Clearly I have to start visiting more households in which classical musical is played and appreciated as well as listening to more classical music myself. At present, I'd only be able to come up with Anton Kuerti and Keith Jarrett on a list of classical pianists and the latter is probably as equally well known (if not more so) for his jazz recordings. Is is safe to assume, though, that Grimaud is the only one on Derek's list for whom Stuart pines (a much nicer verb than the obvious).

check on Field Music and Besnard Lakes, which I've got but have yet to play. As Bezaly's Nordic disc featuring Aho, Thomasson, and Lindberg auspiciously contains the exact number of tracks i had remaining this month (13), i've downloaded it as well. thanks for the suggestion.

on the topic of classical music, did anybody read REG's Globe column on Monday about boxed sets? apparently, canada is the cheapest place in the world to buy classical music. evidence in favour:

A complete Mozart set from Brilliant Classics has sold more than 300,000 copies worldwide since its launch last year. That 170-cd box sells for about $130, less than a buck a disc.

i take the point that discs featuring bigger name conductors and musicians may set them aside from the usual naxos recordings but is Vladimir Ashkenazy really a household name? i imagine that if i mentioned this name in any household that allows me to cross its threshold, i'd either receive blank stares or a tongue-in-cheek 'gezundheit' but perhaps i know too many philistines.