Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists/Philips or Marriner/ASMF/London (the second one also contains "Music For Royal Fireworks")
3) Handel "Messiah" - Solti/Decca with Kiri Te Kanawa, Pinnock/Archiv with Anne Sofie von Otter or Gardiner/Philips with Monteverdi chorus
Maybe it's just me but I think it's the most beautiful piece of music ever created. (I have few different recordings but these three are my favourites).
4) Mozart "Eine Kleine Nacht Music" - Marriner/ASMF/Philips
This is probably the widest known Mozart's creation. And Marriner truly perfected performing this piece.
5) Bach "Sonatas Moonlight/Appasionata/Waldenstein" (on the Penguin series)
6) Mozart "Requiem" - Sir Collins Davis/BBC Symphony Orchestra (issued in Penguin series) or Gardiner/Philips
The singing in Davis' recording is very passionate while Gardiner's orchestra sounds better. I personally like Davis' recording slightly better.
7) Bizet "Carmen" - Solti/DECCA with Troyanos
8) Tchaikovsky "Swan Lake" - Dutoit/Montreal Symphony Orchestra
9) Beethoven "9 Symphonies" - Karajan/Deutshe Gramophon '63 recording (there is another, later recording but it is not as passionate) or Gardiner/Archiv(I think it's Archiv but I don't have the CDs at hand right now to verify it)
10) Holst "The Planets" - Dutoit/Montreal SO
11) Chopin "Favourite Piano Works" - Ashkenazy (Penguin series)
There is several more pieces I could recommend but too much information often turns into dis-information...
Take a look at the introductory series of CDs for classical music issued by Penguin. These are very good recordings and acclaimed by many. And the CDs are not expensive.