I just ordered a 170 CD set of the complete works of Mozart for $149.95 from The Musical Heritage Society for a grand total of $175 delivered.This set has gotten rave reviews and usually goes for much much more,I can't wait for it to get here.The only part of his(or any)music is opera,I just can't stomach it but I already have that taken care of,I already have a box set of his opera music without the vocals.They also have the complete works of Bach and Beethoven but I'd cause a bit of wife-strife if I ordered them too.Any more classical fans around?

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Hi guitslinger! Congrats on the cool purchase. I am a big fan of classical music. In fact, I was pulling into a store parking lot yesterday when "Mars, Bringer of War" by Gustav Holst came on the radio. I cranked the volume and stayed in the car until it ended.

Don't be so quick to dismiss opera. It may well be the perfect art form, combining instrumental music, vocal music, acting, dance, costume design and stagecraft. Even though I prefer the works of Verdi, my two favorite Mozart operas are Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni. Read up on the story of each and then listen along while reading the libretto. This is good stuff. If you've never done so, you should check out one the live broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera at a movie theater near you.

If you like Mozart, you'll probably enjoy Franz Joseph Haydn and C.P.E. Bach as well.

Of the other two sets you mentioned, I would definitely go for the Beethoven. As for Bach, I think I like the idea of Bach more than I actually like Bach's music. While technically meticulous, it just doesn't move me that much.

Beethoven, on the other hand, was the first great composer of the Romantic period, which is my favorite. Probably my two favorite composers are Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana. Smetana's Má Vlast ("My Fatherland") is the one piece of music I would want if I were stranded on a desert island.

Recently I've been getting into the music of Igor Stravinsky, which is opening up all kinds of new things for me. The Rite of Spring absolutely knocks me out.

The Teaching Company offers an excellent lecture series that I highly recommend called How to Listen To and Understand Great Music. This series is an entertaining way for anyone to learn more about classical music.

Enjoy the Mozart set!

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

Hi guistlinger: the work of one of humanity's finest geniuses for $150 - cheap at the price!

Give the opera a bit of a chance, why not? Try the "Queen of the Night" aria from The Magic Flute (a.k.a. Die Zauberflote). An all time show stopper.

Some Mozart faves: piano concertos numbers 21 (very famous slow movement) and 23. Fifth violin concerto. Symphony number 40.

I wouldn't get too bogged down in the earlier symphonies and concertos at the start, if you're finding your way in. Brilliant for such a young kid of course - but the later stuff / high numbers is where the real action is.

Ooo - and don't forget that Requiem Mass. Wow! Play it loud.

Seeing the film Amadeus sometimes helps bring this stuff to life, too...

Good luck - C

Hi RRH,I've tried to get into opera but I just can't take to it especially the ultra high sopranos,the music is beautiful but there's something about the overtrained voice that just doesn't agree with me.I have works of all the composers you mentioned with the exception of Smetana.I have a fair bit of Haydn as he was such an inspiration to Mozart.Paganini is one of my favourites,I have everything available by him,Salvatore Accardo has a 6 CD set of Paganini's works that's fantastic and worth checking out.I have well over 200 CDs of Classical,Baroque,Medieval,Romantic etc. and many records and tapes.You're right about Stravinsky's Rites it's an amazing work.It's good to see another forumite who shares my appreciation for the classics.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.