Wrapping up 2024

Dear Subscribers and Readers,

Let me express my profound thanks and awe for the wonderful support and encouragement I have received from you as we have journeyed through 2024. It has been a productive year at Building a Classical Music Collection, and that is mostly thanks to you.

I want to let you know what to expect in the last few weeks of the year, along with a preview of 2025:

• The Building a Collection series, which is in the process of covering the top 250 classical works of all-time and the recommended recordings for each, will continue. Building a Collection posts are free for everyone and will remain so until we reach the end of the series (currently we have covered 68 of the 250 works).

• The Best Classical Albums of 2024 will continue as well and will transition to The Best New Classical Albums of 2025. This series, which highlights the best of the new or recent classical releases available, will remain an exclusive for paid subscribers only.

• In 2025 I will be adding another exclusive series for paid subscribers. I have yet to decide on the exact details, but I am leaning toward taking a closer look at the great musicians, past and present, that have brought classical music alive for audiences and listeners over the centuries.

• I’m sure you are well aware of the “Notes” feature on Substack, and you may be aware I have yet to use it. I am not a social media maven in any way, and I am trying to come to terms with some personal qualms I have in general about social media features such as Notes. I anticipate I will use Notes at some point, but I am not ready yet.

• I am currently at work on #69 for Building a Collection featuring the Sonata in B minor by Franz Liszt. I will be putting this on hold for a week or so in order to focus on the best new classical Holiday and Christmas albums for paid subscribers.

Thank you once again for your support and readership!

John