Classical music bargains

[crisp]

Not sure if this has been posted. Vivarte set (60 CDs) for £51.99 at Amazon UK.

[king ubu]

I got mine for a bit more than 40€ in summer (and I think I posted a link back then, too) ... had been eyeing it for months ... but I'm still not sure it's worth getting ... have probably played around 20 discs (and have heard some before, the very good Haydn symphonies by Tafelmusik for instance, there I got the recent cheapo seven disc set). Some of it, I found pretty plodding, prodding, heavy-handed ... guess I don't "get" van Immerseel, really ... but then some of it is very good (the Boccherini discs by Bylsma come to mind, also other stuff by Tafelmusik).

[jazzbo]

I bought the Vegh set on Valois years ago, when I was heavily influenced by the Penguin Guide and similar sources. It's pretty good, but not the ultimate IMO - the consistent gripe (which I pretty much agree with) is that Sandor Vegh on violin often has poor intonation. The sound quality and instrumental balance are also not optimal, but not to the extent of being deal-breakers for me. I recommend that set at reasonable price levels, but wouldn't pay up. I agree that earlier Vegh recordings would be worth hearing (though I haven't heard them), because intonation problems would be much less.

I concur that the Budapest recordings at Berkshire are very tempting! The Takacs also seem to get excellent reviews, but I haven't heard so can't comment.

I got the Vegh set in a few days ago and have listened to the first four discs twice each.

I mostly know the music from the Guarnieri Quartet cycle and I'm familiar with the Tokyo Quartet cycle. To be honest (and it seems not many share this opinion) so far the Guarnieri is still my favorite though the Vegh has a very tight ensemble sound and a rhythmic emphasis that is different and interesting. The sound. . . is okay. Not knocking my socks off.

The booklet has nice background on the compositions.

Edited November 29, 2013 by jazzbo

[king ubu]

Making a re-appearance in January, it seems:

some discussion of contents in a comment here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00303WQMO/ref=pe_228771_42020801_pe_epc__1p_2_ti

hope they'll include that booklet again! but then at that price ...

http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00303WQMO/

Edited December 2, 2013 by king ubu

[ejp626]

Sorry if already mentioned, but I picked up Slatkin conducts Elgar - a 4CD box (http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Slatkin-Conducts-Elgar/dp/B00EC0VWQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385954657&sr=8-1&keywords=slatkin+elgar)

The store had it at a decent price ($18) and I had some store credit anyway...

I'll try to report back after listening to some of it over the next few days.

Edited December 2, 2013 by ejp626

[David Ayers]

Thanks for the news on the Sony Ligeti. Got a couple of the singles. Long familiar with Ligeti, was fairly sure I didn't need much of that material, the stuff on Teldec is more important for me, but at the right price this could well be the time...

[David Ayers]

...Although actually I did just read through the comments on amazon and every work he picks out I know in one version or another, the others I thought I didn't need to know...so even at this price I am wondering whether my original decisions should just stand...

[king ubu]

I'm wondering, too ... not that I'm anywhere near the point where I know what I need anways, but ... got the Teldec set, too, and also the Wergo "Special Edition" packing together their three single discs (two of which I've listened to while in highschool, they had them at the library there) ... and I snatched up an Aimard disc that's in the Sony box ("Works for Piano", Vol. 3 of the Edition).

[David Ayers]

Well the Aimard is the most essential I think. You probably want the string quartets if you don't have them, although I personally don't care for the first one which is among his early works (none of which I care for) and I think it only gets recorded because 1 + 2 makes for a tidy-looking package. I don't want the opera as I wouldn't listen to it. Of the other works that first reviewer basically thinks what I think - the important works are the ones he lists. I mean, heck, it's cheap, but it is too complete - although the etudes which he continued to write are not complete and you have to go out of your way to get the last few...for example to Aimard's, um, shall we say 'original' African Rhythms disc (not keen) which includes three later ones, I think, and even that may not include the very last one (can't remember).

I guess there's no harm in adding it to the pile but for me the piles have turned into bad Feng Shui so I tend to edit out (maybe more than I should? I can only listen to a few notes at a time).

[king ubu]

Okay, thanks! I've got the string quartets (by the Ardittis) in the Wergo set, rec. 1978 (plus a live rec. of no. 2 from 2005, again by the Ardittis but in changed line-up).

And whoah, off-topic here, but just found this, lots of live music recorded at festivals by German radio station SWR 2 - these are MP3 @ 192 kbs ... and there's one with Isabelle Faust doing a Ligeti piece (trio for violin, french horn and piano):

http://www.swr.de/swr2/festivals/schwetzinger-festspiele/sendungen/-/id=657016/v5sc4n/index.html

Once you're on the page of the programme you're interested, to grab the (untracked) MP3, click on "Audio herunterladen", for (some) more info click on "mehr zur Sendung".

