Classical music

[Dave2002]

Msg from Amazon:

We've noticed you like classical music, so here's a list of the hottest classical releases now available to pre-order on CD.

Daydream, Katherine Jenkins

Alfie, Alfie Boe

Wicked Game, Il Divo

Concerto: One night in central park, Andrea Boccelli

Libera, Christmas album

Il Volo, Il Volo

::

.... Oh they did mention Dvorak, Smetana and a Gergiev ballet DVD.

I don't think Amazon's bot pases the Turing test!

[BetweenTheStaves]

I thought for a moment that you'd had a sneak preview of Monday's Essential Classic's playlist...or maybe it was Breakfast?

[Ferretfancy]

How often do we hear " I quite classical music, as long as it isn't too heavy "

[BBMmk2]

I find amazon's connectivity with what you've been perusing rather amazing at times!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I find amazon's connectivity with what you've been perusing rather amazing at times!

Me, too: because I bought Printer Ink from them, they "reccommended" a box of flourescent face paints.

[amateur51]

Diff'rent strokes ... I always find it wildly amusing what Amazon assumes I'm interested in (that sentence sounds ok but looks odd )

[french frank]

When Radio 3 first started broadcasting the Specialist Chart, I filled in their Feedback form and said that at least a quarter of the 'albums' were - in my opinion - just crossover. My guess is that Radio 3 had a word too, as A Rieu no longer appears - although he has plenty in the Top 40.

What does have a certain interest is to look at the Top 40 and see which 'real' classical CDs have made it into that chart. They only have a top 'artist' chart and a top 'compilation' chart which seems to leave the composers out a bit. But I suppose with new releases it is mainly the 'artist' who is selling it since in most cases there are other interpretations available. (Marketing here, of course)

Leaving aside Kennedy's Four Seasons, Holst's The Planets and such long-standing favourites, we have, ascending:

Chopin, Waltzes - Hough
Arnold, Cello concerto - Wallfisch, Northern CO
Ireland, Piano Concerto - Lenehan/RLPO
Chopin, Liszt, Ravel - Grosvenor
Delius, violin sonatas - Little/Lane
Ravel, complete violin and piano music - Ibragimova/Tiberghien
Delius, string concertos - Little/Watkins/BBCSO
Fauré, complete chamber music for strings - various, incl. R&G Capuçon, Caussé, Angelich

There are a few others involving good musicians and serious work but they seem to have something which automatically says 'wide appeal'.

The message I would take - and give to Radio 3 - is that serious work in the field can have the 'broad appeal' that they're after without the need to give it some sort of glitzy makeover. The Ravel doesn't even have a busty blonde on the cover. They should have more confidence in the music to win new listeners.

[salymap]

It's good to see Ireland and Arnold up there on the list anyway. One of our real musicians has rather put me off Tasmin Little's new Delius recording[s].[syrupy, excessive vibrato etc]

[BBMmk2]

Salymap, ignore that comment. I have it. Its very good ineed!!

[Pabmusic]

It's good to see Ireland and Arnold up there on the list anyway. One of our real musicians has rather put me off Tasmin Little's new Delius recording[s].[syrupy, excessive vibrato etc]

One thing I do love about the classical music world is illustrated by this. Forget the cheap imitation of Alfie Boe, et al. - how many of us would have predicted unknown Arnold, Delius concertos and sonatas, or the Ireland Piano Concerto being among the top 40?

[Dave2002]

From a none musical viewpoint I found Amazon's email slightly offensive, or at any rate laughable. Their analysis of my purchases, which they would perhaps claim has been done by sophisticated computer analysis, is obviously woefully inadequate, and they should ask for thir money back from the IT/analysis team. Recent purchases have been of the Britten colector's set, Dvorak cello cocerto from a marketplace seller, and a failed attempt to buy a bumper set of Rubinstein playing Chopin.
Downloads include De Tijd (Andriesson), Sibelius symphonies etc., so why would anyone think I might be interested in Katherine Jenkins, or Il Divo or Il Volo. As I wrote earlier:Turing test failed!

[Mary Chambers]

I don't think anything quite equals a recommendation I had from Amazon some time ago. Because I had bought Benjamin Britten: A Time There Was (DVD) they thought I would probably be interested in Rare and Unseen: Cheryl Cole.

I still haven't worked this one out.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I don't think anything quite equals a recommendation I had from Amazon some time ago. Because I had bought Benjamin Britten: A Time There Was (DVD) they thought I would probably be interested in Rare and Unseen: Cheryl Cole.

I still haven't worked this one out.

[teamsaint]

With my work hat on, i would love to know how many copies you need to sell to ne at No 40 in the specialist classical chart.

Bet its not many. Bet its not many to be in the top 10 either.

However, this is one innovation on R3 i am in favour of., if it helps listeners connect with new , good quality recordings.
Be nice to see the dJ's (!) trawling the lower reaches for interesting "bubbling under" discs.
Not 'arf !!

[antongould]

Perhaps it's something about Britten that confuses Amazon? This morning I have ordered Britten's Canticles I-V and my recommendations have been immediately updated with Cinderella's Eyes by Nicola Roberts? Now being a fully paid up, coal in the bath, Geordie I know of "wor Chezza" Cole - but Nicola Roberts!!??