Joe Hagedorn wrote:

>I've been thinking of subscribing to a one of these magazines.  Actually
>I was thinking of subscibing to BBC's Music magazine.  Is there a better
>choice? I'm looking for something that would be good for a beginner I
>only have about a 90 CD's in my collection.

I've been a reasonably satisfied subscriber to the BBC Music Magazine for
more than five years.  I think I've learned a lot from it, and I always
look forward to getting it.  I just finished listening to this month's
cover disc, Beethoven Symphonies 6 and 8.  All of these discs are in the
CD-ROM Extra format, so you even get an interactive listening guide.  While
some of the cover discs are pretty forgettable -- count on getting some
Christmas music at the end of the year -- some discs are sensational.
Great ones that I can think of offhand include:  Toscanini's Eroica from
1938 (date might be off by a year or two); a two-disc Messiah in Mozart's
orchestration, in CD-ROM Extra -- what a buy!; Holst's Planets; and, of
course, the bargain of the century:  Mark Wigglesworth conducting the Welsh
National Symphony in Mahler 10.  I did say offhand, and I'm sure there have
been other outstanding CD's.  Although there are exceptions, I've been
pleased that the cover discs are often complete works vice excerpts.

If you're a beginner, you might enjoy the Building a Classical Library
section.  I imagine a lot of readers have enjoyed the music instruction
modules, which, if you are not yet a subscriber, will probably conclude by
the time your subscription starts.  One word of warning:  The BBCMM has
stopped publishing its special issues, so has become somewhat less of a
bargain.  OTOH, they have now started packaging the disc liner notes as
true liner notes included in the jewel case; previously, they were part
of the magazine so it was hard to keep the notes with the discs without
cramming them into the case.

Another thing I like about the magazine is the inclusion of Benchmark
recordings with many of the reviews.  While these are subjective, of
course, they give you a place to start if you want to compare a previous
version of a disc under review.

I would say give the BBCMM a chance for a year.  At worst, you'll have
at least six or eight discs that you will want to keep.  Other than my
subscription, I have no connection with the magazine.

Mitch Friedfeld