Recommend some classical music

[Knockturne]

Could anyone recommend me some good, well recorded classical music that will show off the soundstage of my headphones. Thanks.

 

[cconnaker]

BOLERO!-- orchestral fireworks
GRAMMY NOMINATION
"The Absolute Sound Super Disc List"
Ravel's BOLERO is the most-recognizable piece of orchestral music ever written. Its hypnotic melodies, rhythms and brilliant orchestral colors have insured its popularity with audiences everywhere. Now "Prof." Johnson has made the HDCD recording of BOLERO that RR fans have been waiting for, as the finale of a generous program of orchestral showpieces. Included are favorites by Liszt, Brahms, Dvorak, Berlioz, Chabrier -- and rarities by Kabalevsky, Deems Taylor, Dinicu, Jarnefelt and -- yes -- the famous conductor Otto Klemperer!
EIJI OUE / MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-92 HDCD -- $16.98


Absolutely fabulous. It got me into classical and I wasn't a fan at all.

 

[milkpowder]

Not your typical audiophile label, but be prepared to be gobsmacked by the superb instrument imaging on a chamber music scale. You can pretty follow every single instrument. It also sounds very vinyl-like. Organic and intimate-sounding is how I would describe this recording.

Amazon.com: Mendelssohn: Octet, Op. 20; Quintet, Op. 87: Music: Denis Vigay,Roger Smith,Felix Mendelssohn,Academy Chamber Ensemble,Chamber Ensemble,Andrew McGee,Anthony Jenkins,Iona Brown,Malcolm Latchem,Roger Garland,Stephen Shingles

On a larger scale I like this one. It does sound better on speakers though.

Amazon.com: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4; Romeo and Juliet Overture [Hybrid SACD]: Music: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky,Ivan Fischer,Budapest Festival Orchestra

This one is even more impressive:

Amazon.com: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Kreutzer Sonata: Music: Ludwig van Beethoven,Jirí Belohlávek,Prague Philharmonic Orchestra,Alexander Melnikov,Isabelle Faust

 

[PSmith08]

Sure.

Woldemar Nelsson's 1985 recording of Der fliegende Holländer from Bayreuth on Philips (in the "Classic Opera" series).

Giuseppe Sinopoli's 1989 recording of Tannhäuser on Deutsche Grammophon.

The balance between stage and pit, so to speak, is amazing with Nelsson and not too far behind for Sinopoli, but I would say that Nelsson has the better imaging of the Festspielhaus and the better forces musically speaking. Either will make a grand show on any decent system.

 

[milkpowder]

You sure the amazing sound stage can really be heard/appreciated on headphones? I've just been listening to my parents' speakers and there is so much more depth to every single track.;

 

[Uncle Erik]

I don't know the availability in your part of the world, but you might do well to pick up a Sony SCD-CE595. I found one for about $70 USD a bit over a year ago.

One of those will give you access to SACD, with plenty of well-recorded and mastered classical discs. The CE595 is a pretty fair sounding player, as well.