In reply to:

Have 'tried' it time and again, but realised that, if it wasn't 'speaking to my soul', as it were, then my trying it was like the man, his son and the donkey - doing things for fear of the disapprobation of others.

Hear, hear! While I am a fan of classical music, I share your sentiments. Indeed, I echo them when pressed for an explanation of my not having read certain "obligatory" classics - what classical music is for you, Dickens is for me. (I shall now duck for cover)