Do you have too many CDs?

[Mark]

Before you spring to the defence of your lustful CD-buying/downloading habit, think about it: Do you have too many CDs? Can you ever hope to appreciate them all in the years you have left to live? Would you not get more (or at least, as much) enjoyment from owning and playing fewer discs? Can you envisage a future where a substantial amount of your home's storage space is given over to your CD collection, and does such a prospect worry or excite you?

I've had a small cull today (only about 15 discs), which is what set me thinking. The answer from me is simply: 'Yes, I have too many CDs.' But as many here will understand, the constant pursuit of new music, fresh interpretations, new artists and so on can create a kind of internal paranoia, where you're always wondering what you'll miss by NOT buying a fifteenth set of Brahms' Symphonies, or another half-dozen performances of Sibelius' Violin Concerto. The works change according to our tastes, naturally, but the sickness is the same for us all. Or is it?

So, do you have too many CDs?

[Harry]

No, ehhhh, no, and no!
Does that answer the question Young Mark?

[Mark]

Harry, I should've had a bet on with the local bookmaker that you'd be the first to respond. And to do so in the way you have.

[Florestan]

No. At least not yet. But I made an oath to  myself never to succumb to

a kind of internal paranoia, where you're always wondering what you'll miss by NOT buying a fifteenth set of Brahms' Symphonies, or another half-dozen performances of Sibelius' Violin Concerto.

Moreover, I don't have any CD that has not been listened to at least once. And my purchasing habits are clearly set: never buy anything before listening to all the previous purchase.

[Mark]

No. At least not yet. But I made an oath to  myself never to succumb to

Moreover, I don't have any CD that has not been listened to at least once. And my purchasing habits are clearly set: never buy anything before listening to all the previous purchase.

You're waaaaaaay too disciplined for this forum. Kindly leave.

[Sergeant Rock]

Before you spring to the defence of your lustful CD-buying/downloading habit, think about it: Do you have too many CDs?

No

Can you ever hope to appreciate them all in the years you have left to live?

Yes. I've heard them all at least once. A CD is far cheaper than a concert ticket nowadays, and a concert is a one off. I don't regret spending money on a one-time live event; I don't regret spending money on a disc I only hear once. Of course I've listened to most of my discs far more than once. A large collection comes in handy in this kind of forum too. Very often I can take from my shelves a performance that's being discussed. In fact a lot of my listening this past year has followed discussions here. I've revisited many old CDs and LPs I hadn't heard in many a year.

Would you not get more (or at least, as much) enjoyment from owning and playing fewer discs?

I don't see how.

Can you envisage a future where a substantial amount of your home's storage space is given over to your CD collection, and does such a prospect worry or excite you?

A substantial space is already devoted to CD, LP, and DVD storage. Neither excites nor worries me: it's just a simple fact.

I've had a small cull today (only about 15 discs), which is what set me thinking. The answer from me is simply: 'Yes, I have too many CDs.' But as many here will understand, the constant pursuit of new music, fresh interpretations, new artists and so on can create a kind of internal paranoia, where you're always wondering what you'll miss by NOT buying a fifteenth set of Brahms' Symphonies, or another half-dozen performances of Sibelius' Violin Concerto. The works change according to our tastes, naturally, but the sickness is the same for us all. Or is it?

A love of music is not a sickness. Music is an interpretive and performance art; you can never experience too many performances...although at a certain point in collecting the same work, enough really is enough, I think. I haven't reached that point yet 

Sarge

[yashin]

I would never throw any out/sell them-that to me would be very strange.  I do have many versions of lots of operas.  I have 25 madame Butterfly Cds and thats not counting DVDs either.  However, i won't buy any more of this unless they are (a) special or (b) cheap or (c) have Eleanor Steber in. 

I now flinch when i see the price of a set and even think "do i really need another..."-it must be my age.

What i would ask is-are there cds which you wished you had not bought?  And why?  Perhaps the sound is bad, or the orchestral reading too slow or fast??  Perhaps the singers are not upto the job or the conductor is dreary.

I now happen to think that once you have a special recording, a favourite, that nothing will really replace it.  For example, no matter how many versions of Manon Lescaut come out on cd i will never get over hearing Licia Albanese and Jussi Bjorling on the Perlea set.  So, i don't bother to buy any more.  However, some operas i have not managed to find 'the one' and the search continues......

[Florestan]

You're waaaaaaay too disciplined for this forum.

Not at all. Just too cash-lacking.  

[Mark]

What i would ask is-are there cds which you wished you had not bought?  And why?  Perhaps the sound is bad, or the orchestral reading too slow or fast??  Perhaps the singers are not upto the job or the conductor is dreary.

My early listening experience was aided a great deal by cheap CDs on the Naxos label. Some of these really aren't 'up to the job' IMO, so I'm saying goodbye to them. A dreadful disc of Chopin's Piano Concerti, both of Brahms' Piano Concerti, a CD of Liszt's Symphonic Poems that I can't imagine ever wanting to spin again. A redundant Beethoven Violin Sonata volume which has been so very much surpassed since I heard Argerich and Kremer. Plus Vengerov's very first concerti CD - performances of Bruch and Mendelssohn which he (typically, to these ears) pulls out of all shape with his trademark awfulness (I'm clearly NOT a Vengerov fan ). That's all for the 'reject' pile, plus a few others, including the most lacklustre Mozart Requiem I'm ever encountered.

I now happen to think that once you have a special recording, a favourite, that nothing will really replace it.

