What are you listening to?

[bombasticDarren]

Hi Darren,

Very good to hear from you again... pleased you haven't abandoned us, but please don't sell anything off that you might later regret. I do put CDs on ebay, but they nearly always fall into 2 categories; CDs I have repurchased as part of larger box sets, or CDs where I have a number of versions of a piece, and this happens to be my least favourite. I liken my collection to a large bush... I keep pruning back little bits in order that they may grow back stronger and more perfectly formed, to the extent that my collection is now the most precious thing I own.

anyway, I wish you continued happiness....

PS Guys, I am going to Wales for the weekend very shortly, back Sun PM... so I will be off-line till then. Have a great weekend's listening!

Thanks to Jared, Sean and Fergus for their messages.

I am not being rash, although I agree it is a pretty radical move to make. I think I've reached the point now where purchasing the 6th set of - for example- the Liszt PCs is not improving where I am as a CM fan. So paring back my collection to recordings, or works, that are truly indispensible to me is a good way to a) save money and, b), save space. I think I know what I like now and which performers I like. New purchases will be new works or performances from my favoured artistes (Jeggy springs to mind). I am really comfortable with what I am doing and I may regret the odd loss to my collection; but that's life....

What IS difficult is the reduction of LvB symphony cycles - I may yet keep them all. As a starting point the essentials are:-

Gardiner, Krivine, Karajan (DG, 1960s), Mackerras (Hyperion), Zinman, Harnoncourt, Szell, Bruggen and Colin Davis

On the maybe pile are:-

Immerseel, Cluytens, Barenboim

I am keeping 2 Mahler cycles - Bernstein (Sony) and Kubelik - and also 1 of each symphony as a stand alone disk. My JEG Bach disks are taking pride of place at the moment. They are lined up nicely in order and I admit that having some order to my collection also appeals strongly.

Slowly but surely my CDs are being returned to my room so I should be back soon.

I had the pleasure of Carmina Burana and Symphony of Psalms at the RFH last week, so I am keeping the flag flying in other ways :)

[fergus]

You have obviously thought about what you are doing Darren and I think that you, in your situation, have come up with a good solution for you and I wish you well with that once again. Two things strike me on reading the above post and the first is that although I agree that we tend to sometimes overdo the number of interpretations that we may own of any given work my own personal experience is that over time tastes do change, sometimes significantly, so that what we may like today may not be what we may like tomorrow and vice versa. You are a relatively young man so that may be something that you may want to consider for some of your works. On the contrary side of that I can also see that what you are doing may also focus your listening and therefore your enjoyment of what is left.
I am delighted to read however that JSB is still in pride of place!!

[Seán]

You have obviously thought about what you are doing Darren and I think that you, in your situation, have come up with a good solution for you and I wish you well with that once again. Two things strike me on reading the above post and the first is that although I agree that we tend to sometimes overdo the number of interpretations that we may own of any given work my own personal experience is that over time tastes do change, sometimes significantly, so that what we may like today may not be what we may like tomorrow and vice versa. You are a relatively young man so that may be something that you may want to consider for some of your works.

Well said and I agree; I hope that Darren does not come to regret selling on his CDs.

I am delighted to read however that JSB is still in pride of place!!

Fergus, I had a feeling that you might be pleased with Darren's statement on JSB.

[Seán]

I am not being rash, although I agree it is a pretty radical move to make. I think I've reached the point now where purchasing the 6th set of - for example- the Liszt PCs is not improving where I am as a CM fan. So paring back my collection to recordings, or works, that are truly indispensible to me is a good way to a) save money and, b), save space. I think I know what I like now and which performers I like. New purchases will be new works or performances from my favoured artistes (Jeggy springs to mind). I am really comfortable with what I am doing and I may regret the odd loss to my collection; but that's life....

What IS difficult is the reduction of LvB symphony cycles - I may yet keep them all. As a starting point the essentials are:-

Gardiner, Krivine, Karajan (DG, 1960s), Mackerras (Hyperion), Zinman, Harnoncourt, Szell, Bruggen and Colin Davis

On the maybe pile are:-

Immerseel, Cluytens, Barenboim

Oh do keep the Cluyten cycle.

