Do you listen to classical music?

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I don’t and never have!

I got a taxi today and the driver switched off the local radio station and put on classical music instead. I found it really relaxing and I thought, why does it never occur to me to do that?

I do play music at home every day through Alexa but never classical!

Yes. I have done since I was a teen and played two instruments. I think it can seem inaccessible if you don’t know much about it, which possibly puts some off. Other people (my DH for example) just don’t enjoy listening to it.

Yes I do. As you're mentioning taxis, I find they always have things like Capital or Heart or whatever on their radio, so I'm pleased to hear you found a classical music loving taxi driver!

Classical music is a real mixed bag, and it's definitely not all relaxing. My favourite is choral music, really old stuff like William Byrd or Thomas Tallis. I'd happily listen to that all day. If I had my way at work, I'd have Radio 3 on in the office, but then everyone else would resign 😅

I didn’t know radio 3 was classical music. It’s passed me by but I’m not sure why! I used to play the piano and enjoy playing popular classical music but never get the urge to listen to it.

I have very eclectic musical taste and often listen to classic fm in the car (depends what mood I’m in!). I also love listening to Alexander Armstrong on that station. He has my favourite voice on the radio. Beautiful 😚👌

I do, in the car on the way to work. I find it helps me relax before a busy day.

I am a professional musician but I never listen to any music as my ears need a break!

Classic FM is a good place to start for sure.

BBC Radio 3 broadcast every Prom live although we’re nearly at the end of the Proms now.

I agree it can be overwhelming and there is so much of it.

It can really touch the soul and I believe there’s something for everyone.

My sibling says he’s not a fan of classical music but he does love Barber’s Adagio for strings (which most people will have heard before on films/tv). He does like to generalise!

YES, YES & YES - every day if my life. However married to a former professional musician. We listen to all kinds of music, but particularly baroque (as DH specialist singer in Baroque music-Byrd, Purcell etc) then Mozart, Beethoven etc

Yes, especially opera. I go regularly to local recitals, and there are a few good chamber and early music festivals in my vicinity.

Yes I have done for many years. It's extremely relaxing. We always have Classic FM on in the kitchen at home and often in the car

My partner is a classically trained singer so shares my passion. I have a you tube folder with all my favourites saved

Vaughan William's The lark ascending is probably my favourite as well as Ritual, Fire dance

Classical music helps take me away from reality

I do. Love it on the background when I work.

If I don't like what's on Radio 4 I will put in A audio 3, no ads unlike Classic.

Yes, I listen to a lot of classical but also pop and rock!
I particularly like Elgar and Vaughan Williams.

I do sometimes. Classic fm is good as long as they're playing stuff I like, not all classical music is relaxing though, can't cope with too much Rachmaninoff myself😂 I don't like opera or chamber music either.
I have a classical playlist for in the house though but I only tend to play when dh is out as he moans and moans about it. It's like an inverted snobbery!

Yes, Classic FM Hall of Fame hour at 9am is a great place to start as you are pretty much guaranteed to recognise the music, even if you don’t know the names/composers.

I choose to play classical music, piano music or film scores while I work and I find it has that beautiful mix of helping me stay focused and in the zone, but also lowers my cortisol and adrenaline so I’m more chill.

And as PP have said, they aren’t all relaxing, some are great for that motivational kick up the arse.

I am in awe of people who can recognise composers from a few bars of music, and I’m definitely a classical music-lite kind of person, but it is good to have some choice.

And the presenters are so much less annoying than on other commercial stations

No, never. I can't explain why but it goes right through me.

Yes I have it on when wfh and in the car. DC have grown up with it and even though are now teenagers they both like listening to it alongside the usual pop stuff.

Yes I’ve started listening to classical playlists when I’ve got a long train journey but I’m tired and don’t want to focus on a podcast, I find it really relaxing.

No, I'd sooner listen to a tap drip.

Yes. Not absolutely every day, but regularly.

I have just listened to a recording of Michael Crawford singing The Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. Fabulous and very moving.

I remember many years ago being taken by my parents to a performance of Mozart's The Magic Flute in Wolverhampton. I loved the music from that and I was only about 10 or 11 years old. I'm 58 now.

I've always loved The Last Night of the Proms too. Great music.

I can identify two professional percussionists in the family on my maternal side. My grandfather played in a cinema orchestra (cinemas had them because films were silent). His older brother was in the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which Sir Henry Wood (of Last Night of the Proms fame) sometimes used to conduct in those days. My grandfather was also an occasional understudy for his brother.

So I guess it is in the family for me, although I enjoy a very wide range of music.

Yeah, not from a family background where classical music was listened to but at high school I got the chance to learn an instrument and sing and it turned out I was actually good at music and even got an A* in A level music. I even got a place to study at the RCS but I am not a performer and went to art school instead. Anyway, I still play for my own pleasure and I listen to all kinds of music now I wasn’t exposed to at home classical, jazz, opera and so on.

I have radio3 on most of the time. Itry to avoid Alexandet Armstrong like the plague.

Yes.

I don't understand much about visual art and so I don't get much from it.

I would say that classical music would be the same- if you have no idea how to listen to it, then yes, it will go right through you. But the more you listen, even if it's just in the background, it will eventually start to seep in. So I'd encourage you to give it a go.

I'm quite uncultured in classical music but I love piano music and listen to a fair bit of Einaudi, Riopy and Alexis Ffrench. Such beautiful and calming music.

Alexis Ffrench’s music is godlike.

Also love Helen Jane Long for piano music

Sometimes. But I don't have a broad taste tbh.

I have a few favourite songs (songs sounds weird when talking classical, but 'pieces' sounds a bit "up my own arse")

Bach - The Toccata and Fugue

Vivaldi - 4 seasons

(Alana Youssefian is an amazing Violinist and well worth searching on YouTube)

Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite No1

Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre

Beethoven - 5th

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