Not so essential classics.

[Suffolkcoastal]

There's quite a lot of so called 'essential classics' that I don't have on CD or as a download, though I do have on LP/Cassette as I got them when I first started out in classical music when I was 9-15 years old. I've never found the need to to invest in another recording, CD or download of them since.

These include
Carmen (Suites for Orchestra). I actually don't have the opera in any format, I just don't like it.
Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Ravel: Bolero
Ravel: La Valse
Wolf: Italian Serenade (one of the most played pieces on R3 believe it or not)
Chabrier: Espana (I absolutely loathe that piece)
J Strauss II: Waltzes: (Just a handful on LP)
Brahms: Hungarian Dances
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances (all of them on cassette only)
Dvorak: 'American' Quartet

I only have Mozart & Haydn symphonies on LP/Cassette surprisingly, though I like many of them!

[Bryn]

I have all this music - often in multiple performances. It's easy to dismiss music by reputation. I don't often listen to - say - 1812, but (here's the thing) I do sometimes. It's an enjoyable piece if you're in the mood.

[EdgeleyRob]

I don't understand this.
I thought the thread was all about NOT SO ESSENTIAL classics?

That's what I intended.
It just struck me that a lot of so called warhorses are not on my shelves.
Not saying they are not great music,just that I'm not inclined to add them to my collection.

If I do ever want to hear them I'll tune in to Classic FM or breakfast on Radio 3

[Nick Armstrong]

If I do ever want to hear them I'll tune in to Classic FM or breakfast on Radio 3

That's my approach too

[doversoul1]

I suppose I still have not got out of the habit of the days when printed catalogues and journals were the only source of information. In those days, if you saw a LP or read a review of an obscure or unusual work, unless you bought it there and then, you were never sure if you’d ever find it again. Whereas ‘essential’ works could be found any time at any record shops.

Typical examples are Four Seasons for me too, and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. I love them both but they are still on ‘one day, I’ll buy it’ list.

[Roehre]

I don't often listen to - say - 1812, but (here's the thing) I do sometimes. It's an enjoyable piece if you're in the mood.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I don't often listen to - say - 1812, but (here's the thing) I do sometimes. It's an enjoyable piece if you're in the mood.

Yes; works very well Live in concert.

[Sir Velo]

There's quite a lot of so called 'essential classics' that I don't have on CD or as a download, though I do have on LP/Cassette as I got them when I first started out in classical music when I was 9-15 years old. I've never found the need to to invest in another recording, CD or download of them since.

These include
Carmen (Suites for Orchestra). I actually don't have the opera in any format, I just don't like it.
Vivaldi: Four Seasons
Ravel: Bolero
Ravel: La Valse
Wolf: Italian Serenade (one of the most played pieces on R3 believe it or not)
Chabrier: Espana (I absolutely loathe that piece)
J Strauss II: Waltzes: (Just a handful on LP)
Brahms: Hungarian Dances
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances (all of them on cassette only)
Dvorak: 'American' Quartet

I only have Mozart & Haydn symphonies on LP/Cassette surprisingly, though I like many of them!

Absolutely no need for you to get these on CD; you know they'll be on Radio 3 again very soon.

[Petrushka]

In these days of CD 'fillers' and big boxes I'd have thought it well-nigh impossible not to have Bolero, 1812 or La Valse. Needless to say, I seem to have accumulated several versions of each and am happy to have them. Haven't got a problem with them at all but then, I never listen to Breakfast.

When we did this sort of thread some time ago, it appeared that the work most missing from collections was the Haydn Trumpet Concerto. It was missing from mine as well until quite recently.

I don't have any versions at all of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

[Tony Halstead]

I don't have any versions at all of Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

I'm embarrassed to say that I have 7 CDs of that work and even more embarrassed to say that I am playing on 2 of them..

[Petrushka]

I'm embarrassed to say that I have 7 CDs of that work and even more embarrassed to say that I am playing on 2 of them..

That's no excuse for having the other 5!

[Pabmusic]

In these days of CD 'fillers' and big boxes I'd have thought it well-nigh impossible not to have Bolero, 1812 or La Valse. Needless to say, I seem to have accumulated several versions of each and am happy to have them. Haven't got a problem with them at all but then, I never listen to Breakfast...

I have many (really many) recordings of this sort of work, but not usually because I've chosen them. It's more often because I wanted another piece on the same disc (I know I once wanted Faure's Masques et Bergamasques and ended up with another Bolero - very odd disc planning). Sometimes it was because I wanted a particular conductor (Boult in the Tchaikovsky ballet suites, Ravel conducting Bolero rather poorly, Dorati's famous Mercury disc of 1812). I really can't recall the last time I bought one of these warhorses just because I hadn't got one.

[Tony Halstead]

That's no excuse for having the other 5!

Hmmm... the most embarrassing are the two in which I am playing, since they are both 'arranged' ( thanks, Bryn) for modern instruments.

The others ( there are 6 actually) are all HIPP/ on period instruments:
John Holloway ( 2 different recordings); Simon Standage; Nils-Erik Sparf; Alice Harnoncourt and Monica Huggett.

[salymap]

I threw out my 78 records years ago as they took up too much room and I couldn't play them on anything. They included a great many of the works mentioned here. Now, of ourse, I regret it as I have a player that takes all speeds. I mostly regret losing a wonderful La Valse with Pierre Monteux. Sheer magic.

I shan't add to anything now as I have lots of CDs not yet played.

[Hornspieler]

Vivaldi's four seasons came up in a conversation I was having with a friend the other day.

This got me thinking,I don't have a single recording of this work.
Other so called warhorses or overdone classics that don't feature in my collection are -

Bolero.
Peer Gynt.
Tchaikovsky ballets.
Danse Macabre.

What's missing from your cd collection ?.

I wouldn't call that "missing". Wise discrimination would be a better word.

HS