[king ubu]

more off topic, but there's more here, including one with Patricia Kopatchinskaja (performing Frank Martin's "Polyptyque") right on top:

http://www.swr.de/swr2/programm/sendungen/konzerte/abendkonzerte-on-demand/-/id=659392/nid=659392/did=9356208/o9n3s1/index.html

[David Ayers]

Thanks for the links! I have a soft spot for the Ligeti trio...and I certainly heart PatKop!

[king ubu]

That stuff is taken down after six months, it seems (not sure about the second link - those are streaming only, but if you know how ...)

[David Ayers]

That stuff is taken down after six months, it seems (not sure about the second link - those are streaming only, but if you know how ...)

True but as everyone now knows I am very comfortable with non-ownership so this is great for me! And, uh, yes I do know of course....

[king ubu]

Oh sure I do know ... but there's no chance to revisit these once they're taken down, so ....

Btw, do you have the Ligeti set on DG that's also mentioned in that review on the 9CD set? It does seem to hold a few things I still miss (like those bagatelles).

[David Ayers]

I don't have the DG set as I do have many of the pieces either in the DG recordings or from the Sony set. My Ligeti holdings are probably a little incomplete for that reason. Problems, problems...

[Leeway]

Arkiv Music has the Musique d'Abord Series on sale for $5.99 each.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/listPage.jsp?list_id=1318&page_size=100&site_id=E1210

I have had a few titles from the series and was thinking of adding some more. Looking for thoughts on this series generally or recommendations for particular titles.

[king ubu]

Delalande: Petits Motets (Christie) - effin' gorgeous!

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, Symphonies Nos. 21 & 27 (Portal, Entremont) - best Mozart concerto I've heard ... wonderfully subdued, allowing the music to really shine)

others I've enjoyed:

Delalande: Te Deum (Christie)

Lully: Petits Motets (Christie)

Lully: Grands Motets (Herreweghe)

Monteverdi: Lamento della ninfa / Altri canti di Marte (Christie)

Monteverdi: Selva Morale e Spirituale - recueil de 1640 (extraits) (Christie)

Ockeghem: Requiem (Peres)

guess you can indeed say I love William Christie and his combo (Les Arts Florissants) ... what with singers like Véronique Gens, Sandrine Piau, Guillemette Laurens, Dominique Visse ... the Ockeghem is one of the very few classical discs I've had (AND occasionally played) since high school.

[king ubu]

has this one been mentioned?

from what little I've heard by these dudes and dudettes, I'm pretty interested!

27 € at amazon.fr currently:

http://www.amazon.fr/Magnificat-Rinaldo-Alessandrini/dp/B00EO7XPXO/

[ejp626]

Sorry if already mentioned, but I picked up Slatkin conducts Elgar - a 4CD box (http://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Slatkin-Conducts-Elgar/dp/B00EC0VWQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385954657&sr=8-1&keywords=slatkin+elgar)

The store had it at a decent price ($18) and I had some store credit anyway...

I'll try to report back after listening to some of it over the next few days.

I haven't listened to all of it (just 2 or 4 CDs), but I enjoyed what I heard. Enigma Variations was nicely played. There is also the Cello Concerto (with Janos Starker); hard to go wrong there.

[Stefan Wood]

I love the Barshai Symphonies, and the added material made this impossible to resist ($86 shipped from broinc.com):

[crisp]

There's a second Living Stereo collection scheduled for February. Amazon UK has it on preorder for £53.99 (60 discs). No idea what's in it.

[ejp626]

There's a second Living Stereo collection scheduled for February. Amazon UK has it on preorder for £53.99 (60 discs). No idea what's in it.

I believe these are the contents (didn't verify beyond a quick search though): http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/RCA-Living-Stereo-Vol-2/hnum/3793157

Definitely tempting. I have the Reiner already (but there is not that much -- Box 1 is more Reiner heavy). A bit more Munch and Leinsdorf. I'd definitely listen to this more than the Decca #2 set, which I think I will pass on.

[Leeway]

Complete Wagner operas, DGG, 43 CDs, $74.58. Are the performances any good?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00980IA3M/ref=pe_183950_89393130_pe_epc__1p_3_ti

[David Ayers]

I don't see how you can go wrong with that Wagner set. That said, I only know the Solti Lohengrin (and it's the only Lohengrin I know!) So my advice is worth squat.