Its quite mellow. I found it very relaxing to listen to.

I think I am going to be visiting my local library quite often in the next few months.

Speaking of relaxing discs, I've had this one from Hennie Bekker for some time, albeit with both different cover art and name, so it was tough to find the link, but that's the recording nonetheless.

For both my wife and I, it's been our "go to" classical disc for a few years now, really lush sounding. Just beautiful. Obviously the sample links don't do it justice, but you get the idea.

We've bought quite a number of classical CDs since, but just haven't enjoyed them near as much. Any recommendations for similarly produced music would be very much appreciated.

Krunch, I listened to the samples of the Bekker disc, and hopefully it's as you say that they don't "do it justice" since I didn't care for what I heard and certainly wouldn't recommend something "similarly produced". I noticed that Bekker has several other CDs available if you care for that approach.

You didn't give any examples of the classical CDs that you didn't enjoy as much, so it's a bit hard to make a suggestion that might be helpful. If relaxing is the main point, some of the French music by Debussy or Ravel comes to mind and maybe even more so if the harp is prominently involved. After all, that's what the angels will be playing for us(I was warned that in the other place it's non-stop play of The Best of Britney Spears). For one example, a very nice Debussy/Ravel collection by Nancy Allen is one that I often enjoy.

Thanks John. I did just spend a few minutes on Amazon listening to samples of his other works. Some are definitely more appealing than others. I'm not one for the nature sounds mixed in with the music.

Nancy's CD sounds very nice. I'll pick it up next time I order a few items from Amazon. Can I trouble you to point out some specific great Ravel recordings? I'll search the forums for previous references to them in the meantime.

Thanks again.

Edit: I found one of your posts from March discussing the Mobile Fideltiy Ravel SACD. Sounds good. There's two to order.

If you like relaxing to piano, Ravel and Debussy (and Liszt and Griffes) are represented on this disc which was recommended to me by Alan:

Amazon.com - "Water Music" of the Impressionists - Carol Rosenberger

I really like this recording. I'd say it's one of my best classical purchases, though I know it's not a steal from a price perspective.

Yes, if you're willing to splurge a bit, that Mobile Fidelity disc is exceptional. Now let me point out probably the biggest bargain available in Ravel, the 3-disc re-mastered set of the performances by Martinon of practically the entire Ravel orchestral output. Don't worry about duplication, of course.

Hey, I bought that Dvorak Cello Concerto disc, and I'm listening to it now. It's very cool so far. Thanks for the recommendation!

Yes, the Dvorak is great and the haunting nature of Schelomo is unforgetable.

Seeing the LA Phil this week has inspired me to dig out my classical disc again, and look for some more good stuff.

Here are some things I'm interested in finding REALLY good recording/performances of (hybrid SACD's would be a plus)

Beethoven's 7th symphony

The Tchaikovsky symphonies

Samuel Barber Adagio for Strings

something like the second movement(?) of Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 5 - a nice quiet piano concerto

Piano & Cello? Are there works specifically focused on these two instruments together?

That all sounds like good stuff to me.