Richard Pennycuick wrote: (a very, very long time ago.  I'm running
behind!)

>Sunday afternoons have been improved lately by a series called Great
>Composers, narrated by Kenneth Branagh. ...  if they turn up on a
>station near you, they're worth your time.

I totally agree, Richard.  They are really brightening up my viewing here
in the wilds of northern New South Wales!  It's a shame that the likes of
"Shine", "Hilary and Jackie" and now "Passion" (for none of which I could
raise sufficient enthusiasm to dash out to see) raise more interest at the
box office and therefore in the bank manager's office too.

I recently visited a large shopping centre about two hours' drive from
my home.  Last time I was there, some years ago, they had a record store
where there was the best classical music section I have seen, with a guy
there who really knew his subject, and they carried a lot of imports which
are not released here in Oz.  I naturally spent loads of money, and was
looking forward to repeating the experience.  Alas!  The record store is
still there, and we were able to purchase a CD by the pop group Five for my
grandson, but the CM department looks like it is being wound down.  It was
sad to see.  Thank goodness for the radio, a CM specialist record store in
Sydney which I can telephone if all else fails as it did with the Gieseking
set of Debussy's complete works for piano (the discussion on this List sold
me on the CD's (2) and you were not wrong!) and my own CD's.

I recently heard on our national Classic-FM station Danny Kaye performing
"The Little Fiddle".  I would love to buy it for my grandson.  Does anyone
know if it's on release anywhere, and the name of the CD? Our local record
store cannot get a tracklist, although there are two Danny Kaye CD's in the
catalogue.

Regards,
Carmel Curtis.