... Ahhh, a lot of getting up to change sides!
But I wish my half-century-old classical vinyl was still playable. Sadly, due to youth, ceramic cartridges and, probably, blunt styli, it is not.
I doubt that I'll build either a vinyl or a CD collection of W classical ever again, but, I have (with recent reawakening of enjoyment) bought some FLAC downloads from eclassical.com. High res available, too.
No need to understand it. Just enjoy.
Actually, that's my approach to music in general
If you do want to understand more, there is a wonderful series of lectures, which I learnt about here on HFV...
Prof Craig Wright,Yale University, Listening to Music.
...Brilliant, and thoroughly enjoyable.
one of my favourites too. was wondering how nobody had mentioned it yet until i saw your postI wonder why no body mentioned Vivaldi-The Four Seasons. One of my favorite. Please listen Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Jonathan Carney. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Pachelbel: Canon; Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3
Vivaldi's Quattro Stagioni can indeed be a stepping stone to Western Classical for a novice, and then continue to be a favorite forever.one of my favourites too. was wondering how nobody had mentioned it yet until i saw your post
All Mahler leaves you spellbound.
Completely agree with you! A great conductor some of his performances remain benchmark versions!All Mahler leaves you spellbound.
I just recovered enough to reflect upon the fact that when Claudio Abbado was conducting his band of young genius musicians, he was terminal with stomach cancer. Multiple surgeries had left him without a way to eat normally. He was in constant pain, and a rubber tube hidden under his clothes that poured food directly into his intestine.
A whole lifetime of tribute is not enough for his talent/contribution.
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suites would also fall in this category - I mean as a stepping stone that remains a favourite even as you explore more complex compositions.Vivaldi's Quattro Stagioni can indeed be a stepping stone to Western Classical for a novice, and then continue to be a favorite forever.
Here is one of my favorite versions, conducted by Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert, Simon Standage doing the honors on violin.
Although you cannot go wrong with the 4 Seasons. I have a total 7 versions of them on physical media
Vivaldi's Quattro Stagioni can indeed be a stepping stone to Western Classical for a novice, and then continue to be a favorite forever.
Here is one of my favorite versions, conducted by Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert, Simon Standage doing the honors on violin.
Although you cannot go wrong with the 4 Seasons. I have a total 7 versions of them on physical media
Thanks to @SEANDSILVA and @Lizard King for reviving this thread
What, in the opinion of you connoisseurs, is the best version of Stravinsky's Rites of Spring, Ravel's Bolero?
Something like that was my introduction too. Helmut Walcha was the organist. I was much younger though, about 13. I was lent that record by a neighbour lady along with the pastoral.My introduction to classical music was when I was around 18 years old, and a very intense teenager. I was lent this LP of J S Bach's fugues and organ pieces. I put it on late one night, when my parents were not at home, and I was hooked. The cadence of changes and variations was better than any intoxicant! The piece "Passacaglia and fugue in C minor" remains a favourite as I reach my retirement years!