Favourite Classical Music

EVM's piano thread set me thinking.

Does anyone else like classical music?

I do, but my knowledge is somewhat limited, so when I go online to browse-buy classical music, I often find it difficult to track down something I like.

Any recommendations? I prefer concertos and chamber music to symphonies and Opera.

My recommendation to others is Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Any Bach Cantata is always very enjoyable. There have been some excellent performances in St Annes Church on Dawson Street in recent years.

I used to sing in a few choirs, should really get back into it, it is great fun. Singing at the National Concert Hall was a highlight, it carries a similar thrill to sporting events I have participated in. A trip to the Concert Hall is always enjoyable, whichever side of the stage.

I like classical music, but same deal - I don't know too much about it.
I generally know what I like when I hear it, and I do like a lot of Bach's stuff.
I've also spent a bit of time listening to Verdi.
Then there's always Carl Orff's Carmina Burana (the song O Fortuna is commonly known as the Old Spice ad song)

AfricanDave wrote:

I like classical music, but same deal - I don't know too much about it.
I generally know what I like when I hear it.

I listen to a few online classical radio stations, and when I hear something I like, I make a note and then buy it later. I bought a Viola Concerto by Bruch recently that I would never have found any other way.

AfricanDave wrote:

Then there's always Carl Orff's Carmina Burana (the song O Fortuna is commonly known as the Old Spice ad song)

I've always found that that reminds me of Damian - The Omen, which is a movie that really freaks me out.

As I said in the other thread, I adore Rachmaninoff.

I'm also a big, big fan of Wagner. Die Meistersinger being my favourite of favourites.

*wanders out of thread shouting Wahn! Wahn! Uberall Wahn!...*

Try Brahms' "Deutsches Requiem" conducted by John Eliot Gardiner if you can. Sublime.

A good website is Alex Ross' www.therestisnoise.com
He's the NYT's music critic and has just published a book of the same title. You can listen to excerpts from all kinds of stuff on it.

seinfeld wrote:

I listen to a few online classical radio stations, and when I hear something I like, I make a note and then buy it later. I bought a Viola Concerto by Bruch recently that I would never have found any other way.

Have you any links for online classical radio stations?
I like to listen to Lyric FM the odd time but the ariel is broken on my car so the radio doesn't work to well.

seinfeld wrote:

I've always found that that reminds me of Damian - The Omen, which is a movie that really freaks me out.

It reminds me of the Omen too. Is the song actually used in that film? I don't think it is but it really should have been.

cookiemonster wrote:

As I said in the other thread, I adore Rachmaninoff.

I'm only familiar with the Piano Concertos. What else should I listen to?

cookiemonster wrote:

I'm also a big, big fan of Wagner. Die Meistersinger being my favourite of favourites.

*wanders out of thread shouting Wahn! Wahn! Uberall Wahn!...*

Is that an opera?

AfricanDave wrote:

seinfeld wrote:

I listen to a few online classical radio stations, and when I hear something I like, I make a note and then buy it later. I bought a Viola Concerto by Bruch recently that I would never have found any other way.

Have you any links for online classical radio stations?

http://www.listenlive.eu/classical.html

and this is all music, no chat:

http://www.avroklassiek.nl/

I'm a big classical fan. I can never decide who I like more, Bach or Paganini.

I'd recommend Bach's Lute Suite Prelude and Paganini's 24 Caprices.

johnfás wrote:

Any Bach Cantata is always very enjoyable. There have been some excellent performances in St Annes Church on Dawson Street in recent years.

I used to sing in a few choirs, should really get back into it, it is great fun. Singing at the National Concert Hall was a highlight, it carries a similar thrill to sporting events I have participated in. A trip to the Concert Hall is always enjoyable, whichever side of the stage.

I do love the NCH, I've not been there in ages though, must change that.

