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I recently scored an amazing classical collection. It's full of UK Decca, HMV and EMI pressings. I am a little green with classical but would like to find a source to try a determine which recordings are regarded as special. Is there an internet source or book that would cover this. For example: I am now listening to Tchaikovsky Sym No 4, Maazel, Vienna Phil - Decca SXL 6157. Sounds fantastic, I like the music, but is it highly regarded by classical lovers? The reason I ask is because I don't listen to classical much but I suspect if I'm exposed to the more highly regarded recordings I might get deeper into classical listening.
Follow Ups:
I'm not going to take any notice if you try to tell me what to listen to. So why should I be asked to tell you what is good and what is not? Listen to the music and make up your own mind. There is no immutable order-of-merit list of classical works and composers. You've got to put in time and effort to develop your own.
Everyone makes up their own mind and like a performance or not. But I myself appreciate when people do point me to performances I haven't heard yet. Whether I like them or not is verse two. But I think it can be very helpful in exploring new recordings.
and agree with dean man jim, just enjoy the music. Those records (listed in the original post) are some of the best LP's ever done from a sonic standpoint.
If you run across it pick it up. His last movement is incredible for the energy and speed. You can virtually see the musicians fingers in the music. Have fun. There's so much good music out there and with vinyl so inexpensive you can afford to explore. Listen to what catches your ear an don't worry about what the rest of us think. That's what's fun.
Sim
A very good guide to the best classical vinyl, written in the 1970's is: 101 Masterpieces of Music and their Composers, by Martain Bookspan. If you Google the title you will find some copies that are available. This is a fine introduction. I feel sometimes a better performance will make a big difference in your enjoyment.
Tchaikovsky is for wussies unless Carlos Kleiber is conducting.Wagner conducted by Karajan is highly regarded by those seeking world domination.
All French composers should've pursued painting watercolors instead. One exception is Ravel's "Bolero" (more Spanish than French), which is good for some things. Look for the version conducted by Dudley Moore.
The best source for classical music is old Warner Brothers cartoons. Bugs is highly regarded among classical lovers.
As for Disney's "Fantasia": see first comment regarding P.I.T.
I think all of the performers found on these LPs will be completely credible, and all the performances will be completely credible. No doubt a few of the performances may have attracted mixed reviews--the odds being what they are--but for some performers this is itself a badge of honor.I'd say relax and enjoy the tunes!
If you find particular works that you like more than others, explore them with different performances. That can be very rewarding, and illuminating, musically speaking.
IMHO, of course!
Cheap at a used book store.
The first one you named is quite good. IMO.
I too am fairly new to the classical music. I also landed a nice collection of about 800 classical albums with many desirable labels. One thing I have learned is that in many instances there are different advocates for different performances. The subject is very broad. That said, you will have to decide what you like. If you like it, it's not wrong or right. It's just your preference. I'm not advocating that you not seek other opinions of those more knowledgeable about the subject. But I am advocating that you trust your own ears to tell you if you like the piece or not.
Life has lots of trials and lots of music to help us through them.
The only problem with that thinking is we mature as we listen more and what might be attractive today might not be as attractive as we mature. I learned this from working through jazz music. I value other opinions but form my own as I listen and grow. Right now I'm very green and with soooo many different performance of each piece out there it would be nice to understand which recordings are highly regarded as a starting point.
The Decca recordings by Maazel and the VPO were generally very highly regarded - are any of his Sibelius recordings in the collection? As for Tchaikovsky's 4th, this is the composer at his finest, especially the 1st movement. Enjoy your score of LPs - listen without presumptions and then tell us afterwards what you thought were the best listening. After over 45 years of listening I am still discovering superb music I didn't know, and performances and recordings of known music that give me enormous pleasure. I envy you, you are going to have fun!
Dave
And Sym 4 Decca SXL 6365, for some reason the collector switched to Karajan/Finlandia Phil Orch for Sym No 5 - Columbia SAX 2392
Yes, Sibelius Sym No 1 - Decca SXL 6084, Sym No 2 - Decca SXL 6125, Sym No 3/6 - Decca SXL 6364 all Maazel/Vienna Phil UK pressings.
enjoy
There are a number of very fine Tchaikovsky 4 recordings. The two recordings I like best and are highly regarded are Mariss Jansons/Oslo Philharmonic/Chandos (in the 80's) and Mravinsky/Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra/DG (1960). Other recordings I like are Gergiev/Wiener/Philips and the old Haitink/RCO/Philips.Here you can find more reviews on classical recordings
http://www.gramophone.co.uk/
http://www.classicstoday.com/index.asp
http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/classrev.htm
http://www.classicalcdreview.com/Have fun!
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