Robert Peters wrote: >Hello to everybody! I am a novice to this list. Having watched it now >for two weeks and being very pleasantly surprised by the jovial tone and >obvious sophistication of the lists members, I put a step forward with a >humble request. ... > >So this is my question: Which, say, 25 works, do you think are absolutely >essential for every serious classical CD collection? The works should be >of every period (from the Middle Ages to the present) and from every genre >(opera, Lied, symphony, chamber music, concert, etc.). Welcome to this list! You seem to be doing fine all by yourself in your gradual accumulation of CDs and I suspect that if you continued acquiring CDs based simply upon what struck your fancy you'll be compiling a collection that will give you as much pleasure as if you were following someone else's prescribed list. That said, I notice that, aside from the Schubert and Schumann Lieder cycles, your collection consists of works for large ensembles (Operas, choral works, and orchestral works). Might I suggest some works for piano solos and chamber music, including quartets, quintets, trios, etc. Others will no doubt make specific suggestions. Follow them or your own intuition. Enjoy! Walter Meyer