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Your
Desert Island Discs...
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YOU
ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT
YOUR 10 CLASSICAL DESERT ISLAND DISCS
Many
years ago I drove a small French car and in it was a valve radio
which gave a lot of listening pleasure. On Saturday mornings
I used to listen to the BBC and their program "Desert Island
Discs". Every time a person, who was more or less a celebrity,
made you contemplate what would be your own selection of ten
discs to take with you when going into seclusion. You may have
had a similar experience.
If
you are a celebrity or not, here is the chance to list your
desert island discs. And you may add comments.
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Your
list of 10 classical analog LPs is welcome and I will publish
them on this page. Your choice may inspire others to broaden their
scope. If you want to add your e-mail address for others to correspond,
you are free to do so. It is not an obligation.
Send
your selection of classical LPs by clicking on the button below.
You may add an explanation why this is your personal choice. Jazz
will follow later. 
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| Submitted
by: Stephen R. Waldee - Manager, Roper Piano Studio,
San Jose, California, USA. (retired classical music broadcaster,
programmer, and radio engineer) |
| 1.
JERGER: Salzburg Court & Baroque Music, Wilhelm
Jerger cond. the Bamberger Symphoniker, Mace LP. Charming
neoclassical music in much the same spirit as Respighi's
"Ancient Dances and Airs for Lute" suites, but
with a heartier and more florid orchestral transcription |
| 2.
VISKI: Enigma - Symphonic Poem. Hungarian State Orchestra,
Gyula Nemeth, Mace LP. This work has some of the flavor
of Kodaly and early Bartok, with dark orchestration, a lushness
of style and mood, and heady drama that are very compelling. |
3.
PONCHIELLI: Quartet for Piano and Winds. DI Bonaventura,
piano/Philadelphia Woodwind Quintet, Columbia LP or Sony
CD. If a piece of classical music could actually make one
laugh, this is it! Yet it has a charm and lyricism right
out of the bel canto opera style that make it more
memorable, for me, than most of Ponchielli's other serious
achievements. |
| 4.
MAGNARD: Symphony No. 3, OSR/Ansermet - London Lp.
None of the modern digital performances of this piece can
touch Ansermet and his orchestra for poetry and insight:
a most moving experience, and my first choice of all my
treasures in the Ansermet discography. |
5.
SCHOECK: Violin Concerto. Lehmann, vn./Zürcher
Orchestra/de Stoutz. Mace LP. I prefer this performance
to all others currently available, as it has greater emotional
intensity, surpassing even the dedicatee's own recording,
that of Stefi Geyer. The work deserves to be included in
the
first rank of popular concerti for violin but is almost
totally unknown to concertgoers. |
6.
SCHMIDT: Four Symphonies; Radio Bratislava, Rajter.
Opus CD. Ludovic Rajter seems unique among modern conductors
who have recorded the pieces, in his ability to combine
probing seriousness with lush relaxation. Although there
are excellent performances by Mehta, Jaervi,
and Welser-Most, I turn to Rajter's cycle most often. |
7.
BIZET: Fair Maid of Perth - Suite. LPO, Beecham.
World Record Club LP. This 1934 recording has amazing vividness,
nascent high fidelity; and Beecham's performance is the
epitome of Gallic wit and taste. No CD transfer has yet
equaled the work done by Anthony C. Griffith and issued
on LP by WRC. This performance, and its recording, summarize
the remarkable and historic qualities of TB and his hand-picked
orchestra. |
8.
ELGAR: Wand of Youth Suites; LPO/Van Beinum. Decca Eclipse
and earlier LP issues. In the postwar period, Van Beinum
continued to draw the same freshness and delicacy from the
LPO that Beecham had evoked in the orchestra's first years.
These performances surpass even the composer's own, as well
as later ones by Boult and down into the current digital
era. Here is the moving, childlike simplicity that Elgar
sought nostalgically to recreate, done in absolute perfection.
Sadly, a once-available CD reissue was not made directly
from the Decca master and
is inferior to the first vinyl releases, now rarities. |
| 9.
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Old King Cole ballet suite. LPO,
Boult: Decca recording, on Belart CD reissue. The original
ffrr recordings of British music, done by Sir Adrian shortly
after his enforced retirement from the BBC, have remarkable
energy and spontaneity, and often surprisingly satisfying
though monaural sound. This one is my favorite of a large
group of excellent contenders. |
10.
BLISS: Things to Come - Suite. LSO, Bliss - Living
Stereo or Decca LPs, Belart CD. The composer's own 1957
stereo recording has much of the immediacy and sense of
excitement of the performance from the 1935 film's original
soundtrack, but immeasurably better sound. While Bernard
Herrmann turns the piece into an almost Wagnerian apotheosis
of bleakness, Bliss's
own treatment is driving and intensely kinetic, and not
as portentous. |
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| Submitted
by: Laurence Howell - December 14th, 2005 - Great
Britain |
| 1.
