Harry Collier

I bought my first recordings in 1956; they were Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (Concertgebouworkest under Eric Kleiber) and either the Beethoven 7th or the Eroica (Philhamonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan – I cannot remember which came first). To be followed over the next couple of years by the Brahms Violin Concerto (David Oistrakh, Franz Konwitschny), Beethoven Violin Concerto (Bronislav Gimpel, Heinrich Hollreiser), Debussy Images and Daphnis & Chloe (10 inch LP with Guido Cantelli and the Philharmonia), Sibelius 6th and 7th Symphonies (von Karajan, Philharmonia), Saint-Saëns Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, and Havanaise (Alfredo Campoli, 10 inch medium play). These were added to my small collection of 78s (played on a wind-up gramophone): Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with Yehudi Menuhin and George Enescu, and Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Overture – minus the third side; I only learned many years later that the music continued after the sword fighting. 

Other early purchases included Guido Cantelli conducting Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, and Schubert's Unfinished (Philharmonia). To these was added a 10" Decca disc of Brahms Academic Festival, and Tragic, overtures (Eduard van Beinum).

My current recording collection is listed via this link; the collection is searchable. Apart from listening to recordings (increasingly centred on Bach and Handel) I also play the violin or viola from time to time; nowadays, very infrequently, alas. My opinions on the various music I listen to are recorded occasionally in my blog.

My violas are pictured in two links -- viola-1, and viola-2. The violin is pictured in this link. Any comments to: