James Badal's collection of interviews with major orchestra conductors explores the impact of recording the technology on contemporary musical culture. Spanning more than a decade with masters such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Christoph von Dohnanyi, and Christopher Hogwood, these discussions offer valuable commentary on the digital revolution and subsequent compact disc explosion. One issue Recording the Classics addresses is how recordings have significantly raised the general public's level of musical knowledge. Classical music discs provide both entertainment and educationthe traditional, ideal vehicles for increasing the appreciation of great music among those who lack access to recital halls and opera houses. However, listening to music in private affords an essentially different experience than that of attending a live concert; both the public and the musicians are absent from the home listening environment. Badal and maestros Pierre Boulez, Riccardo Chailly, Andrew Davis, Colin Davis, Antal Dorati, Charles Dutoit, Neeme Jarvi, Erich Kunzel, Erich Leinsdorf, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Simon Rattle, and Leonard Slatkin as well as Ashkenazy, Dohnanyi, and Hogwood examine the effect of technology not only on the listening public's perception of music, but also o the manner in which music is made.
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