This is embarrassingly low brow, but from the age of five I was grabbed by my father's 78s of hits from Gilbert and Sullivan.  Also hits from the Nutcracker.

Sullivan prepared me for Mozart's Da Ponte operas.  Once we were on to LPs (the first LP dad got was Oklahoma!) I listened over and over to Beethoven's Symphonies.

At my ghastly prep school, the sadistic philistine headmaster used to play one classic 78 every Wednesday assembly.  (His favourite piece was "Softly awakes my heart"  - Mon coeur ouvre a ta voix  Although he taught French, it was sung in English.  I have only been impressed by it since hearing the wonderful Shirley Verrett sing it live.)  I remember William Tell, Ride of the Valkyries, Marriage of Figaro overture, Largo al factotum, Hebrides.  All works with a literary connection.

Dad also had lots of Romantic Piano Concerti.  They did nothing for me then, and do nothing for me now.  I've also lost interest in symphonies generally in preference to opera and chamber. That may be my loss.  People will have all sorts of different tastes and interests, which will develop as they do.

Thank you.

I remember reading the labels on the 78s which (correctly) attributed the songs to Arthur Sullivan.  At the age of 5 I thought, but why mention him.  I thought that once the words were written, the tune would be obvious.

Actually that shows what a genius Sullivan was - as you say some of Gilbert's words are to very odd metres and Sullivan makes them sound inevitable.

Kitty

Point taken.  I used the term in relation to myself and my background, rather than to criticize others.  I'm English, so self-depreciation is a natural mode to follow.  It's not always very healthy (and often expresses arrogance rather than modesty) but it is standard English social strategy.

G'n'S occupied a rather odd position in British culture, and I was defending myself in advance from criticism that I didn't really appreciate classical music.

I totally agree that appreciation should not be po faced - an element of fun is important, but when I have had tears running down my cheeks, at ie Vaughan Williams Hugh the Drover  I know this is important, it touches me at a deep level, and it is more than mere fun.

All the best.

Kitty, just wanted to say that this made me smile a ridiculous amount. (I've been sitting around all day, trying to lift myself out of a very strange depressed mood after finishing a big piece of work yesterday and not quite knowing what to do with myself.)

I actually don't know what children or beginners should listen to. Sometimes I think I do, and at other times I think that everyone should be left alone with the things they already enjoy for themselves. Introducing others to what you love is all very well, but it's so often hard to explain quite what you like about it, at least not without some pre-established common ground.

I guess I believe in happy accidents ...

That's beautiful!

He also made a nice one of Daphnis et Chloe, and of Clair de Lune. Lovely.

Compulsory music appreciation lessons at school started me on this long road.  G and S, Enigma Variations and Rimsky's Scheherazade were my earliest loves and still remain so.  My lifelong and continuing interest in British light music also helped to lead me into heavier items.

Ian.

Sir Malcolm Sargent.

What a wonderful conductor. A bit forgotten nowadays. Just like Eugene Goossens. I love the In Memoriam LP the BBC made after Sir Malcolm died. Such a moving LP.

If all goes well perhaps he will return for more advice?