What does your collection look like and how do you organize it?

[George]

Cool pics George.

GREAT collection

Thanks. 

George:

What do you think of that Goode Beethoven PS box?  Worth getting?

Haven't worked through it yet, actually.

I think so too!  I have the Fischer set and from what I've heard on it, it's way too romantic for me.  She really bangs on the piano as if she's playing Rachmaninoff.  Very wrong.  A bit more classical and less romantic. 

Thanks. 

I'm just going to pretend that I didn't hear that.        

The reason I have many sets (complete and incomplete, not to mention individual CD's) by different pianists is because I happen to think that these works can be sucessfully interpreted in many, many different ways. As to which one do I think is closest to what LvB might have done, well let's remember that he had a furious temper and would often break strings during his performances. However, I don't rule out Goode or Kempff based on this information, so I hope that you don't rule out Annie or Richter or Barenboim or Yudina simply because their interpretations aren't "classical"  enough.

[Haffner]

How about one with your girlfriend diplaying your collection, Price is Right style? 

Now there's quite an idea, George! I imagine Harry would be happy with that as well  .

[Haffner]

  Haffner don't feel bad, I only have 400 (cds+DVDs) all classical which I'm sure is far less than your collection.  On the bright side, I like to think that there is a lot of GREAT music out there that we have yet to explore.........building a collection into the thousands is going to be fun...and a tad expensive 

  marvin

Right, Marvin ! But most of the time the expense seems worth it, huh?

[Harry]

Now there's quite an idea, George! I imagine Harry would be happy with that as well  .

O, you know I would!

[Haffner]

Since you are new to the Ring you are proceeding the way I'd recommend. When you start the second act, it will help if you follow along with the libretto. There are several key conversations that really are fascinating to follow word by word. You'll discover that Wotan, the supreme god, is henpecked Seriously, this act is the heart of the Ring, enormously important. When it's done well, it's riveting.

Sarge

Perfect advice! There is a terrific book called "Wagner's Ring" which has not only the libretto, but fascinating footnotes which tell you the origin of the many legends which helped inspire the work.

Also highly reccomended is "The Wagner Operas" by Newman, which tells you how the Ring transformed over the roughly 18 years it took to write.

[Sergeant Rock]

That's one fine looking Kyung-Wha Chung collection, Sarge! And nice presentation, too!
Had no idea you were a fan of hers.
Of all the leading ladies for the fiddle she's right up there for me (Mullova, too).
It's too bad she's a bit overlooked these days (at least on GMG...) but your wall makes a fitting tribute!

I have a thing for female violinists, and Chung was my first love. I first saw her in 1972, playing the Walton concerto with the Cleveland Orchestra, Previn conducting. (Sir William and Prince Charles were in the audience.) It was love at first sight. But I enjoy the sound of her Strad, too, and admire her interpretations...or rather, an almost lack of interpretation: she's classically restrained, I think, very elegant. My favorite recording of hers, a rarity that has never appeared on CD, is the Bach D minor Partita. The Chaconne, occupying the second side of the LP, is stunning.

I've seen her more than any other soloist over the years although not recently. The last time was in the mid-90s; she played the Mendelssohn in Frankfurt, Dutoit conducting. The younger generation has stolen some of her thunder and she doesn't record as often as she once did. Maybe that's why she isn't mentioned often here--although recently O mensch seconded my good opinion of her Bartok with Rattle.

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Now there's quite an idea, George! I imagine Harry would be happy with that as well  .

And not only Harry   

Sarge

[Harry]

And not only Harry   

Sarge

Isn't she a peach, wow!
My favourite picture of her!

[Sergeant Rock]

Isn't she a peach, wow!
My favourite picture of her!

She is lovely.

Sarge

[Hector]

You can clearly see Böhm's Ring: the big red box on the top shelf of the LP pictures. Solti is in there too. The CD Rings are just off camera in the second picture. Here are the opera shelves from the reverse angle:



Wagner occupies the top shelf (of course  ) There's a small bust of Wagner my best friend gave me when I returned from Vietnam. Here are my CD Rings:



From the top left: Moralt, Levine, Barenboim; directly below Barenboim, Karajan flanked by Böhm and Krauss. My Rome Furtwängler is on loan to a friend.

Sarge

This looks more like a corner of the Classical section in HMV Oxford Street.

I can understand why you have so many and why I have less. I tend not to buy boxed sets unless they are single operas.

[Sergeant Rock]

At long last, here's some photos of my Classical CD collection...
Special thanks to SonicMan for the technical support.

Excellent, George! It's good to finally see your collection. I'm glad Dave was able to help you out.

Sarge

[Haffner]

Isn't she a peach, wow!
My favourite picture of her!

I always call that one her "flower" photo.

[greg]

I always call that one her "flower" photo.

i wonder if you planted seeds in her head, and gave them water and some soil, if flowers would grow out.....
maybe it doesn't work that way though....


my CD collection is a little over 200, though probably only less than 30 that i actually bought/had bought for me

[Haffner]

i wonder if you planted seeds in her head, and gave them water and some soil, if flowers would grow out.....
maybe it doesn't work that way though....

Priceless  !

[Steve]

Priceless  !

I need to get snappin!

[Solitary Wanderer]

Perfect advice! There is a terrific book called "Wagner's Ring" which has not only the libretto, but fascinating footnotes which tell you the origin of the many legends which helped inspire the work.

Also highly reccomended is "The Wagner Operas" by Newman, which tells you how the Ring transformed over the roughly 18 years it took to write.

Yep, I'm aware of that title and have it on my Wish List. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Sorry all, comin' in late to this thread...

Dave, always a pleasure seeing your spectacular cabinets.

Sarge

[SonicMan46]

Dave, always a pleasure seeing your spectacular cabinets.

Thanks, Sarge -    I've taken a couple of months off from woodworking, but have continued to buy CDs, so must come up w/ some other 'space saving' ideas!  I've been doin' walnut & mahogany on recent projects, so may be time to order some cherry, one of my favorite hardwoods -    Dave

[George]

Just got three new shelves installed to accomodate my growing collection. They are mounted above the shelving units below. For somereason they look crooked in this picture:

[Mark]

I love George's CD collection. Like Sarge's (and others'), it's so neat and well organised. That makes me happy.


Btw, George, seeing that Goode Beethoven set makes me sad. An Amazon seller had it up for £35, I ordered and they couldn't supply. Hate it when that happens.