The London Lounge

I just learned that my local CD-shop (the only one in town selling exclusively classical music) is closing down. It's so depressing. The only thing I've been caring to do this evening is to listen to Adagietto from Mahler's 5th Symphony on repeat.

I've been buying all my music there for the last 8 years. Jan, the owner of the shop, is such a nice man - treating every single customer with respect. He always remembered what I had purchased the last time, and asked me if I was satisfied, how I liked the particular recording, etc. I never figured out how he did it. I have had so many great discussions about music, books, movies, stupid politicians ( ) with him through the years, and he has recommended me so many great recordings.

Boy, I will miss him and his little store. This post is a tribute to him. And with the CD-format rapidly disappearing, it's like an era coming to an end.
And I wonder if the digital wonder can offer me interesting conversations, personalized service and a sense of connection with other people sharing my passions...

Think I'll change to "At Sunset" by Richard Strauss now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsX3pr26ruY

CreamCat

CreamCat, I understand your sense of loss and sympathize with you, if it is any comfort. Perhaps it is possible to perpetuate friendship beyond the supplier - customer relationship. Cheer up with a Mozart sonata in a major key and, rather than wonder about the world of digital music, consider this a good reason to go to concerts more often and listen to music being made live. There is nothing like the sound of a symphonic orchestra in a music hall with good natural acoustics. Or even a string quartet, performing Haydn or in the intimacy of a small concert hall.
On the other hand, you won't have the chance to listen to pieces like Mahler's 8th being performed all too often, so I guess records ARE good for something...

Costi,

thank you. You're absolutely right. And I'm not planning to give up. As long as magazines like Grammaphone are around I'll manage to keep myself updated on the latest releases. And as you said, there'll always be concerts.

Sometimes it seems so unfair that people can make a fortune by selling low quality clothes or food, while someone like the owner of my local CD store, who has spent his life making high quality music available, and who always provides service and help far beyond the expected, gets rewarded with bankruptcy. For a long while, we had the same problem in bespoke I think.