Have You Ever Experienced Radical Changes in Your Musical Taste?

[AnotherSpin]

That's the Wagner bullshit. 

In recent years, Wagner has remained the only opera composer I continue to listen to as much, or even more, than I did 20 or 30 years ago. As for Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Bellini, Mozart (operas), it is almost full stop. I also continue to listen to Richard Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier most often. Some modern operas, but more out of curiosity.

[AnotherSpin]

Op 131

I believe Beethoven's quartets retain their meaningfulness and become more interesting to me as time goes on. It feels like I can't stop waiting for discoveries here.

[AnotherSpin]

I enjoy King Crimson from all decades. I allow groups to change their sound/style with time. For me it is richness how The Power to Believe is very different from In the Court of the Crimson King. Same with groups like Tangerine Dream: It is so cool there are so many different variations of the style with time and if you can't enjoy the mediocre/bad stuff of a group, then maybe you aren't a fan after all? Rather a casual listener...

For me, King Crimson effectively finished with Red album. I listened to later records, of course, but it was only recycled at best. Same goes for Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, et al. None survived past the 70s.

[steve ridgway]

I spent many years exploring different genres of "popular" music in search of the more experimental works and, based on what I'd heard on radio and TV, avoided classical music altogether. That is until 2016 when a discussion on a rock forum about the music of 50 years previously made me wonder what someone like me could actually have listened to in 1966 apart from "The Psychedelic Sounds of The 13th Floor Elevators". The ensuing investigation led first to electronic and tape works of which I'd been previously unaware as they turned out to have been produced by officially "classical" composers and then through the orchestral works of those people into a still broadening landscape of the more experimental 20th Century compositions.

[Florestan]

An interesting observation... nowadays, opera is viewed (in America at least) as the height of elitism; but in the 18th or 19th century, it was the form that had the most popularity among the general public. If non-elite people knew any classical music, it was likely in the form of opera arias or orchestral excerpts.

Exactly.

[Florestan]

In recent years, Wagner has remained the only opera composer I continue to listen to as much, or even more, than I did 20 or 30 years ago. As for Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Bellini, Mozart (operas), it is almost full stop. I also continue to listen to Richard Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier most often. Some modern operas, but more out of curiosity.

I presume you speak, or at least understand, German.

[Jo498]

An interesting observation... nowadays, opera is viewed (in America at least) as the height of elitism; but in the 18th or 19th century, it was the form that had the most popularity among the general public. If non-elite people knew any classical music, it was likely in the form of opera arias or orchestral excerpts.

There was a split with operetta becoming a distinct genre but in most of Europe quite a bit of opera remained fairly popular even in the lower middle classes  (or maybe actually more people got into it with radio and records since the 1930s) into the 1960/70s; often lighter pieces alongside popular operettas. I told this probably before but in the mid-late 1980s my father got as a present a 2-cassette-set dedicated to a famous German show host (and former actor) who had then retired recently.
This contained popular artists that had been guests in this guys show over the decades and one was basically pop, the other one light classical, mostly operetta/musical but also Prey with the Factotum aria from Barbiere and Lucia Popp with the Song to the moon from Rusalka.

For whatever reason it seems that not only the UK but also the US have long been more "elitist" about opera, maybe because they had stronger popular music already in the late 19th century or because the famous composers were mostly German, Italian or French.

[vandermolen]

As a boy I listened to The Beatles, as a teenager (up to 16/17) I listened mainly to Jazz-Rock (Chicago/BST etc). Under the influence of my older brother I began listening to Bruckner. Probably the most significant musical encounter was discovering the music of Vaughan Williams when I was about 17. Because my interested coincided with the VW Centenary year (1972) there were lots of recordings and concerts which, as I lived within walking distance of the Albert Hall in London, I was able to attend. My first favourite classical composer, when I was about 14 was Rimsky Korsakov.

[Lisztianwagner]

When I was very young I listened to punk and rock music, but after watching a TV documentary on Mozart's life, I started listening to only classical music. Also, at the beginning, I used to appreciate Rossini's music very much; now I find it rather boring.

[AnotherSpin]

I presume you speak, or at least understand, German.

Very little.

[AnotherSpin]

An interesting observation... nowadays, opera is viewed (in America at least) as the height of elitism; but in the 18th or 19th century, it was the form that had the most popularity among the general public. If non-elite people knew any classical music, it was likely in the form of opera arias or orchestral excerpts.

[..]

