Great Works You've Come to Appreciate Later in Life

[Holden]

At the moment I am listening to the Bach-Busoni Chaconne for the umpteenth time in the last couple of years. As a younger pianist I tried to play it but it didn't resonate with me so I put it aside forever.

A chance FB post of the Kissin performance on YT with sheet music got me listening to it for the first time and it's become one of my desert island works. It never fails to move me. I'm listening to the Michelangeli 1949 performance of this in London (also with sheet music) and am blown away with this performance also.

What works did you discover and love in the later parts of your listening journey?

[DaveF]

Goldberg Variations for me - perhaps I didn't have the patience earlier in life, or perhaps I was yet to hear András Schiff speak out loud and bold.  (Mahan Esfahani has become something of a favourite on the harpsichord, too.)

[Jo498]

I'll see, I am beyond the halfway point unless I live to 100, but somehow hope I am not yet "later in life"...

[Symphonic Addict]

Verdi's operas. At first I had many prejudices about these works, it wasn't until I got around to listening to them to realize there's glorious and masterful music in most of them.

[Maestro267]

Chamber music.

[vandermolen]

symphonies by Brahms.

[Lisztianwagner]

Vaughan Williams' symphonies; they didn't strongly impress me when I listened to them for the first time and I kept them in a corner for years, but after revisiting them with deeper attention, I caught there was much more substance behind that apparent simplicity they showed; such awesome compositions.

[ritter]

symphonies by Brahms.

Although I'm certainly no spring chicken, it would seem I'm not yet old enough to learn to appreciate those.... 

[Symphonic Addict]

symphonies by Brahms.

Ha! Really, Jeffrey? That's interesting. 

[vandermolen]

Ha! Really, Jeffrey? That's interesting. 

Yes, especially No.2 Cesar. My brother has been trying to convert me for years.

[Symphonic Addict]

Yes, especially No.2 Cesar. My brother has been trying to convert me for years.

Your brother has excellent taste, let me tell you. 

[kyjo]

Yes, especially No.2 Cesar. My brother has been trying to convert me for years.

Interesting, as that's the Brahms symphony I would expect you to least appreciate, as it's the one with the least drama and sense of impending doom. What do you think of the 3rd and 4th symphonies? They're such magnificent works, amongst my favorite symphonies of all time.

[vandermolen]

Interesting, as that's the Brahms symphony I would expect you to least appreciate, as it's the one with the least drama and sense of impending doom. What do you think of the 3rd and 4th symphonies? They're such magnificent works, amongst my favorite symphonies of all time.

He'll never be my favourite compose Kyle but I think that all four symphonies are of a very high standard. 1 and 4 are my other favourites.

On to Schubert Lieder next !!

[vandermolen]

Your brother has excellent taste, let me tell you. 

Brahms and Bruckner Cesar