David Hurwitz

[(poco) Sforzando]

That's good to hear.  And (pour moi) I have checked out various books (and bought them) like Gramophone's and Penguin' guides. And I've only heard one Israel in Egypt [which I would be happy to recommend].

K

Or you can go to Camp Dave to find the most suitable Israel in Egypt.

[Number Six]

Or you can go to Camp Dave to find the most suitable Israel in Egypt.

And that's my point: Why not take a recommendation?

Of course, it all becomes a problem when you start setting up walls. NO MAKELA! I HATE YUJA'S CLOTHES! Etc. That's not healthy, and it's not fun. 

[Kalevala]

Or you can go to Camp Dave to find the most suitable Israel in Egypt.

I can't say that I can quote from the Camp David Accords, but from what I've learned about Carter over the years (and what his wife also did in terms of being kind and doing--not--just saying--charity work), I have a huge amount of respect for them.  Probably can't say more due to topic.     I think that he was a good man and tried his best to make a (good) difference.  No one is perfect.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk further.  I'm more than happy to listen and to think.  I like to listen and to use my brain and consider other people's view.  In any event, I try.

All the best,

K

[Number Six]

That's good to hear.  And (pour moi) I have checked out various books (and bought them) like Gramophone's and Penguin' guides. And I've only heard one Israel in Egypt [which I would be happy to recommend].

K

I was just using that piece as an example. But feel free to recommend the version you enjoy. I have not listened to any yet.

[Kalevala]

I was just using that piece as an example. But feel free to recommend the version you enjoy. I have not listened to any yet.

The one that I have is with Ian Partridge.

K

[Number Six]

The one that I have is with Ian Partridge.

K

Got it! Yay, streaming 

[Herman]

For most people who love classical music, the most enjoyable phase was early on, discovering various pieces of music, often in the cheapest available recordings (budget LPs in my case). Connoisseurship and nitpicking about which one was best was no issue back then.
We lose a fundamental form of enjoyment along the way, because of this insecurity about listening to the right performance...

[Crudblud]

The right performance is per the listener. My feeling is that we should not receive opinion from on high as gospel.

[AnotherSpin]

For most people who love classical music, the most enjoyable phase was early on, discovering various pieces of music, often in the cheapest available recordings (budget LPs in my case). Connoisseurship and nitpicking about which one was best was no issue back then.
We lose a fundamental form of enjoyment along the way, because of this insecurity about listening to the right performance...

My experience was the opposite. Early on, I realized that I could only afford a limited number of CDs (and previously, LPs). As a result, I set out from the start to seek out and buy only the best of the best, relying heavily on the opinions of experts. Over time, however, it became increasingly clear that my excessive trust in these authorities had led me to purchase—and endure—recordings that I didn't enjoy. There are too many examples to list.

Things eventually changed. Over the years, I sold or exchanged most of the albums I'd bought under outside influence for others that better suited my taste. Now, in the era of streaming, everything has finally fallen into place. If I like something, I listen; if I don't, I move on. Paradoxically, I've even started paying closer attention to others' recommendations, as they no longer result in costly mistakes. There's a wealth of excellent advice here on the forum.

[Roasted Swan]

For most people who love classical music, the most enjoyable phase was early on, discovering various pieces of music, often in the cheapest available recordings (budget LPs in my case). Connoisseurship and nitpicking about which one was best was no issue back then.
We lose a fundamental form of enjoyment along the way, because of this insecurity about listening to the right performance...

99p CFP and Decca Eclipse LP's were my way into discovering a world of great music.  As it happens those two labels did contain many fine performances - just the Decca Eclipse "reprocessed stereo" was a bit of a downer!

[Cato]

My experience was the opposite. Early on, I realized that I could only afford a limited number of CDs (and previously, LPs). As a result, I set out from the start to seek out and buy only the best of the best, relying heavily on the opinions of experts. Over time, however, it became increasingly clear that my excessive trust in these authorities had led me to purchase—and endure—recordings that I didn't enjoy. There are too many examples to list.

Things eventually changed. Over the years, I sold or exchanged most of the albums I'd bought under outside influence for others that better suited my taste. Now, in the era of streaming, everything has finally fallen into place. If I like something, I listen; if I don't, I move on. Paradoxically, I've even started paying closer attention to others' recommendations, as they no longer result in costly mistakes. There's a wealth of excellent advice here on the forum.

Amen! Not just about recordings, but concerning composers "under the radar," so to speak: Dora Pejačević was recently discussed, and another recommended composer recently was Theodor Berger.

Excellent advice!

[DavidW]

People enjoy pans for a number of reasons. But I think it's most common when they think a certain artist or work has been unjustifiably inflated by the hype machine.

Here, for instance, is a skewering of a currently popular litfic writer who is experiencing some backlash. I don't know if this is a fair take (since I haven't read the book in question). But it's one of the meanest fiction reviews I've ever read, and might be enjoyable to some:

https://openlettersreview.com/posts/beautiful-world-where-are-you-by-sally-rooney?rq=rooney

It is funny because that review contradicts Steve's guide to writing a professional review. His own guide!! He disables dislikes on his videos and he shadow bans any commenters on his videos that disagree with him. If you can't take it, don't dish it out. Steve has also bashed Cormac McCarthy so much and so frequently with such meanness that it feels like it must be personal. He and Dave Hurwitz are surprisingly similar.

[LKB]

Right? We're meant to be terrified of buying the wrong Mahler cycle set. . .

There is no such thing.

Mahler believed a Symphony should encompass the world. Since everyone's worldview is different, even the " wrong " Mahler cycle will inevitably be right for someone, someday.

[Karl Henning]

There is no such thing.

Mahler believed a Symphony should encompass the world. Since everyone's worldview is different, even the " wrong " Mahler cycle will inevitably be right for someone, someday.

Good insight.

[LKB]

Good insight.

Thank you Karl. 

As l frequently say at work:

" Accidents happen! "

[DavidW]

Mahler believed a Symphony should encompass the world. Since everyone's worldview is different, even the " wrong " Mahler cycle will inevitably be right for someone, someday.

Well, it is immediately right for the conductor, or they wouldn't have conducted it that way!

[LKB]

Well, it is immediately right for the conductor, or they wouldn't have conducted it that way!

More good insight! 

[DavidW]

As l frequently say at work:

" Accidents happen! "

I hope you're not a nuclear engineer!

[(poco) Sforzando]

Dave is such fun. Today's topic is how we should not judge performances by small imperfections, with ol' Dave berating listeners who do so and patting himself on the back for deleting all such comments he wants suppressed so his listeners can't judge for themselves. Of course never mind all the times Dave berates performances for small imperfections himself. Do as I say, not as I do.

[Roasted Swan]

More good insight! 

Back in the day I used to be a conductor/Musical Director for quite a lot of major musicals in the UK.  When productions received negative reviews - quite often in fact - the thing that grated was not the critical opinion but the idea the reviewer seemed to have that somehow accidently or without thought we - the entire creative team; director, designer, choreographer, MD etc - had randomly ended up with the show the critic disliked.  In my experience EVERY single facet of the show was discussed and debated and the end result is what is on the stage.  Now of course, those choices may prove to be flawed or not as successful as one might hope.  But you never quite know for sure until they are staged.  So fine for a critic to dislike any performance but please do not think for a single second that the choices made are not intentional and what is wanted in that moment....