My Interest in Classical Music.

I love Vaughan Williams, including Lark, though it seems to be all you hear of his these days. His 'Norfolk Rhapsodies' and 'In the Fen Land' are wonderful, evocative pieces, and of course, the 'English Folk Song Suite', which always cheers me up. There could not have been many who doubted that the young cellist would win last night; I've seldom seen anyone so composed. But what competition! Must have been a judging nightmare.

I don't know about you, but watching such astounding young achievers as those we see in the final of the Young Musician contest (and I detest the competitive aspect) leaves me an emotional mess, all tissues and snot...

Yes, Laura van der Heijden was frighteningly good, and Charlotte, the recorder virtuoso was not only extraordinary by so elegant! Where else can you see a really elegant 16-year-old?

Ah well, nothing to compare with Britain is Tainted - sorry Has Talent, I suppose...

I am not at all 'au fait' with classical music but there are some pieces that I have heard and that I do enjoy. My music education is dreadful! I cannot sing having been put off when laughed at as a child when having to audition for a choir! Never got the chance to learn a musical instrument nor ever learned to read music! Both my parents could and did sing around the house, they loved their contemporary music ( inc. lots of jazz) and that was what was on in the house all the time. I have only been to the opera once (Marriage of Figaro) which I quite enjoyed but I have not gone back!

My mother (yes, she of the rubber gloves and clean dusters) was a gifted musician, with perfect pitch etc, and I got pushed into playing things. I played viola in the local city youth orchestra, and if you can play viola and read the different clefs, you can play the other strings, (and have a go at piano too) so I could fill in at cello, but adored double bass, which I played in a jazz band, much to my mother's horror. I was good, but apart from the jazz band, didn't have a gift. I loved playing about with the viola / violin / cello and improvising with friends, but the formal stuff bored me rigid. Love listening to serious music, though. And the rest.

I have occasionally picked up a violin or something, at a Young Musicians competition, and can wangle a few lines of music, but the force feeding spoilt it all. I think. La la la ...

The first piece of music that I remember really liking was the theme tune to 'Listen with Mother'. I hadn't even started school at the time and I didn't know what it was called until years later, but it is still a favourite - from Faure's Dolly Suite. Some pieces just spark you; and one piece leads to another. I can't sing either, nanaej - I really wish I could. I am learning to play the piano. I'm not very good at it, but I love to listen to those who are!

perhaps it is my lack of musical skill made me dislike the film 'The Piano' so much!!!

I was spoiled rotten at age 19-21 because I was a student in Vienna, living with a family who subscribed to the opera and concerts. Back then, 1965-67, it was expected that anyone who had tickets but couldn't use them, had to give them to a student they knew. I was the only student quite a lot of people knew, so i got to go to all the stuff they wouldn't or couldn't go to. The first was Porgy and Bess - too American or perhaps not posh enough for the subscribers, but it was so very good. There were lots more, and also the operetta: this was good because they often changed the words to reflect contemporary issues, especially politics. The Student prince was one.

We could also get a standing place for next to nothing as students. I'd often do that, then have a good look for seats no-one was using.

Back in the UK I was more into pop, but when we got married my husband discovered classical music and now we have a terrific collection. He understands it all a lot better than me, but we both enjoy so much. He loves Beethoven and Vivaldi - I like the lot, but especially Tchaikovsky and Mozart.

When LPs first came on the market in the 1950s, My Dad bought a record player and a number of Gilbert and Sullivan recordings and whenever the D'Oyley Carte company came to Glasgow we were taken to hear them. Apart from that, he built up quite a collection of orchestral LPs from a company called Classics Club, providing a monthly choice. We heard the Beethoven symphonies and concertos, Mozart, Schubert, and so on. When I got a record player for my 21st birthday, the first record I bought was Beethoven's Archduke Trio - I have always loved chamber music. I have quite a decent collection of CDs, ranging from Bach to Shostakhovitch, with the odd pop and jazz recording thrown in. My sons tried to 'educate' me about pop music and I can get quite enthusiastic about Queen and - what else? - the Beatles. As for rap, you can keep it!
Past my bedtime! [Moon emoticon]

Rap: as Joe Cocker said when Parky asked him what he thought of it - "Rhymes with crap, doesn't it"

So sad to hear of the death last week of the German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau at age 86.
Bryn Terfyl quotes him as his main inspiration and Elisabeth Schwartzkoph said he was 'a born god who has it all'.Described as 'The most influential and recorded singer of the 20th century' he sang mostly opera,oratorio and lieder.
I have several of his recordings.Will replay them this week -and buy some more.

I had a vinyl recording of Britten's War Requiem featuring Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. I think Britten wrote it having a mind specifically to feature this singer (I could be wrong) and it was wonderful. Sadly, when I replaced my vinyl collection, I didn't get round to replacing this particular recording. He is a great loss to classical music.

He seems always to have been around, doesn't he? A wonderful interpreter of all kinds of music but especially Schubert's Leider.
arty, there's a digitally remastered version of the original recording, available on Amazon:

www.amazon.co.uk/Britten-War-Requiem-Galina-Vishnevskaya/dp/B000E6EGXM/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1337774169&sr=1-1

PS. Should have said: 'all kinds of classical music - can't quite reconcile Fischer-Dieskau with gangsta rap... but is that music? Now there's a subject for debate...

Fischer-Dieskau had the nearest thing to a perfect voice that I've ever heard - and I don't really care for Lieder! But when he sang it...

Thanks for that, Annobel. I'll look for it.

15 minutes walk from my house is a concert hall and my treat is to sit in there and listen to The Bournemouth Symphony. It is all good.
At home I enjoy Bach mostly, cello in particular.

Jacqueline Du Pre, Daman? She could wring your heart with her passionate playing.

Elegran Mostly I like Rostropovich doing the Cello Suites. My heart confuses Jaqueline's story with her music now. When younger I was her greatest fan

She certainly put a lot into her music. Tragic that her MS made playing impossible for her.

Many years ago, the late Paul Tortellier did a wonderful series of TV master classes on Bach's cello suites. I do love cello music - saw Tortellier playing the Elgar in Edinburgh and the Dvorak in Nottingham. He was such a passionate interpreter.

i would like to recommend to all classical music lovers a wonderful web site.
just type in ...CLASSIC FM........you can choose a composer, learn all about him,you can choose opera singers, classical singers, solo artists, and of course orchestral music, there is so much to look at and listen too, it also tells you where concerts are and you can even arrange bookings.or just do as i do.choose some wonderful music, put it on full screen sit back watch and enjoy....you wont regret it....Lillian

Hi nanaej i am similar to you i have no classical knowledge and do not play a musical instrument, but now i have discovered the web site ...CLASSIC FM...i can learn about music and composers etc at my own leisure, do try it i think its great for beginners......Lillian

I remember the Paul Tortellier master classes - wonderful! I was lucky enough to go to several Fischer Dieskau concerts years ago, singing with Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Victoria de los Angeles. I remember seeing Jacqueline Du Pre playing the Elgar at the Albert Hall.
Otto Klemperer conducting the Choral symphony was an experience to remember!

We are so lucky to have the Proms - I record them all and I then have the privilege of watching a world-class concert in my living room, with helpful analysis and comment that enhances the enjoyment. I just love it!

Use to listen to classicFM all the time. Eventually got absolutely cheesed off with the many adverts particularly the moronic type! Another problem is that they play film music and other dubious stuff but I have never heard any Gilbert and Sullivan songs!

Even their website has no entry for Sir Arthur Sullivan!