Thread: Anyone else feel a bit isolated with their love of classical music?

This isn’t a "feel sorry for myself" post but just an observation and to gauge what others think.
I guess Classical music will always be a minority interest but at reaching my early 50’s I’ve hardly met anyone that has a real love for it that matches my level.
Certainly nobody at work, my family and most of my friends have little interest.
We seem to be spread very thinly, luckily I have many other interests and a great family so it's not a problem, but as for music I seem to be in another world.
Anyone else feel the same way?

Originally Posted by presto

This isn’t a "feel sorry for myself" post but just an observation and to gauge what others think.
I guess Classical music will always be a minority interest but at reaching my early 50’s I’ve hardly met anyone that has a real love for it that matches my level.
Certainly nobody at work, my family and most of my friends have little interest.
We seem to be spread very thinly, luckily I have many other interests and a great family so it's not a problem, but as for music I seem to be in another world.
Anyone else feel the same way?

I understand perfectly.

I've never met anyone with the same passion for opera as me which is why this forum is such a great place.

Hope you make some good friends here.

Some of my friends even believe that music is something you grow out of. I'm pretty horrified by that. What miserable lives those people must lead. I much prefer isolation to that.

Don't worry man, you're not alone. Not trying to sound like a snob or anything but I honestly cannot fathom how most people like lady gaga and the likes better than classical music.

Another kind of off topic observation regarding lady gag, have you guys noticed that compared to how weird and crazy and different she tries to come off as, her actual music is nothing short of ordinary and not weird at all. If she dresses like that she should at least sing music reminiscent of Ferneyhough or something

And all those metal bands that try to come off as SUPER HARDCORE aren't nearly as hardcore sounding as the most violent parts of a Bartok string quartet IMHO.

I feel the same but I'm happy with it. My own voyage of discovery has largely been off my own bat (apart from some valuable pointers from a couple of ex-work colleagues during the early stages of my interest). There's little point in me discussing CM with friends and family if they're likely to be uninterested at best and offer ridicule (gentle or otherwise) at worst as I think that would just create bunker mentality. It's far more productive and rewarding to enter debate, share views, have a joke or two and offer advice with like-minded and sympathetic individuals on sites such as this.

I certainly recognise my isolation, but it doesn't bother me at all any more - good books, good music, good humour; they're all (strangely) loved by a minority.

How could you dig all those tragic symphonies without suffering isolation and misunderstanding from most of people - try to find pleasure in being such a byronic figure, wear XIXth century clothes and tell strangers to call you Manfred.

We opera lovers are even more isolated.
Even here, a classical music forum, there are those who don't understand our passion for opera.
I have the good fortune of being married to a woman who used to play the piano (she quit) and has enough music smarts to enjoy opera with me, although she is not as passionate about it. I have a few friends who like opera but they don't live in my city. Recently I've joined two local opera groups and I'm starting to find people nearby who appreciate it (but as of now they are only acquaintances, not friends yet - this could change).
And over here we have great penpals like Annie and Natalie and many others who love opera as much as I do.
So, lately I haven't felt as lonely regarding opera, but it is something that I used to feel a lot more.

Isolated doesn't begin to describe it. But hey, I was always more of an introvert anyway. So what if nobody can relate to me and vice versa?

Originally Posted by presto

At reaching my early 50’s I’ve hardly met anyone that has a real love for it that matches my level.

That's my story also. It used to bother me But really, classical music pretty much speaks to me individually and differently at different times, so listening is kind of a private matter for me anyway.

I do appreciate online forums like this one. There's always at least someone who relates to how I feel about a particular piece.

Originally Posted by presto

This isn’t a "feel sorry for myself" post but just an observation and to gauge what others think.
I guess Classical music will always be a minority interest but at reaching my early 50’s I’ve hardly met anyone that has a real love for it that matches my level.
Certainly nobody at work, my family and most of my friends have little interest.
We seem to be spread very thinly, luckily I have many other interests and a great family so it's not a problem, but as for music I seem to be in another world.
Anyone else feel the same way?

Suck it up. Comsider yourself a classical soldier.

Growing up, my neighbors were violinists... in undergrad and grad school I've always had at least one friend that shared my interest in classical, in fact I can think of several. I don't currently know anyone interested in classical music, but it doesn't bother me. What bothers me is that there are no concerts within a hundred miles!

As a 12 year old, it's even worse for me. As others are listening to JLS, I'm listening to J. S. Bach.

Originally Posted by An Die Freude

As a 12 year old, it's even worse for me. As others are listening to JLS, I'm listening to J. S. Bach.

I know internet friends aren't the same as 'flesh & blood' friends but at least there are people here you can chat to.

And I hope you never stop listening to JSB.

After so many years, I can still count my classical friends with one hand