Most beautiful pieces in classical music ?

Another vote for Canteloube's Songs of the Auvergne, especially when sung by Natania Davrath (Vanguard/Philips release). 

I'll add Vivaldi's Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera, Comfort Ye from Handel's Messiah, the Adagio from Mahler's Fifth Symphony, and this Rossini's Stabat Mater:

Beethoven's sonata no.32, Arieta,

Richard Strauss's Four last songs, by Elizabeth Schwarzkopf

Grieg's Holberg Suite.

Gerald finzi - Eclogue for piano and strings.

Elgar - Violin Concerto.

         - Nimrod.

Mahler - Adagio Symphony 6.

Oooh..  I missed off Dawn from Benjamin Britten's Sea Interludes, and probably another hundred other beautiful pieces, that I could recall given the time...

1990. - quite oldish performance but really wonderful.

There are several fresh winds; totally another approaches.

Herreweghe's disc from 1998. a 'New Early Music Style' Bach Messe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC9xE_StZ3I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNXPp2iCDt0

Many Ravel works and Stravinsky's Firebird, I have the full score with amorphous sections then build into magical passages.

Many Mahler works

Respighi - Ancient Airs and Dances - Karajan / Berlin Philharmoniker

Mozart - Requiem - Neville Marriner / Academy of St.Martins-in-the-fields

If you like 'outstanding sound quality' - just try it.

Naim sound here: more than perfect.

This is in my mind the finest rendition of the last 4 songs that I have heard, totally brilliant.......

Vivaldi again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-98A2QNFYWc

Dido's Lament from a live recording made in 1951 at the Mermaid Theatre in London with Flagstad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFMkSf8I2bE&feature=related

I think that this shows the difference between live performance and studio rather well as HMV recorded the production in the studio at the time. I have the studio recording, but this is something so heart-breakingly beautiful!

ATB from George

Yes, and shows the early-style-performance of Early Music.

Otherwise, really beautiful.

Dear Chords,

There are times when no amount of consideration of period style can count against a performance. This gets the thrust of it just right, even if the means would not be what the composer anticipated. 

I used to have the recording of Anna Sofie von Otter, which is probably closer stylistically, though there is a double bass in the orchestra, and Purcell certainly would not have expect one at the time, but it as a child compared to the wisdom and direct communication shown in this still "authentic" old recording from what must have been an unforgettable performance series for those lucky enough to have attended.

ATB from George

George,

you are absolutely right.

Theese old recordings twist Early Music to the romantic/classic style standing performer to the centre making real pleasure via her voice/personality/etc.

Some of new records turn Early Music to 'more historic' or 'almost jazzy' direction keeping music in the centre.

My favourite example is Pachelbel's Canon.

Best-known version is similar to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wpPk8qk3uQ

The real 'Early Music' version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KM_fXbQsUM

Many classical lovers prefer the first; I recommend the second version.

And the complete CD of course - outstanding music.

Having been brought up with Janet Baker's rendition, nothing else really does it for me.  A bit like listening to Elgar's Cello Concerto played by anyone other than Jaqueline Du Pré.

Dear Chords,

I very much prefer the stylish HIP performance of the Pachelbel that you posted! I have a marvelous CD of Musica Antiqua Koln playing many Sarabands and Chaconnes and they are rivetingly great performances! And all rare music from such as Muffat and Lully, and of course Purcell.

The CD is titled "Chaconne" and is on DG Archive.

ATB from George

Yes, I know well.

I have to say that there are quite many others on the horizont; although M.A. changed a lot, they never reach the level of Italian/Iberian/French performers.

Maybe it's a theoretical/approaching question - I don't know.

There is Chaconne from the famous 'Armonia Artificioso' works of Biber; pls taste M.A. and a 'Rare Fruits Council'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n0asX8RrvY&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLF81C2D08BB292FC0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9wKFH6qJ10&feature=related

Dear Chords,

It is fascinating to consider who our favourite musicians are in the old repertoire!

For example I really like, no even more than like, the music making of Trevor Pinnock especially in Handel, and Bach.

One of my real heroes in the Brandenburg Concertos is HM Linde, and I have three contrasted recordings of them from Adolf Busch [1935], Mogens Woldike [1950/53], and Hans Martin Linde from about 1980. In reality all are far from being romanticised performances, though obviously each shows a development in the approach toward HIP. 

Another favourite ensemble of mine is the Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment, whom I have on CDs playing the Violin Concertos, and Violin Concerto reconstructions of JS Bach. I find these among the most enjoyable of the recordings of Bach that I have ever had.

ATB from George

I found the Flagstad recording much too pedestrian, far too funereal.  I much prefer Jesse Norman's version which maintains the sombre and solemn essence of the music without straining. 

I'll just get me coat..........

Dear Steve,

Think of the date, think of the traditions that were then current.

Flagstad lived in Norway under occupation as she felt this was correct even though she made no progress in her career there, whereas had she stayed in the USA or been in the UK she could have been a dominant figure in music. 

The players and conductor certainly understood the terrible times only a decade earlier.

The sense of the funerial in this case is apt. "Remember me, but ah, not my Fate!"

Sometimes there is nodal point in time where no amount of stylish [HIP] study can make up for the feeling of the moment. Perhaps the appreciation of such moments is only to survive while those remotely connected still survive ...

Don't get your coat and leave, but simply remember how much such recorded marvels can mean to those who either knew it directly or knew people they admired who were there in this or that guise.

Perhaps Flagstad's Purcell will eventually fall below the RADAR, but not quite yet! Please don't bury me before I stop breathing.

ATB from George 

A fair point well made George.

Steve T

George,

Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment is really good.

But composers before Bach - highly recommended. More living and involving music.

Do you know Frescobaldi? There are several outstanding CDs; but my recommendation is the new generation. Their style is amazing; fresh wind to the nowaday's fresh air.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ujSklL-Qeo&feature=related