BACH: Violin Sonatas and Partitas, Arthur Grumiaux,
3LP on Philips. |
| 2.
FRANCK and GRIEG: Violin Sonatas, Arthur Grumiaux
and István Hajdu, on Philips. |
| 3.
SHOSTAKOVITCH: Symphony No. 11, Moscow Philharmonic
conducted by Kyril Kondrashin, ASD. |
| 4.
BACH: Suite No. 1 and 3 for Unaccompanied Cello, Daniel
Shafran, on Melodia. |
| 5.
PROKOFIEV: Symphony No. 5, Czech Philharmonic conducted
by Ladislav Slovak on Supraphon. |
| 6.
PROKOFIEV and RAVEL: Concerto No. 1 and For the Left
Hand, Andrei Gavrilov on ASD. |
| 7.
BARTOK: String Quartet no 4, Julliard Quartet (1952
recording) on Philips. |
| 8.
MOZART: Violin Concertos No. 4 and 5, Christian Ferras
on Classics for Pleasure. |
| 9.
BEETHOVEN: Concerto for Violin, Christian Ferras.
This is the early version with Sargent and RPO, Pathé
Marconi. |
| 10.
SCHUBERT: Piano Sonatas 13 and 20, André Krust,
on French Harmonia Mundi. |
| Comment:
My last choice is a good example of what is so rewarding
in collecting Vinyl, unearthing great Artists of the last
Century that are sadly long forgotten. |
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| Submitted
by: Rudolf A. Bruil - December 1st 2005 - Netherlands |
| 1.
BACH: Hohe Messe - Münchinger - Decca SET |
| 2.
MOZART: Piano Concerto KV 271, 'Jeunehomme' - Ingrid
Haebler + Witold Rowicki - Philips (if you permit me I will
take Haebler's complete recordings with Witold Rowicki,
Colin Davis and Alceo Galiera) |
| 3.
BEETHOVEN: String Quartet Op. 18 No. 2 - Quartetto
Italiano - Philips (I take the liberty to take the whole
box with me) |
| 4.
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 4 - Conrad Hansen/Wilhelm
Furtwängler - Ariston |
| 5.
MAHLER: Symphony No. 3 - Leonard Bernstein/New York
Philharmonic - CBS 72065/66 |
| 6.
SIBELIUS: Violin Concerto - Christian Ferras/Herbert
Von Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker - DGG SLPM 138 961 |
| 7.
BARTOK: Concerto for Orchestra - Eugene Ormandy conducting
the Philadelphia Orchestra - Columbia ML 4973 |
| 8.
RACHMANINOFF: Symphonies - Walter Weller, L' Orchestre
de la Suisse-Romande/London Philharmonic Orchestra - Decca
D9D3 |
| 9.
FAVOURITE VIOLIN PIECES -
Romano Rubato (Nap de Klijn, violin) and Bianca Ritorno
(Alice Heksch, piano) playing Provost, Ponce, Winternitz,
Heuberger, Von Vecsey, Brandl and Espéjo
- Philips S 06024 R |
| 10.
GRANADOS: 12 Spanish Dances - Thomas Rajna, piano
- Crd 1021 (not the Pro Arte CD) |
| Comment:
Münchinger's Mass received less praise compared to
his St. Matthew, but it is a very impressive performance
of an impressive work. Bernstein's Mahler is very human.
For me Ferras and Karajan gave the perfect performance of
the Sibelius and I have the bonus of a strong Finlandia.
Weller's is a powerful Rachmaninoff. Romano Rubato (Nap
de Klijn) and Bianca Ritorno (Alice Heksch) playing Provost,
Ponce, Winternitz, Heuberger, Von Vecsey, Brandl and Espéjo
are just perfect and human. And so is Thomas Rajna. If Spanish
Dance No. 2, 'Oriental', is my favorite when played by Alicia
de Laroccha, just listen to Spanish Dance No. 11, 'Arabesca',
played by Thomas Rajna. Although I did choose my selection
very carefully in view of being deprived of the rest of
my collection, I may decide to go to a different island
and choose a different lot. |
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| Submitted
by: Menno Baron May 22, 2006 - Netherlands |
1.
ARNOLD SCHöNBERG: Serenade for Seven Instruments
& Bass Voice, op. 24
The light fantastic players, Daniel Shulman, conductor.
Nonesuch.
This is an incredible recording of great modern music. |
2.
EDGAR VARèSE: Offrandes/Intégrales/Octandre/Ecuatorial
The Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Arthur Weisberg, conductor.
Nonesuch.
Also fantastic recordings of beautiful pieces by this important
composer. |
3.
ANTON WEBERN: Sämtliche Werke für Streichquartett/Complete
Works for String Quartet.
