Reply #26: My dad liked the loud stuff, Pictures, Saint- Saens organ concerto, 1812

[BeyondGeography]

He would only play excerpts; had no patience for the actual music, just liked the explosions. Too bad, because the second movement of the organ concerto is one of the gentlest and most touching rides in the repertory.

Later on, the Russians got me going; particularly Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev, whom I rarely listen to anymore (save Rachmaninoff's Vespers...highly recommend). But a solid month of listening to Variations on a Theme of Paganini when I was a college student told me "classical" would play a major role in the rest of my life. And it has.