Best Ever Albums

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 16:18:06 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 07/22/2021 20:18

Link

^^^ Posted more because I enjoy Gardiner's insights than as a full endorsement of the 9th on period instruments (though Gardiner's renditions of the 9th have great merit in their context, I think there is no question that Beethoven was pointing to the future in the various instruments, the orchestra as a whole, and in voice, intentionally pushing beyond the limits of his period's capabilities towards a weightier, more monumental vision and sound world than what period renditions seem to be able to deliver)

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 01:02:41 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 03/13/2021 06:02

mianfei wrote:

A few days ago, when I bought Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s box set The Warner Recordings, I was particularly impressed by his recording of Charles Ives’ Piano Sonata No. 2 (Concord) – a piece I had not actually heard of before and was not what I bought the set for.

I am curious as to what recording of Ives’ Concord Sonata you would recommend yourself? I had a listen to Herbert Henck’s 1980s recording and was impressed to consider it myself, but there are so many recordings available that I want to ask.

Good question!

I haven't revisited Ives' Concord sonata in quite some time, but Hamelin's is probably the best I know of.

This one:

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

mianfei — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 21:05:23 GMT

Author: mianfei

Posted: 03/13/2021 02:05

A few days ago, when I bought Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s box set The Warner Recordings, I was particularly impressed by his recording of Charles Ives’ Piano Sonata No. 2 (Concord) – a piece I had not actually heard of before and was not what I bought the set for.

I am curious as to what recording of Ives’ Concord Sonata you would recommend yourself? I had a listen to Herbert Henck’s 1980s recording and was impressed to consider it myself, but there are so many recordings available that I want to ask.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 01:29:58 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 12/31/2020 06:29

RoundTheBend wrote:

AfterHours wrote:

I've now re-organized this massive list to where the classical works are ordered by date UNDER their composer's last name, which are all now ordered alphabetically (instead of all the works being ordered "by rating"). (FIRST PAGE OF THE THREAD)

So you will find all the listed works of a composer in one place (ex: all of the listed Beethoven works are under his name in date order). It is also now divided into 4 separate posts instead of all on one. 1st is the main list of classical works plus the guide to how the "best recordings" are rated. The 3 below that are separated alphabetically by composer's (ex: A-G; H-Q; R-Z) with the listed classical works under the names.

There is still a lot of (mostly tedious) formatting to do, and at least 1/2 the entries are not yet that close to being fully updated with the proper selection of "best recordings" under them. This is all still in-progress, but as it is now, it should be much easier to navigate and should also load faster and scroll more smoothly. In the meantime I am also revisiting a fairly sizable helping of classical works and the various recordings of those works, and there should be ratings updates forthcoming from that.

Nice! Well done!

I've attempted something like this past the periods I already have listed and somehow it's impossible for me. Actually not somehow, more like it's a ton of work, and after about 30 minutes, something else seems immediately more appealing to do. Same reason I haven't really changed any of my charts in like 4 years.

Anyway, kudos to you for ever refining and codifying like this. It's a ton of work.

Thanks! Im with you on that. Gawd was it tedious, and still so much to do, let alone getting to the ACTUAL updates of more classical works, new and revised ratings and filling out the selected recordings...

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

RoundTheBend — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 21:21:12 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 12/31/2020 02:21

AfterHours wrote:

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 17:59:01 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 12/30/2020 22:59

I've now re-organized this massive list to where the classical works are ordered by date UNDER their composer's last name, which are all now ordered alphabetically (instead of all the works being ordered "by rating"). (FIRST PAGE OF THE THREAD)

So you will find all the listed works of a composer in one place (ex: all of the listed Beethoven works are under his name in date order). It is also now divided into 4 separate posts instead of all on one. 1st is the main list of classical works plus the guide to how the "best recordings" are rated. The 3 below that are separated alphabetically by composer's (ex: A-G; H-Q; R-Z) with the listed classical works under the names.

