Date: April 18th 2009

Hi all

This email is nothing to do with BSO, but simply to draw your attention to a new and brilliantly useful online musical resource that you may not be aware of. There is a new website www.spotify.com which carries an enormous amount of recorded music available for listening to on your computer. (It is not intended for downloading to listen on your CD/MP3 player, though doubtless this is possible by some (illegal) means.) Provided that you are willing to put up with a very short audio advertisement every half hour or so, you can listen totally free of charge. Alternatively, you can buy a day pass or (I think) a monthly one to listen without adverts. It has recently been mentioned and praised quite widely in the press, which is how I discovered it.

The range of music available is huge, though not totally comprehensive as I believe not all the recording companies support it. For example, I wanted to listen to the Schumann Rhenish Symphony; I was offered 12 different complete versions. Perhaps like me, you are unfamiliar with Bridge's "The Sea" and the Chausson "Poeme" that we are doing next season and want to find out what to expect; there are 7 versions of the Chausson on offer, although only one of the Bridge. In the wider musical field there is also plenty of stuff available. Repertoire I have successfully sought includes Piazzolla, Duke Ellington - and some obscure pop group I've never heard (for my son-in-law!)

Regards
John
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