Satoshi Akima wrote: >Even worse is when you actually buy chunky boxed sets and then take them >home. I assure the very sight of the huge thing will put you off even >contemplating the chore of playing the whole monstrosity through from >the first CD to last. It is a sure formula for a Mozartian to come to >hate Mozart. I am sure you would be far better off taking time, even if >this means years, of exploring Mozart's output bit by bit, reading and >researching as you go. Box sets are sometimes like packaged tours - they >don't really allow you to 'live' with the music. To each his own! I learned to love Beethoven through the DGG vinyl Beethoven Edition, and Mozart through the Philips Mozart Edition. I'm a sort of plunge-into-it guy, and for me the complete immersion in a single composer's output brings rewards that I can't get by listening bit-by-bit over many years. Of course, I return to composers over a period of many years, deepening my understanding and appreciation. But the thorough immersion never fails to give me great satisfaction. I did it with Verdi this year, and Bach is up next year. Peter Goldstein