Hi everyone

[mozartsneighbor]

Hello, the name's Miguel. I am 25 and have loved classical music since I was about 14-15. From 17 to 22 it became a bit of an obsession as I have seen occurred with other members here -- I accumulated over 1000 cds which for that short period and the small financial resources natural at that age was a lot.
For no particular reason about 2 years ago my obsession lessened, I almost stopped buying cds, and it became just one interest rather than all consuming concern.   I still listened to music regularly, but often not everyday, and stopped exploring new composers and music. Has this ever happened to any of you?
6 months ago I moved to Salzburg, Austria to be with my partner who's from here. My interest is now blossoming more intensely again, especially since there's a really good classical music section in the mediathek here. Or maybe I just decided to listen to the message that fate sent me of keeping classical music in the foreground through its making end up here -- in Mozart's old stomping grounds.
I just discovered this forum a week ago and it seems so full of vitality and camaraderie, unlike other classical forums, that I just couldn't resist becoming a part.
Oh, almost forgot the most important part -- what music do I like. Poulenc's chamber music, Schubert (particularly lieder), Brahms (particularly PCs and chamber), Bach (particularly vocal and solo instrumental), Mozart (particularly PCs and operas), am getting to know and like Bruckner and Sibelius, like some Mahler but still a bit of an ambivalent attitude; also love a lot of early music, especially Monteverdi, and also pianists, but I am a bit weak on contemporary, though Messiaen is pretty interesting. I could go on.... and on... but I guess it's better to reveal my interests in the posts to come. See you around 

[bhodges]

Hi Miguel, and welcome.  Where were you before you moved to Salzburg?  And will you be hearing things at the Salzburg Festival? 

Enjoy yourself here...lots of interesting people around with a lot of knowledge about music.   

--Bruce

[Harry]

Miguel, you are most welcome to GMG. I never had these periods of neglect towards listening or buying classical music. I shudder even thinking of that. So that passed me buy by, am happy to say.
Salzburg of all places, a wonderful spot for classical music, been there often.
I am most pleased with your choice of composers, Brahms/Schubert/Bruckner/Sibelius who is debated at the moment. which of his symphonies you like best?
Mahler will grow on you, no fear.

[ChamberNut]

Miguel,

Hello, and welcome to GMG!     Always great to have new people join the forum.

Enjoy browsing the many great threads!

[MN Dave]

Howdy.

Yeah, sometimes I think I own more music than I need.

But that doesn't seem to slow me down much. 

[Monsieur Croche]

Welcome, Miguel!  I hope you enjoy your stay here! You seem to have fine taste in composers - every name you mentioned has been a favourite of mine at some point of time!

I have never experienced a lessening in my 'obsession' for music all these years; if anything, they just keep increasing! When I stopped exploring new music and buying new CDs the reason is usually financial more than anything else. But now that I'm earning my own money...

I'm looking forward to your contributions here. And what better way to start than telling me what you think about Debussy?

[Hollywood]

Grüß aus Wien, Miguel. Welcome to the forum. I am from Los Angeles originally and have been living in Vienna for going on 15 years. In all of that time I have only been once to Salzburg and that was for just about 4 hours.  I hope to visit there again and spend more than just a few hours.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Welcome, Miguel! Nice moniker, mozartsneighbor. I hope you'll enjoy yourself here.

[mozartsneighbor]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!
To answer some of the questions:
- before I came to Salzburg I was in London. But I was there only 1 year. I actually was born in Portugal but spent the greater part of my adolescence in the US, in Washington DC
- I don't think I will be attending the Festival here bc I am moving to Vienna just before it starts and the tickets cost a lot of money; also I must confess I have never been crazy about live performance, just for opera, and now that we have DVDs, give me that or a cd over a ticket that costs 3-5 times more anytime
- Monsiuer Croche: Debussy -- hmmm, I have a strange relationship with that one. I listen to his stuff once in a while and my brain acknowledges that it is really good and unique, but for some reason is not a composer I return to with passion or great affection.  maybe I need to do an immersion effort on that one
- Hi Hollywood! Nice to see someone near by. You have lived in Vienna for 15 years and have only been 4 hours in Salzburg?!! I am sure that must be close to a felony! Salzburg is very beautiful. But, anyway, I am moving to Vienna in July myself -- maybe we can meet up!
- Harry: I like a lot of Mahler, it's just that sometimes I just get turned off by some of the bombast. the only symphonies of his I know well are 1,5, and 9. Planning to get to know 2 and 3 soon