There is still a lot of (mostly tedious) formatting to do, and at least 1/2 the entries are not yet that close to being fully updated with the proper selection of "best recordings" under them. This is all still in-progress, but as it is now, it should be much easier to navigate and should also load faster and scroll more smoothly. In the meantime I am also revisiting a fairly sizable helping of classical works and the various recordings of those works, and there should be ratings updates forthcoming from that.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 16:20:47 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 10/23/2020 20:20

Red0510 wrote:

1. Symphony No. 7 in C Major "Leningrad" was complete in December 1941 and performed in March 1942.
2. Can't call this list complete without piano works by Rameau and Satie.

Thanks! Both Satie and Rameau probably have positions waiting for them. List is very much "incomplete/in-progress". All Ive included so far are (mostly) the most obvious/famous ones as a foundational/starting point.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

Red0510 — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 11:35:40 GMT

Author: Red0510

Posted: 10/23/2020 15:35

1. Symphony No. 7 in C Major "Leningrad" was complete in December 1941 and performed in March 1942.
2. Can't call this list complete without piano works by Rameau and Satie.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 19:37:56 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 06/16/2020 23:37

For fans of Mahler's 5th Symphony (one of the masterpieces of the 20th century)...

I've come across an incredible performance of this work that I am somewhat surprised I'd never heard before a few days ago. But after several listens I would rank it as probably the most astonishing performance of Mahler's 5th ever recorded, and have now ranked it as such on my list here. This is perhaps his most difficult of his symphonies to play well with the fewest top tier performances (especially relative to how many recordings there have been), so if you are a fan of this work then this rendition must be heard! Loosen up your jaw lest it fall to the floor!

Hans Rosbaud - Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester (1951) ... Check out my "best recordings" list on this thread which shows you what it looks like on Spotify and provides a link to it on Youtube.

I also recently listened to a new (to me) recording of Beethoven's 4th Piano Concerto, which seems like it could take its place among the best. It is a fresh take on the work (without losing "Beethoven"). Very highly recommended!

Olli Mustonen - Tapiola Sinfonietta (2009)

Spotify as follows: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71rWOophgKL._SS500_.jpg

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsDyQBw4LLs

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 10:40:15 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 01/25/2020 15:40

EyeKanFly wrote:

I just happened upon this thread and wow, this is incredible. Thank you AfterHours for your years of listening, rating, and cataloging work. This is such an incredible resource.

I'm only a few entries into reading it, but I appreciate that Karajan seems to be the go to for Beethoven symphonies. Only problem is my computer is so shitty that it can't load the whole first page at once haha. Well, I'm looking forward to delving deeper into this! Thank you so much for your hard work on this.

Thank you, glad you like it and hopefully it loads one of these days! 🤣

When Karajan was in top form (particularly early to late 60s; 70s are debatable) he could be tough to beat but I also have several other conductors chosen for Beethoven's other symphonies. You will find that there is a huge variety of conductors/recordings (both older and more recent) as you journey through it.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

EyeKanFly — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 08:48:40 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 01/25/2020 13:48

I just happened upon this thread and wow, this is incredible. Thank you AfterHours for your years of listening, rating, and cataloging work. This is such an incredible resource.

I'm only a few entries into reading it, but I appreciate that Karajan seems to be the go to for Beethoven symphonies. Only problem is my computer is so shitty that it can't load the whole first page at once haha. Well, I'm looking forward to delving deeper into this! Thank you so much for your hard work on this.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 00:46:28 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 01/25/2020 05:46

RoundTheBend wrote:

You know I teased my ratings have nothing in common with you, but really there's nothing I can strongly disagree with on this.

Sometimes it's hard to read all in one go (but how else would you do it?) - but really nice to search for something I'm already familiar with to see if there's a recording I haven't heard, etc. I did come across some post-modern stuff I've never heard of, so totally added that to my list.

Thanks for the contribution! Also glad to see the Ring cycle to be added so high. I'm a bit of a fan boy because I took a class on it and nearly crapped myself learning about all the stuff that went into that work.

