[binkgle]

Hey, guys, could you please recommend to me some recordings of these pieces? They're particular favorites of mine, but I don't have recordings of them yet.

Smetana - The Moldau

Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No. 2

Chopin - Ballade in G minor (I've got a great Ashkenazy, but I preferred the Zimerman I recently heard. Any links to a good performance?)

Rachmaninov - Elegie


Thanks so much!

Jack

 

[Agent Kang]

Rachmaninov PC 2 - Ashkenazy/Haitink is a good one. Janis/Dorati is even better with an exceptional sound quality to match.

Chopin Ballade in G-minor - I have Bolet or Zimerman

 

[majid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by binkgle /img/forum/go_quote.gif Smetana - The Moldau

Don't get just that excerpt, get the whole Má Vlast. It is available in Hybrid SACD format with Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra.

 

[mbhaub]

Rach 2: Reiner/Rubinstein on RCA. Classic recording.

Moldau: agree-- get the whole Ma Vlast. I really prefer Macal on Telarc. If you really want just Moldau, Fiedler on London is marvelous.

 

[Assorted]

Handel's Complete Works, Water Music - Fireworks Music - most Concerti grossi's, by Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert. Very moderate tempo and dynamics, chamber-ish accoustics and a nice pack of liner notes, a recording very worthy of "reference performance".

 

[DarkAngel]

Yes get entire Ma Vlast (my fatherland) and take entire excursion down the river and see the sights, for modern sound:
Harnoncourt/VPO/RCA
Not the first name you would think, but this is great version for sure.

Kubelik/CSO/Mercury (1951 mono)
I prefer this optimistic vision by younger Kubelik to his later more somber reveries


Now for Rach PC 2, for modern sound:
Zimerman/Ozawa/DG - I was shocked how good this is, great sound
Richter/DG Originals

Older sound:
Janis/Dorati/Mercury
Van Cliburn/Reiner/RCA - very romantic, also contains great Tchaikovsky PC 1 with Kondrashin

If you want an Ashkenazy version I like his older Kondrashin/Decca Legends version paired with Rach PC 3

If you want an entire Rach PC 1-4 set I would get:
Wild/Horenstein/Chandos - mid price
or
Hough/Litton/Hyperion - more expensive new full price version