[Hollywood]

- Hi Hollywood! Nice to see someone near by. You have lived in Vienna for 15 years and have only been 4 hours in Salzburg?!! I am sure that must be close to a felony! Salzburg is very beautiful. But, anyway, I am moving to Vienna in July myself -- maybe we can meet up!

Yes indeed Miguel. Once you get settled here in Vienna maybe we could meet up somewhere in the city. Do you know whereabouts in Vienna you'll be living? I live in the 19th district (Döbling) in Heiligenstadt (one of Beethoven's favorite places). So, you'll be moving from one of Mozart's old stomping grounds to Vienna where so many famous composers flocked to and turned this city into one of their favorite stomping grounds (Mozart included).   

[Monsieur Croche]

- Monsieur Croche: Debussy -- hmmm, I have a strange relationship with that one. I listen to his stuff once in a while and my brain acknowledges that it is really good and unique, but for some reason is not a composer I return to with passion or great affection. 

Welcome to my Ignore List
Kidding.

Well, that's OK, Miguel. You can put Debussy aside for now, just return to it every now and then and maybe something will 'click' one day. In the meantime, can I recommend you the un-Debussian early cantata La damoiselle elue, or the late neo-classical Chamber Sonatas? Come on, you must like something by Debussy! I need more Debussyites here. More! More!!!  0:)

maybe I need to do an immersion effort on that one

Pun intended?

(That would reveal how you view Debussy).

[Renfield]

Welcome aboard!

I've long been neglecting this part of the forum, but there really are as interesting more people coming to this forum as ever.

Re Mahler, perhaps you've simply yet to come across a performing style that won't wear off? I have similar problems (though for different reasons) with your neighbour, myself, and am improving the situation through extremely selective listening...

[mozartsneighbor]

Thanks for the continuing warm welcome.
Hollywood: I don't yet know in which bezirk I'll be living. We are going to start looking at apartments next week probably. Would love to meet up once I get settled in. Can you answer this question: Is there a  Mediathek in Vienna with a good classical section where you can borrow cds, like here in Salzburg?
M. Croche: I'll keep trying. I don't know the cantata, but I do know the late chamber works, and enjoy them. Then pun? None intended -- are you thinking immersion=la mer?

[Hollywood]

Hollywood:  Can you answer this question: Is there a  Mediathek in Vienna with a good classical section where you can borrow cds, like here in Salzburg?

I believe this is here as well. Here's their website: http://www.mediathek.at/

Is this the Vienna version? I have never heard of Mediathek before. Sounds interesting. 

[Monsieur Croche]

Thanks for the continuing warm welcome.

Welcome to my Ignore List

Oh, don't mention it, Miguel.

M. Croche: I'll keep trying. I don't know the cantata, but I do know the late chamber works, and enjoy them. Then pun? None intended -- are you thinking immersion=la mer?

The word 'immersion' brings to my mind the commonly perceived as 'Impressionistic' interpretations of Debussy's music: Atmospheric, shapeless, overpedalled, details dissolved into an impenetrable haze of indistinct sounds... you get what I mean. There are some people who would prefer their Debussy done this way, of course, but in my opinion, clarity and transparency are very important qualities of a performance in order to spotlight his genius.

[mozartsneighbor]

Hollywood,

Look at your PM.

Miguel

[Hollywood]

Hollywood,

Look at your PM.

Miguel

Got it Miguel and now you can check your's. 

[david johnson]

hi! 

dj

[DavidRoss]

Welcome, Miguel--The only qualification for membership is liking good music, and it's clear that you qualify!