Quartetto Italiano. Philips.
It is as though they play in your room ! And a very good
cover photo of the players. |
4.
THE NEW MUSIC VOL. TWO - Victrola:
Boulez, Haubenstock-Ramati, Maderna, Rome Symphony orchestra,
Bruno Maderna conducting. RCA Victrola.
The concerto for oboe and chamber orchestra by Maderna is
a very nice and
friendly modern work by this composer who died much too
young. |
5.
OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Oiseaux exotiques, Reveil des oiseaux,
La Bouscarle.
Supraphon, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Vaclav Neumann,
conductor, Yvonne Loriod
piano. Suprahon.
Also a very beautiful modern word by this amazing composer.
You can actually
hear the birds wake up. An ornothologist would probably
recognise the birds.
Very good recordings for Supraphon. |
6.
LUTOSLAWSKI: Concerto for orchestra / HINDEMITH:
Symphony 'Matis der Maler',
l'orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Paul Kletzki. Decca.
The concerto for orchestra is a powerful piece. Great recordings
by Decca. |
7.
HINDEMITH: Violin Concerto / BRUCH: Scottish
Fantasia,
London Symphony Orchestra, Paul Hindemith and Jascha Horenstein,
conductors, David
Oistrach, violin. Decca.
I consider the Hindemith concerto as one of the greatest
20th century violin
concerto's. This is the best possible performance and recording. |
8.
BéLA BARTóK: Divertimento for Strings
/ IGOR STRAWINSKY: Concerto for strings
in D, Dumbarton Oaks,
The Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Edmond de Stoutz,
conductor. Vanguard Stereolab. |
9.
ARVO PäRT: Tabula Rasa, Fratres, Cantus,
Gidon Kremer (in Fratres). Staatsorchester Stuttgart. Dennis
Russel Davies, conductor. ECM New Series.
Beautiful pieces and very good recordings. Music for people
who like
spiritual new music. |
10.
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto no. 1,
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta conductor, Arthur
Rubinstein, piano. Decca.
Incredible what a power this man (Rubinstein) still has
at such an old age !
Perfect recording and performance of my favourite pianoconcerto.
Decca. |
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| Submitted
by: Raanan Eylon - June 4, 2008 - Israel |
| 1.
DINU LIPATTI: Last Recital - Angel. |
| 2.
GEORGES ENESCO: Bach Complete Sonatas and Partitas -
Olympic. |
| 3.
MARCEL MULE: Saxophone Quartet - London. |
| 4.
BUSCH TRIO playing Brahms,Beethoven - Odyssey. |
| 5.
DVORAK: Cello concerto-Casals Szell -1936 - References. |
| 6.
ANTOLOGIA DE LA ZARZUELE - Escala. |
| 7.
A CONCERT IN THE WHITE HOUSE: Casals, Schneider, Horszowski. |
| 8.
BRAHMS: Clarinet Quintet - Kell, Busch - References. |
| 9.
Bracha Zefira and Nahum Nardi - CBS. |
| 10.
Conchita Supervia in Song - OASI. |
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| Submitted
by: Bert Dekkers - December 28, 2009 - Netherlands |
| 1.
MAURICE RAVEL: Maurice Ravel - L'enfant et les sortileges
- Lorin Maazel DGG - The fairest of all fairy-tales. |
| 2.
ANTONIN DVORAK / JOSEF SUK: Serenades For Strings -
Karl Munchinger Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra - Decca –
Only if there is a very good stereo set on location. |
| 3.
MAURICE RAVEL / CLAUDE DEBUSSY: String Quartets –
Quartetto Italiano - Philips |
| 4.
GUSTAV MAHLER: Second Symphony “Resurrection”
- LSO, Georg Solti – Decca |
| 5.
IGOR STRAVINSKY: Le Sacre du Printemps - Philharmonia
Orchestra – Igor Markevich – HMV, now Testament |
| 6.
ALBERT ROUSSEL / HENRI DUTILLEUX: Suite en fa / 2e symphonie
“Le Double” - Lamoureux Orchestre – Charles
Munch – Erato |
| 7.
GEORG FRIEDERICH HANDEL: Messiah – LSO – Colin
Davis – Philips – Recorded/produc ed by Harold
Lawrence (1966) |
| 8.
GEORGE GERSHWIN: Porgy and Bess (1959 soundtrack) -
Philips / CBS - Musical director Andre Previn |
| 9.
DARIUS MILHAUD / JEAN FRANCAIX / GEORGES AURIC / ERIC SATIE:
Le Boeuf sur le toit / Concerto / Ouverture / Parade –
LSO – Antal Dorati - Mercury / Philips |
| 10.
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG / ALBAN BERG / ANTON WEBERN: Neue
Wiener Schule: Die Streichquartte – LaSalle Quartet
– The whole box, please. - DGG |
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