A Lark Ascending

Will they release all of these as a boxed set? I want to put a pre-order in.

Thank the Lord for that. At last I've got something I can use to bang on about how much better things used to be and how awful the modern world is. Seriously, I'm going to have to experiment with Spotify on the move.

Oh, I was late to the party too. I didn't know that much about Stevens (apart from the John Martyn connection and things I'd read) at the time. Remember seeing the 'Away' records but didn't buy them. Hoping someone will put those out soon. Have very much enjoyed exploring Stevens in recent years.

I have that one from original release time. Nicely oddball.

In my 40+ years of record buying I'd say there have been four things that changed my listening world: Just having a record player (1970) My first CD player (1985) - no more snap, crackle and pop. The Web (c.1999) suddenly being able to access recordings across the world. The mp3 player/downloading (c. 2006/7), With every other upgrade I've noticed a difference for a week or so and then the listening returns have been much the same as before. The above four made a stark difference. For me - and I emphasise it is a personal preference - iPods fit my way of life (I nearly said lifestyle but I don't think there's much style). I spend a good 90-120 mins of the day driving. I live in a middle terrace house and get up early so to get a decent volume of music I need to be under headphones. As I'm generally moving about I can't be tied to the main system or a PC. Out walking, going on holiday, gardening etc - an absolute blessing to carry a large volume of music with you. I have a lot of 160 iPods - they seem to fill up quickly. I found deleting stuff to make room for other stuff and then wanting the original again a pain. So I've gone for several. I know with the money I've spent on them I could probably buy a bulb for a tube amp but that side of things has never appealed. I'm cloth-eared. I'm sure that with clouds and things I could probably drop everything there and pick it up on the iPhone - but given how the phone doesn't always work everywhere I've yet to be persuaded that I can rely on that method. I'm sure it's the future and as I have all the iPods backed up on a hard disc it shouldn't be that hard to upload them.

And I thought I was being very now. Seems like the name IPod classic was designed with an eye to its becoming a vintage article.

Wettest January since Noah - it's official: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25944823 Had a flurry of snow today. Kids went mental!

O.K., I made the last bit up. And am exaggerating the death part, but.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25927366 I love my iPods! (I'm born again...was initially dead set against them)

You're unlikely to get sleevenotes, MG, except where the label has its own download site. Chandos, Hyperion, Gimell and Naxos all do this. Otherwise it's hit and miss. Sometimes there's a PDF included with the music files.

Didn't think you were.

Merci, 7/4 Though I really like reading people's individual enthusiasms it's nice to have a simple checklist.

Not 100% Italian but a marvellous album from a favourite singer. Even got a rave review in Gramophone (UK classical magazine).

If it keeps on raining the Doncaster levee is going to break.

Well I'll be. Never even thought of the musical meaning of the name. Always thought of them as: Or perhaps:

Cold baked beans eaten straight from the tin.

The middle one is Erato, a widely available French label. The outer two on Alia Vox which is Jordi Savall's own label (I think!). A good source for Early/Baroque music. Savall has an oddball approach to programming, often producing discs based on historic themes, sometimes crossing into folk culture. I downloaded them from the usual sources. You'll find the physical discs on Amazon or at one of the UK classical shops. I tend to use either MDT, Crochet or Presto. Strongly recommend this Rameau disc: And not just for the cover picture! My most played disc of the last month. It's a confection of various Rameau pieces extracted from operas, orchestral pieces etc but woven together beautifully. Like the third Lully disc above, a good way to sample a range of his music. Pure enjoyment. The BBC CD Review team had it as their disc of the week last Saturday so it's not just me. [Though be warned it is just over 80 mins so the download won't fit on one CD-r. You have to split it carefully as many of the tracks run straight into the next. There is a convenient point].

I'm waiting for 'The Complete Miles Says Mother******" Should be a fair few albums. I might control my impatience and wait for the mono version.

And Lully. Very grand - you can visualise the court of Louis XIV. No idea about where these fit in the hierarchy of versions but I've played them a lot over the last few years: The last one is by a mixture of Louis XIII/XIV composers - a sort of 'Now That's What I Call Music 1610-1715' (though sadly no Michael Palin as Cardinal Richelieu). I've just had a DVD of 'Armide' arrive; my next weekend opera treat.

I get the impression 'Written on Skin' has been something of a 'hit'. Read a great deal about it over the last year. It lives up to expectations. I like the strange blurring between the 13th and 21st centuries. Nicely ambiguous. Both are extremely violent and bloody.

A couple of recommendations for contemporary operas. I'm no expert (on contemporary music or opera) but thoroughly enjoyed these two in the last few weeks. I'd be hard pressed to follow them as discs alone but with the visuals you are in their world as intended. Hopefully it will become common practice to film these new productions, given how hard it is to get further productions. Apart from the assistance it lends coach potatoes like me, it might just widen interest for other performances. I know NMC are putting out an aural recording of Birtwistle's "Gawain" soon. Would like to see a filmed recording.

Have put Weiss on my list for later investigation. Many thanks.

As I've said elsewhere, I really think watching on DVD/Blu-ray is the best way of exploring at home. I started doing this with 'The Ring' about 18 months ago and it has turned a genre of occasional interest to something I can't get enough of. I watched 'The Barber of Seville' over Xmas - never heard it before. Daft plot but marvellous music. Though I liked La Cenerentola (Cinderella) even more. Wish I could pronounce it!

A good way to do things. I did a course on the 'The Ring' about 25 years ago and it opened my eyes (and ears).

Thanks for that recommendation. I don't know Zelenka at all but hunting around a bit he looks interesting. One for the list.

Thanks, mjazzg. Made my day.