Amen to that. Haendel in the Sibelius Violin Concerto. Ousset in the Grieg Piano Concerto. Davis/SD in Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony. Hugh in Finzi's Cello Concerto. And yet, still I get tempted to explore more performances ...

[Valentino]

No!

I only have some 400 classical disks in total and lots on works and performances to explore.

[Todd]

No.  I don't know how many CDs I own (>3500, but that's as close as I can get), but with perhaps 20 or so CDs on my to-hear pile, I've listened to all of them at least once, and most more than that.  So I don't even have enough CDs.

[yashin]

Oh lots to explore yet.  My love these days is for Wagner.  Anything to do with the Ring Cycle and i try and buy it.  
My last cd purchase was to buy Das Rheingold with Keilberth conducting-  Is excellent.  The shop also has Siegfried by Keilberth but at 50 pounds (about 75 Euro) it seems a bit steep- especially since i bought the whole stuttgart DVD Ring Cycle for 60 Euros some time ago when i still lived in Europe.

Anyone else collecting the Keilberth Ring Cycle?  How much did you pay?  Worth it?  Ah well will have to see.  In KL where i live now the price of the Siegfried cd is not far off half a months salary for someone working at McDonalds and it is just less than someone working on a rubber plantation for a month-puts it into some perspective doesn't it.

[Sergeant Rock]

What i would ask is-are there cds which you wished you had not bought?  And why?

I have about 10,000 CDs and LPs. In the pop section there are quite a few recordings I never listen to now but I don't regret buying them: they were of the moment, and important for that reason. The few (less than half a dozen) classical recordings I regretted buying I traded to a friend. No financial loss and so no long term regret. The reason for the initial regret: I listened, heard music I love do nothing for me, or to me (looked down at my arm: no goosebumps); no emotional jolt, just a big, Is that all there is?

I now happen to think that once you have a special recording, a favourite, that nothing will really replace it.  For example, no matter how many versions of Manon Lescaut come out on cd i will never get over hearing Licia Albanese and Jussi Bjorling on the Perlea set.  So, i don't bother to buy any more.  However, some operas i have not managed to find 'the one' and the search continues......

Yes, many of my duplications are the result of the search for the holy grail. I know that perfect recording is out there if I just search long enough and buy enough. I have near infinite faith...although considerably less than infinite storage capacity.

I've found few perfect performances though (perfect for me, I hasten to add). Bernstein's Nielsen Third (the first I ever heard) is one performance I could live happily ever after with...monogamously.   Gilels Pathétique is another. Colin Davis' Berlioz Requiem. Szell's Haydn and Janáček Sinfonietta. Klemperer's Pastoral and Magic Flute. Not many others.

Sarge

[Todd]

Anyone else collecting the Keilberth Ring Cycle?

I bought the whole thing at once last Christmas for about $250 total from MDT.  A bit expensive, but it's the second best Ring I've heard, after only Clemens Krauss.  Given it's age, it should be mid-price, but I wasn't going to wait for the inevitable lower-price reissue.

[springrite]

No, not at all.

I have about 2600, only 50 or so were purchased in the past 3 years. In other words, I have been listening to my collection and not hoarding. 2600 is just about 2 years worth of music at my rate of listening. That I think is reasonable. Besides, I will leave them to good hands, people who will enjoy them when I depart.

Paul

[Bogey]

Do you have too many CDs?

Negative!

[Sergeant Rock]

Oh lots to explore yet.  My love these days is for Wagner.  Anything to do with the Ring Cycle and i try and buy it. 
My last cd purchase was to buy Das Rheingold with Keilberth conducting-  Is excellent.  The shop also has Siegfried by Keilberth but at 50 pounds (about 75 Euro) it seems a bit steep- especially since i bought the whole stuttgart DVD Ring Cycle for 60 Euros some time ago when i still lived in Europe.

Anyone else collecting the Keilberth Ring Cycle?

Maybe someday. I know there are people here who swear by it but the cost is outrageous. I own eight Rings already. I have Windgassen and Varnay in the Krauss Ring. I have Barenboim and Solti for exceptional sound; Böhm for sheer excitement and Nilsson's best Brunnhilde; Furtwängler, Karajan, and Moralt for deeply thoughtful conducting. Besides, I'm not a great fan of Varnay. I believe the golden age of Wagnerian singing was in the 30s and 40s. My near ideal cast is in the Moralt Ring...and that cost 29 Euro 

Sarge

[yashin]

Ahh all those ring cycles you have.....am envious.

What about the Liceu Ring cycle DVDs?  I have the Das Rheingold and the Gotterdammerung.  Trying to find the other 2 to complete the set.  Can be expensive.  Is it worth completing?  Mixed reviews in various places.

[Sergeant Rock]

Ahh all those ring cycles you have.....am envious.

What about the Liceu Ring cycle DVDs?  I have the Das Rheingold and the Gotterdammerung.  Trying to find the other 2 to complete the set.  Can be expensive.  Is it worth completing?  Mixed reviews in various places.

I don't own any Ring DVDS but have been thinking about buying one. I'd be interested in the answer to that myself. You might want to ask in the opera section.

Sarge

[yashin]

I have the complete stuttgart DVDs and just 2 of the Liceu DVDs.  I have to say i prefer the Stuttgart versions.  Much better playing, singing and i feel more thought provoking.  Neither are to everyones taste i am sure.  Would be nice to complete the Liceu cycle.