Ohhh...
http://www.nch.ie/Box-Office/Performances/Giants-of-Ragtime---Stride-Piano-(1).aspx?date=13/06/2008&time=1305

http://www.nch.ie/Box-Office/Performances/RTE-National-Symphony-Orchestra--The-Film-Music-of.aspx?date=20/06/2008&time=2000

OOOOOOH!

http://www.nch.ie/Box-Office/Performances/St--Petersburg-Philharmonic-Orchestra.aspx?date=07/10/2008&time=2000

I like loads of classical but I never know who it is or what it's called. I do know that I prefer the soft flowing violin stuff.

The music in the Amadeus movie was fantastic.

seinfeld wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

As I said in the other thread, I adore Rachmaninoff.

I'm only familiar with the Piano Concertos. What else should I listen to?

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, variations 16-17-18 being my favourtie.

Preludes Op. 23 No. 5 in G minor.

seinfeld wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

I'm also a big, big fan of Wagner. Die Meistersinger being my favourite of favourites.

*wanders out of thread shouting Wahn! Wahn! Uberall Wahn!...*

Is that an opera?

Tis.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like loads of classical but I never know who it is or what it's called. I do know that I prefer the soft flowing violin stuff.

That's the best part, first you find out who it is, then you pick up a CD for next to nothing, then you listen to everything they've ever composed and you hear so much more that you love.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

The music in the Amadeus movie was fantastic.

Mozart, funny enough... It's a great movie.

cookiemonster wrote:

..

Mozart, funny enough... It's a great movie.

I felt sorry for the other fellow, Saliari I think...was that his name Cookie ?
I must get that movie out again.

John Williams performs the Prelude to Bach's 4th. Lute Suite.



Itzhak Perlman performs the 1st, 5th and 24th Caprices from Paganini's 24 Caprices.

cookiemonster wrote:

Mozart, funny enough... It's a great movie.

Mozart does nothing for me. Its just doesn't challenge. It has no edge.

When I think of Mozart, I think of Tiger Woods.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I like loads of classical but I never know who it is or what it's called. I do know that I prefer the soft flowing violin stuff.

Mendelson might be your man

That's the composer, not the bete noir of Irish farmers.

That Bach piece by John Williams is incredible.

seinfeld wrote:

..

When I think of Mozart, I think of Tiger Woods.

That's quite a unique thought process you have there seinfeld

What was so completely different between Bach and Wolfie ? Maybe I shoukld go and listen to some and see for myself.

Good thread seinfeld. Auditor must be asleep again. That fellow is always asleep...

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

..

Mozart, funny enough... It's a great movie.

I felt sorry for the other fellow, Saliari I think...was that his name Cookie ?
I must get that movie out again.

Salieri, Antonio Salieri.

I'm going to have to go watch it again. I wouldn't call Mozart my favourite but I do find his music very enjoyable. It was the pop music of it's day and I do love a bit if decent pop.

Ah yes Salieri. He was brilliant himself, just got eclipsed by an unfortunate genius. These things happen.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

Ah yes Salieri. He was brilliant himself, just got eclipsed by an unfortunate genius. These things happen.

Mozart had better PR.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

seinfeld wrote:

..

When I think of Mozart, I think of Tiger Woods.

That's quite a unique thought process you have there seinfeld

What was so completely different between Bach and Wolfie ? Maybe I shoukld go and listen to some and see for myself.

I don't get any sense of personality from Mozart; its just pure music, whereas if I listen to Rachmaninov, its like the guy is in the room telling me a really weird but utterly compelling story.

seinfeld wrote:

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

seinfeld wrote:

..

When I think of Mozart, I think of Tiger Woods.

That's quite a unique thought process you have there seinfeld

What was so completely different between Bach and Wolfie ? Maybe I shoukld go and listen to some and see for myself.

I don't get any sense of personality from Mozart; its just pure music, whereas if I listen to Rachmaninov, its like the guy is in the room telling me a really weird but utterly compelling story.

Not in the room, in you body playing every nerve ending like the keys on a piano.