Recommended Listening from the Maestro Michael Morgan's CD Picks of Works Featured on the 2009-2010 Season
	If you would like to spend some time listening to the major works featured on our 2009-2010 season in preparation for hearing them performed live, here are some suggestions from Michael Morgan (in his own words). Most of these works are available at amazon.com. Click on the CD images to purchase CDs directly, or if you do not see an image, click here to purchase through amazon.com main page. OEBS receives a portion of the proceeds from your purchase.
		November 13, 2009
		Aida (1871) There are several great recordings of Aida available, but in the last couple of generations there has really been only one Aida - Leontyne Price. Either of her famous recordings is worth hearing. The recording with Solti conducting on London boasts Jon Vickers and Solti's singular (if not singularly Italian) conducting, while her recording on RCA with Leinsdorf conducting boasts a stunning array of singers. Candide (1956) Bernstein made a complete recording of Candide just before his death. Despite its excesses, it must be counted as the very best available. Manon One of the roles that made Beverly Sills a star was Manon. Her recording on EMI, conducted by Julius Rudel, is still the standard. The Ring Cycle (1869-1874) You might not want to buy the complete Ring (there are excerpts available on various recordings) but I would certainly recommend it. The recording to have is the legendary set conducted by Georg Solti with the Vienna Philharmonic and the most famous Wagner singers alive at the time. Lucia di Lammermoor (1835) Much as I can only recommend one soprano singing Aida, I can also only recommend one Lucia. That would be Maria Callas. There are live and studio recordings available. Decide whether you want the excitement of a live performance or the superior sound quality possible in a studio recording.
		January 22, 2010
		Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 38, "Prague" (1786) rendition I would suggest the always reliably good Sir Charles Mackerras with the Prague Chamber Orchestra on the Telarc label. But for a very spirited period instrument version, I would like to strongly recommend the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra conducted by Rene Jacobs on Harmonia Mundi. Aram Khachaturian Violin Concerto (1940) When you have a chance to hear a piece played by the performer for which it was written, that's where you go. David Oistrakh plays the piece with Khachaturian conducting on EMI.
		February 26, 2010
		Charles Ives - Symphony No. 2 (1909) Leonard Bernstein was responsible for rescuing Ives' Second Symphony from obscurity, and so it is his recording on Deutsche Grammophon with the New York Philharmonic that I recommend. As a bonus you get several other Ives gems. Duke Ellington Harlem (1952) Ellington's own performance of Harlem, with his orchestra, is available on the Pablo label. The orchestra version, more akin to what you will hear at the OEBS concert, has been recorded by Neeme Jarvi with the Detroit Symphony on the Chandos label.
		March 19 & 21, 2010
		Camille Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 "Organ Symphony" (1886) I'm going to recommend listening to the Charles Munch performance with the Boston Symphony on RCA. Munch was one of the most exciting conductors of the last century and doesn't get nearly his due. His performances of the French rep are always a revelation.
		April 16, 2010
		Richard Strauss Don Quixote (1897) I have no strong recommendation of one Don Quixote over all the others, and in that case I recommend someone I know. Steven Isserlis' playing is always worth hearing and usually takes a singular view of whatever piece he is presenting. So I am recommending his performance conducted by Lorin Maazel with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra on RCA. Additionally I remain a great fan of all the Strauss tone poems as recorded by conductor Rudolf Kempe. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 (1875) You should simply choose your favorite pianist and find his/her recording of this piece. I have always been fond of the performances of Emil Gilels with Reiner or Mehta conducting.
		May 14 & 16, 2010
		Ludwig Van Beethoven Symphony No. 9, "Choral" (1824) As usual with the Beethoven symphonies I recommend two performances with different approaches. The safe choice is still the old Szell and Cleveland Orchestra set during which you are unlikely to be offended. That is, if you can find it. Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players give the Beethoven symphonies a more historically informed reading (on Virgin Classics). Another underrated conductor of the Beethoven symphonies is David Zinman, who recorded them with his Tonhalle Orchestra (on Arts Nova). Jake Heggie The Deepest Desire: Four Meditations on Love (2002) There is a recording of Joyce DiDonato performing the original version of The Deepest Desire (which is for Mezzo, Flute, and Piano), and it is available on Eloquentia France.