Sunday, October 18, 1998BY JANELLE GELFAND
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Here's a list of 20 recommended recordings.
J.S. Bach, Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-3 or Nos. 4-6 (sold separately), Reinhardt Goebel, conductor; Musica Antiqua Cologne, (Deutsche Grammophon; $16.99 each). "It's turbo-charged!" -- Eric Hammer, former programming director, WGUC.
J.S. Bach, Glenn Gould Edition -- Bach: Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould, pianist (Sony Classical; $16.99). "It's electrifying." -- Simon Anderson, UC professor.
Beethoven, The Complete Beethoven Symphonies, John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Orchestre revolutionnaire et romantique -- the Revolutionary and Romantic Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon; $62.99, five CDs). "The Ninth is magnificent!" -- Mark Perzel, announcer, WGUC.
Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis, conductor (Philips; $16.99). -- Ted Libbey, The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection.
Brahms, Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (sold separately or as a box set of Brahms Orchestral Works), Berlin Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado, conductor (Deutsche Grammophon; $16.99 each or $47.99 box). -- Ted Libbey, The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection.
Chopin, The Chopin Collection: The Waltzes, Artur Rubinstein, pianist (RCA Victor; $16.99). "The waltzes give you a good feeling." -- the Rev. John Heim, Xavier Piano Series.
Aaron Copland, The Copland Collection: 1936-1948. Copland conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in his own best loved works, including Billy the Kid, Rodeo, Appalachian Spring and Lincoln Portrait (narrated by Henry Fonda). Benny Goodman plays the Concerto for Clarinet, Strings, Harp and Piano. Sony Classical, $33.99, three CDs). (Recommended by WGUC staff.)
Dvorak, Symphony No. 9, From the New World, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner, conductor (RCA Victor, $10.99) "It was instantly familiar; it's a miraculous piece of music." -- Kelly Wright, community relations director, WGUC.
Gershwin, Centennial Edition, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, conductor; William Tritt and Stewart Goodyear, pianists. Includes Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, Concerto for Piano in F, Cuban Overture and Suite from Porgy and Bess (Telarc; $27.99, two CDs). "Probably THE greatest American composer. A rousing and inspiring performance." -- Richard Eiswerth, general manager, WGUC.
Gustav Holst, The Planets, the Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan, conductor. (Deutsche Grammophon; $16.99.) "I still relish the many nights I've spent cuddled up on the couch with my wife. Lights out . . . Candles burning . . . Holst on the stereo." -- Richard Eiswerth, general manager, WGUC.
Mahler, Symphony No. 1, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein, conductor (Deutsche Grammophon; $16.99). -- Bill Parker, Building a Classical Music Library.
Mozart, Piano Concertos No. 19, K. 459 and No. 23, K. 488, the English Chamber Orchestra, Murray Perahia, pianist - conductor (CBS Masterworks; $16.99). "The Mozart concertos exemplify the purity of the child within us." -- Pianist Elizabeth Pridonoff, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music faculty member.
Pauline Oliveros, Oliveros: Deep Listening (New Albion, $16.99) "For those interested in meditative music." -- Mara Helmuth, director of the electronic and computer music studio at CCM.
Carl Orff, Carmina Burana, Riccardo Muti, Philharmonia Orchestra. (EMI Classics; $16.99) "Whenever I'm in the mood for pillaging, plundering, or bacchanalian excesses, this is the music I turn to." -- Richard Eiswerth, general manager, WGUC.
Puccini, La Boheme, Sir Thomas Beecham, conductor; with Jussi Bjoerling, Victoria de los Angeles, Robert Merrill. (EMI, $31.99) "It's a CD any opera lover should have. It's obviously a popular opera, but the reason I like it is because of Bjoerling and De los Angeles. It is sung very, very beautifully." -- Nicholas Muni, Cincinnati Opera artistic director.
Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf narrated by Sting, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Claudio Abbado, conductor (Deutsche Grammophon, $16.99.) "What's fabulous is not so much Sting, as everything else on this album. It's a good way to sample Prokofiev." -- Carmon DeLeone, conductor, Cincinnati Ballet and the Middletown Symphony and host of Sunday Morning Music Hall on WRRM-FM (98.5).
Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring, the Israel Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein, conductor. Includes Petrushka, the Firebird Suite and Symphony in Three Movements. (Deutsche Grammophon, $19.99, 2 CDs.) "If you like The Rite of Spring, this has a lot of other Stravinsky to fall in love with." -- Naomi Lewin, announcer, WGUC.
Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, conductor (Telarc; $14.99) "Everyone has to have an 1812 Overture, and this one is a classic." -- CSO associate conductor John Morris Russell.
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 6, Pathetique, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Erich Leinsdorf, conductor (Seraphim, $3.99) "It's just overpowering." -- Simon Anderson, UC professor.
Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, the English Chamber Orchestra, Nigel Kennedy, violinist (EMI Classics, $16.99) "This is the recording for people bored with the usual." -- Anthony Rudel, Classical Music Top 40.