It seems to me that radio, television and modern ways of transmitting audio and video have made opera and other genres of serious music absolutely accessible to everyone. You don't have to go to Bayreuth or buy tickets to the Met to hear opera. I once listened and watched Das Rheingold with Levine right in front of the Met, for free. Also visited Wiener Staatsoper with cheap entry tickets more than once. Didn't feel any elitism whatsoever at those moments.

[71 dB]

Well, KC went through a lot of changes... I test-listened to Discipline on YouTube, and thought "this isn't what I want from this band!" For one thing, the classical influence was completely gone. I'm happy to stick to the 60s/70s albums.

Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair form the "Gamelan phase" of King Crimson. You are the one setting the criteria of what you want from them. I don't expect them to have made their debut album a dozen times again and again. Change keeps things interesting and these guys are so good at what they do they have done the changes and transformations very well!

An interesting observation... nowadays, opera is viewed (in America at least) as the height of elitism; but in the 18th or 19th century, it was the form that had the most popularity among the general public. If non-elite people knew any classical music, it was likely in the form of opera arias or orchestral excerpts.

In Finland a lot of people also associate opera with elitism, but it's all about ignorance. I think of opera as the precursor of cinema, audiovisual storytelling. Maybe in the future people think seeing Star Wars in a movie theatre is elitism? 

[71 dB]

For me, King Crimson effectively finished with Red album. I listened to later records, of course, but it was only recycled at best. Same goes for Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, et al. None survived past the 70s.

If so, what past 70's music do you listen to?

[71 dB]

Likewise: I love KC from what era soever.

Thanks Karl!    I was beginning to doubt my own sanity while reading all the whining about how past 70's KC sucks. Luckily there are people who can appreciate the later KC too.

My own (minor) pet peeve with KC is the amount of songs and albums isn't that huge for a band that has operated (on and off) for over 50 years! KC keeps performing the same old material over an over on concert recordings instead of creating new music. Imagine if there was a "Vaporwave phase" of King Crimson for example! Frippertronics would work like a charm!

[71 dB]

Also, at the beginning, I used to appreciate Rossini's music very much; now I find it rather boring.

Interesting. I have never liked Rossini's music. It is somehow incompatible with my taste (same with Verdi).

[DavidW]

It strikes me that in this age of DVDs and big-screen TVs, opera might be best experienced at home. Admittedly, I haven't tried it myself, but I probably should.

I used to have a thing where I wouldn't bother with an opera if I couldn't see it.  But now I realized that the music is so good that it doesn't matter.  And I listen to opera more often than I used to.

[DavidW]

That's the Wagner bullshit. 

I remember the first time I actually got into an opera.  It was Bluebeard's Castle (Bartok).  I told Gurn and he replied "you only like it because it is short!"  Busted!  Well it is great... but I need to acknowledge that the time commitment is far shorter than the Ring.

Anyway the gateway to opera for me was... Handel.  His operas are musically rich.  And the funny thing is that is an odd entry point since I bet most people came into opera through Mozart, Wagner or Puccini.

[Florestan]

I remember the first time I actually got into an opera.  It was Bluebeard's Castle (Bartok).  I told Gurn and he replied "you only like it because it is short!"  Busted!  Well it is great... but I need to acknowledge that the time commitment is far shorter than the Ring.

Anyway the gateway to opera for me was... Handel.  His operas are musically rich.  And the funny thing is that is an odd entry point since I bet most people came into opera through Mozart, Wagner or Puccini.

The very first opera I've ever seen was Carmen, the movie with Domingo and Julia Migenes. I was instantly hooked and went to see it again after a few days. 

[AnotherSpin]

The very first opera I've ever seen was Carmen, the movie with Domingo and Julia Migenes. I was instantly hooked and went to see it again after a few days. 

I also remember watching Zeffirelli's La Traviata film in movie theatre. It was great experience, but I was into opera at the moment already.

[AnotherSpin]

If so, what past 70's music do you listen to?

Are we talking about rock music? Sure, I listen to a lot less rock music now than I used to. Serious music and jazz take up the bulk of my time. There are a few rock artists that are still relevant to me, but again these are records made before the late 70's. First, Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan. Then, Zappa, Rolling Stones, The Who, Jethro Tull, Creedence CR, Allman Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Black Sabbath first 3-4 albums. Led Zeppelin, first 5 albums. Genesis up to Trick of the Tail, Yes, up to Relayer. The Moody Blues, Pink Floyd up to The Wall. Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, Neil Young, Clapton, Elton, Queen, Van Morrison, Bowie, early Joe Cocker. War, Al Green, Marvin Gaye. The Clash. There's actually a lot of stuff, quite enough.