Bill Blank wrote Re Beethoven: >I have just gotten his violin concerto by Josh Bell which I really like >and listened to it in tandom with Oistrach's recording which has been >my favorite. Now I am confused. Maybe one can have more than one >favorite? I must say though that the Bell really revitalized the concerto >for me. Oh wow! Of COURSE you can have more than one favorite. I have more than a gazillion favorite composers, and I have many recordings of different performers playing the SAME piece. There are so many wonderful musicians both present and past that it's a treat to listen to as many different versions of one special work as possible. That's also a great way to familiarize yourself with different styles and not get too much in a rut thinking that the first performance you heard is the only valid one. It will make you sensitive to style, too. I often buy budget versions of a new piece, and when I start to like it, will spring for a more expensive cd. I have borrowed cds from the library, heard performances on the internet or radio, and in that way I've been able to determine which performers are usually to my taste. If I like them well enough, then I buy them. If you search in second-hand stores you will find good bargains, and you will also find cut-outs at Berkshire Record Outlet and other similar types of mail order places. Mimi Ezust