Oh tip for those who are finding it hard to read - read the top works, then search for the recordings associated.

Thanks man! Yeah, The Ring is somewhere between 9/10 and 36/10 so I guess... 9.4??? 🤔

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

RoundTheBend — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 22:27:16 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 01/21/2020 03:27

You know I teased my ratings have nothing in common with you, but really there's nothing I can strongly disagree with on this.

Sometimes it's hard to read all in one go (but how else would you do it?) - but really nice to search for something I'm already familiar with to see if there's a recording I haven't heard, etc. I did come across some post-modern stuff I've never heard of, so totally added that to my list.

Thanks for the contribution! Also glad to see the Ring cycle to be added so high. I'm a bit of a fan boy because I took a class on it and nearly crapped myself learning about all the stuff that went into that work.

Oh tip for those who are finding it hard to read - read the top works, then search for the recordings associated.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 11:51:39 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 11/18/2019 16:51

Fischman wrote:

This is an incredible thread.

I'm still trying to figure out how to make best use of it!

I probably just need to be able to pay a little more attention. I'm pretty steeped in my Jazz journey right now and that's grabbing most of my time.

The level of detail here is amazing... and at times a bit overwhelming.

Thank you! Yours as well!

Looks like we're in the same boat (I'm steeped in Classical, you Jazz for the time being).

Re: best use ... Probably its most value as a resource is that it culminates 20+ yrs of Classical listening (so far, not "final" ... plenty more to listen) ...and collects the best recordings of each work all in one place. Extremely useful for someone not just already into Classical but probably even more so for one trying to get started with Classical as this is often the #1 barrier to really getting going ("Which works to invest in the most?" and "Which recordings/performances?"). Now of course these are the best recordings according to me, however, there is unlikely to be much disagreement from those looking for a performance that is or approaches an expressive ideal of said work while still very aligned to the composers idiom. And even if one disagrees with one, they are bound to agree with one or more of the other selections, as the recordings tend to be a varied collection of many/all of the best renditions from multiple valid interpretations of the work.

For someone more invested/experienced with Classical, the value lies in listening to each of the selected recordings per a given work (or at least a few of them), which can be utterly essential to one's assimilation of that work; a key aspect in getting a really good grip and thorough view of said work, as (a) one is listening to the height of its expression (or nearly) from multiple valid interpretive stances (b) then, hearing the variances between these interpretations and observing and taking into consideration the expressive differences between the very top recording and 2nd, 3rd, etc... really developes one's listening skills for that particular work and goes a long way towards assimilating it well enough to make a very good determination for oneself about the work itself and one's own top recording(s).

Something that can also be of interest or value to whoever, especially to those looking for the "best ever" (as in this or alike sites) is that, in Classical, it is very rare to find anyone that has made a serious attempt at meticulously ranking (and especially, rating) its greatest works per an aligned, uniform criteria. So the Classical canon can be something of a giant, intimidating confusion to people because there isnt a very organized foundation from which to listen from, so something like this can be very useful as a starting and/or intermediate point towards one's own determinations and building one's own selections, ratings, rankings.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

Fischman — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 10:09:24 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 11/18/2019 15:09

This is an incredible thread.

I'm still trying to figure out how to make best use of it!

I probably just need to be able to pay a little more attention. I'm pretty steeped in my Jazz journey right now and that's grabbing most of my time.

The level of detail here is amazing... and at times a bit overwhelming.

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

RoundTheBend — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 18:28:21 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/17/2019 23:28

Awesome

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 13:14:55 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 11/17/2019 18:14

I am in progress on adding over a thousand (not a typo) additional "best recordings" to the listed Classical works ... hundreds of which have been added so far (for the most part, they've been added from the top of the list on down). Most of these entries are still incomplete in terms of recording information provided (still just "shorthand") and Spotify/Youtube performances, all of which will be added gradually in the coming weeks.

I've been revisiting a lot of Classical Vocal/Mass and Opera works, resulting in extensive updates (several of them still "tentative", marked by asterisks).

