New to classical. Need suggestions

http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...962920617#1962920617

This magnum opus, made by Tam in 2008, will provide you with many really fine links [very suitably titled] to a very good deal of useful reading, which is a starting point. You will find a good deal of helpful work has been put in.

If you have a look and then ask some supplementary questions here, I am sure many will provide help, as will I.

Best wishes from George

PS: Remember that very few classical recordings are available on LP these days. Mainly audiophile [audiofool?] issues where the main priority tends to be on the spectacular rather than the musically satisfying [in the long run] type of recordings and performances. If you have a good supply of second hand vinyl then you can catch some real bargains, but to collect recorded classical music systematically and get specific performances rather than just take pot luck [and getting the right or wrong performance can make or break your enjoyment of the music] you need to consider the CD as being the main carrier. LPs are fine if you have an existing large library of LPs in good condition, then fine, but starting from scratch then I would not consider LP at all for the classics these days. Optimize the CD replay side. CDs are frequently very cheap indeed these days. Not much different to second hand LPs in many cases. LPs reveal their frailness much more intrusively with the classics than on popular music, and the inherent superiority of CD is why there are almost no mainstream issus of classical music any more on LP, even though at its best LP replay can still bring pleasure inspite of the weakness of the technology.

If you have a good classical music radio station in the area, keep a pad and pencil near the radio. You will quickly come up with more good ideas for LP purchases than you can afford to pay for.

Thanks a lot Both of you. Very interesting PS George and certainly worth considering.


Fugl

I second GFFJ on CD as the mainstay of collecting classical music.

If I lost everything and had to start over now, these three would be my first purchases :

Pollini doing the last three Beethoven sonatas Op. 109/110/111.

Hewitt doing the Bach Well Tempered Clavier (2009 recording)

Abbado/London doing Stravinsky's Firebird, Petroushka and Pulcinella.

Thank you Mikeeschman. I'm trying Hewit doing Bach and a boxset of Beethoven symphonies 1-9. It will be very interesting to hear. I have often enjoyed classical music when heard on the radio, but have never been able to figure out and/or remember the names of the pieces, composers etc. so nice to get some written and search-able suggestions.