From: "alexander inglis" <alexander.inglis@canrem.com>
Subject: music near toronto
Reply-To: "alexander inglis" <alexander.inglis@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: rec
Date: 4 Jan 93 14:58:20 EST

To: bob.warren@canrem.com

BW>    So do I, but I live in Brampton and work in North York. I don't
  >get downtown that often, so other than over to Square One I'm not
  >able to frequent a large number of music stores. There _is_ an HMV
  >outlet at the Bramalea Shopping Centre, but fairly expensive.

You'd find it worthwile taking a leisurely drive to Toronto some Sunday.
A&As, Sam's and HMV are all open at least Noon-6. Roads are clear,
parking is free and the stores are not overcrowded. HMV's *everyday*
prices are silly but the new releases rack (the length of the store!)
always has a wide selection of material at decent prices. They also have
a "CD Club". Buy anything over $15.99/disc and they'll give you one
credit on a card. Collect 10 credits and they'll deduct up to $26.99
from a CD (or set) of your choice, even if it's on sale.

BW>    As I recall, there's a music shoppe in the Eaton Centre which
  > is Classical only, but only saw it once.

It's called Classicus and is a division of Discus. It's not worth the
trouble of going there. Roy Thomson Hall, home of the Toronto Symphony,
has a decent "boutique" that's much better stocked than Classicus. The
fellow who runs it is insufferable but he can be ignored!

BW>Tell me a litte more about your music interests. You might be better to
  >use private mail. You can upload to U-Classic but mark the entry private
  >and enter the FIRST line of your message as:

BW>To: alexander.inglis@canrem.com

This worked, BTW.

BW>     Music interests:
BW>             Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms

And Schubert, I hope, just to round out the classics! It's no accident
that these are the best sellers, too!

BW>             _some_ symphonic/orchestral works
  >             _some_  barocque (Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Purcell, Albinoni)
  >             piano/violin/cello concerti

I hope you enjoy chamber music. I suppose it's a bit more of an acquired
taste but works like the two Schubert Piano Trios (piano, violin &
cello) have passages that will rip your heart out.

BW>     That is today - I don't have a feel for opera yet, but I don't
  >    close the door on it, I just haven't a sufficient interest yet.

I always thought Opera on TV would be a good way to absorb the stuff:
you get first-rate casts, on-the-spot translations and, with simulcasts
or home video, decent sound. But it usually bores the pants off me!
Guess I've just *heard* too much opera without *seeing* it. I got hooked
when I bought a second hand copy of Maria Callas doing Bellini's Norma
(in mono!). A popular excerpt from this -- Casta diva! -- is remarkably
moving. I quickly rushed out to attend my first live opera at the
O'Keefe Centre -- Wagner's Goetterdaemmerung (all four hours of it)! I
loved it. Guess I was *born* to be incorrigible.

You can do worse than try a complete listen to Mozart's Marriage of
Figaro or Magic Flute; or Puccini's La Boheme or Bizet's Carmen. If
there's an opera lover lurking inside you, these are definite unlocking
keys. Don't fuss too much about plot; enjoy the melodies.

BW>     You're welcome. Some closed minds over there (esp. Jim Lee) but
  >  I enjoy Paul Moor's insights and retrospectives. I noticed in a
  >  recent issue of Audio magazine several record reviews by Paul Moor.
  >  Is he syndicated, I wonder ?

I've been monitoring this area only recently. I'll "be on my guard"!

Till later ....

Alexander Inglis  |  InterNet: alexander.inglis@canrem.com
Toronto,  Canada  |  CompuServe: 70307,20     BIX: ainglis
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