What do you prefer?

For me, classical music is very relaxing and gives me peace of mind besides just musical beauty and enjoyment. Johan Strauss waltz music is my favorite. I do also have a collection of Johan Strauss. I am not good at dancing waltz, but I like watching people dancing to Johan Strauss music, very graceful and rythematic.

I have my favorite parts of certain symphonies but there is one symphony that I love all movements equally the same and that is Beethoven's 5th. I wasn't into opera until about ten years ago. The one and only opera i like so far is Carman.But I still have a favorite part and it doesn't have any singing. I like the music that plays when Carmen and the gypsies go to the mountains.

My classical tastes are pretty ecclectic. I like just about anything. I can't really pinpoint what I like, but I know what I like and what I don't like, when I hear it.

I like piano sonatas and chamber music too. When I listen to a symphony I don't think I only like parts of it. I want to hear it to the end. Cheers!!

I think the difference is that anyone can play a tune they know from an advert while they're doing the ironing but listening to a whole symphony requires effort - it's actually quite hard work. Imagine the concentration you need to read a good book and then apply it to listening, then symphonies might have a chance. Opera only really work in the theater or possibly on DVD, for me, otherwise it just seems pointless warbling (even if it's very nice warbling).