I am keeping 2 Mahler cycles - Bernstein (Sony) and Kubelik - and also 1 of each symphony as a stand alone disk.

I wouldn't part with any of mine.

My JEG Bach disks are taking pride of place at the moment. They are lined up nicely in order and I admit that having some order to my collection also appeals strongly.

As well they might.

Slowly but surely my CDs are being returned to my room so I should be back soon.

That's good news.

[Jared]

I hope that you have a great weekend Jared. I had many pleasant trips to North Wales in the past including one with my then five year old daughter who would accept nothing less than walking up Snowdon....which she duly did, and back!
My only problem with Wales is our inability to beat their National Rugby team on a regular basis which is further exacerbated by the fact that we consistently beat them at club level!

Fergus, I used to live half way up Snowdon (!?) and can attest to the levels of stamina required in conquering the beast... for a 5 year old to do it, really is a magnificent achievement (even if she did need a little carry!) On this occasion however, I went to Swansea to see some friends, Penllergaer Woods on Saturday, Swansea Docks this morning... there is a picture on my Facebook Page.

Likewise, the Welsh have been thorns in our Rugby team's side for a long time now, so am unable to take the moral high-ground here!

To thread duty however... in the car there and back, I have immersed myself in this beautiful double disk:



a natural next choice for me, because I have all of HC's John Taverner disks, besides Sheppard by McCreesh and The Sixteen... this includes the sumptuous 'Western Wynde Mass', of which I'm happy to have another version...

[Jared]

Really enjoyed this discovery in my Decca Sound Box Set:


Might see if it is obtainable on vinyl... ;)

That Bruch Violin Concerto is a lovely piece indeed Claus and I am delighted that you have discovered it. Because you have enjoyed it you may also find the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto equally rewarding if you are not already aware of it.

Not sure whether Fergus had this in mind, but you may be interested to know that the re-issue of this benchmark, Decca Legends recording, also contained her version of the Mendelssohn VC... a combined disk well worth owning:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-Bru ... ohn+violin

and all for under a fiver!

[Jared]

I thought that it was delightful; it was well sung (as expected) and the accompaniment was very sensitive to the singer. It was a real bargain indeed....much obliged!

Thank you Fergus.... I have it on the shelf, and will listen to it in due course, side by side with the Haydn set which has arrived. I have been listening to more and more Romantic era German Lieder/ Song of late, and it will be interesting to hear some German songs from a slightly earlier period than Brahms, Schumann and even Schubert.... I am convinced they were sets worth investing in...

[Jared]

I am keeping 2 Mahler cycles - Bernstein (Sony) and Kubelik - and also 1 of each symphony as a stand alone disk.

Funnily enough, this is my own position with Mahler... I own the Solti & Kubelik cycles (very different), then 1 of each as a standalone... I'm happy with this. Indeed, there are so few pieces of music I own more than 2 versions of, that I could probably write you a short list. This is as we have said, because of a lack of money and space... but also because my tastes have become quite varied, with a sizeable collection of Renaissance Music.

Although I love Mahler, I will never be quite as enthused as Sean; Bach/ Fergus, LvB/ You, Purcell/ Simon, Handel/ Pepe... so, I'll never have lots of sets or versions of the same piece. Guess I'm a musical omnivore... ;-)

[Jared]

Slowly but surely my CDs are being returned to my room so I should be back soon.

That's good news.

Indeed so... we all miss you when you're not around...

[Claus]

That Bruch Violin Concerto is a lovely piece indeed Claus and I am delighted that you have discovered it. Because you have enjoyed it you may also find the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto equally rewarding if you are not already aware of it.

Not sure whether Fergus had this in mind, but you may be interested to know that the re-issue of this benchmark, Decca Legends recording, also contained her version of the Mendelssohn VC... a combined disk well worth owning:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-Bru ... ohn+violin

and all for under a fiver!

The Medelssohn is indeed on the disk! And it is also brilliant. I saw the vinyl on discogs on sale in UK for around a tenner. Not bad value... But of course only has the Bruch... :)