In the meantime, I came across this compelling interview with Peter Sellars regarding Bach/St Matthew Passion...

Wish I had this guy's hair! What a character!

Link

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

RoundTheBend — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:35:29 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 09/17/2019 02:35

fanboy 🤣

oooh... I have the Diabelli Variations coming up... I think I have Brendel down for that one, but will very likely check out both. Thanks for the heads up!

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

AfterHours — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 22:24:29 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 09/17/2019 02:24

RoundTheBend wrote:

AfterHours wrote:

Yeah man -- you're welcome! Staier's Goldberg is practically revolutionary. Once heard, you might wonder where that has been all this time! A completely different world than Gould's (which is great for what it is) ... but the Goldberg's were supposed to be on harpsichord for a reason (they become much more exotic and "dreamier"), and it's very evident they were carefully written for the instrument after listening to a rendition that does them justice. Staier's performance is one of a kind and Baroque asf, down to being played on a precise replica of the harpsichords Bach would've been playing in his day. Maybe the only harpsichordist I can think of that plays the Goldberg (somewhat) similarly with such expressiveness and color could be Christophe Rousset (who's Goldberg's is among my favorites too, maybe #2 or at least top 5). But really, none are so VIVID as Staier's, which is both how he plays but also the fact he is using a harpsichord from the same time.

Here's Pinnock's... I chose it for the same reasons you mentioned here (replica harpsichords/actually a harpsichord recording instead of piano/HIP, etc.)... he's also a trusted HIP recording artist. I wasn't stolen by it though... Staier's work on Bach's harpsichord concertos was quite good (see below), so maybe your find will replace Pinnock's.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5hvzqOezhg7mZ2xKta0ZSu?si=gbCbHMzKROW23IlGmRY6MQ

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations; Italian Concerto by Trevor Pinnock

J. S. Bach: Harpsichord Concertos by Andreas Staier / Freiburger Barockorchester

Yeah, Pinnock is among my favorite harpsichordists and on last revisit I would probably place him among top 7 or 10 Goldbergs, which is still very high (though not sure if quite enough to include among the top selections). Id for sure place Hentai and Rousset above him (for Goldberg only, not overall) ... and Staier, obviously.

Staier is one of Classical music recordings "best kept secrets" (still, somehow...). You will find several of his on my list (including Harpsichord Conc #1 from the album you pictured in your reply). Only Classical aficianados in the main seem to be much aware of him. Many of his recordings are near top tier or the very top tier ALL TIME. His quality control is among the highest ever, though he shoots for the stars and transcendence every time, thus opening the door to the occasional mis-fire. He is very possibly the greatest harpsichordist and forte pianist of all time.

His Mozart 9, 17, 18, 19 are decisively the greatest renditions of Mozart Piano Concerto recordings ever released (his 27 not so much) and probably the most qualitatively amazing Mozart recordings of any type whether symphony, concerto etc (yes, ever ... 100% serious). For Beethoven, his Ghost Trio is so astonishing (greatest rendition ever recorded) that you may never want to bother with another. I hope to gawd he releases an Archduke at some point! His Diabelli Variations as well -- very top tier! Anyway, you get the idea: just an incredible artist. If you search his name over my list page you'll find him on a number of selections -- all completely deserved -- and I can assure you I am not being "biased" or a "fanboy", I promise! Just listen and compare...

Re: Greatest Classical Works & Best Recorded Performances

RoundTheBend — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 21:34:07 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 09/17/2019 01:34

AfterHours wrote:

Not quite a spread sheet but I definitely keep notes of recordings under each work on a separate doc.

Also, I'll sooner or later add a second copy of this list (to the same page) but in alphabetical order by composer. So that way it can be viewed by Classical work rating (how it is currently) but also in alphabetical order (so you'll have all of Beethoven in one spot, all of Bach, all of Mozart etc, making it more accessible in that way).

Yeah, that'd be great.

I really wish there were better ways to manage all this, but this works for now.