Classical music bargains

[Stefan Wood]

For me, this is the benchmark:

But for the price I would love to hear the Neumann, and I do hear that his cycle is one of the best. This was recorded in the early 70's, right?

[David Ayers]

Well, I wouldn't want to have a benchmark myself. Really the entire cycle is for reference, it seems to me, not for life, the best of the symphonies are to be heard in many versions. I have a very low tolerance for the sound of historical recordings of orchestral repertoire. That's why Neumann is going in the car! Thankfully Rowicki and Kertesz are both on Spotify. Hurrah!

[Stefan Wood]

One of these days I'll have to investigate Spotify.

[Stefan Wood]

Dvorak box shipped this evening for $7.99!

[Д.Д.]

Ottorino Respighi: Orchestral Works (EMI Classical) for £4 at amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co...37018766&sr=8-3

Listened to disc 1 only so far - loved it. This Pini di Roma piece is dramatic!

Hope EMI continues with their 20th Century Classics series (http://www.emiclassics.com/catalogueresults.php?sser=MjB0aCBDZW50dXJ5IENsYXNzaWNz ) , but frankly I can't think of any of the "big" composers they have not covered yet (well, they actually miss Berg and Webern... and all Americans... they still miss a lot actually).

[T.D.]

I fear it's too late for this (showing back-order), but amazon.ca is improbably offering

15 Yves Nat CDs for C$16.09

[ejp626]

I fear it's too late for this (showing back-order), but amazon.ca is improbably offering

15 Yves Nat CDs for C$16.09

I guess you never know. You can always put in an order. I think this one is more likely to be fulfilled:

Complete Sampson Francois (EMI)

I briefly considered this yesterday but decided 30+ CDs was too much even for me, and I went for this slimmed down 3 CD box instead: Sampson Trilogie

[Д.Д.]

Courtesy of Bons Plans Classiques blog - Mozart Complete Edition on Brilliant (170 CDs) for €13 from a market seller at Spanish amazon: http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00410LHBG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bonsplanscl05-21&linkCode=as2&camp=3626&creative=24822&creativeASIN=B00410LHBG

[Stefan Wood]

Courtesy of Bons Plans Classiques blog - Mozart Complete Edition on Brilliant (170 CDs) for €13 from a market seller at Spanish amazon: http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00410LHBG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bonsplanscl05-21&linkCode=as2&camp=3626&creative=24822&creativeASIN=B00410LHBG

For that price, what the heck?

[Bigshot]

They must have left off a zero.

[crisp]

Liszt: the Piano Collection (EMI): 10 discs for £10.49 at Amazon UK.

[B. Goren.]

The Debussy Collection: 18 CDs for £22.47 .

[jazzbo]

85 discs for 75 dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Arturo-Toscanini-The-Complete-Collection/dp/B006VKKAWQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338662565&sr=8-1

[Bigshot]

Importcds.com has the best price on the big Rubinstein box and a ten percent off sale that brings 142 CDs, 2DVDs and a hardback book to just over $200.

[jazzbo]

Yes, that is a great set, I've been enjoying it this year.

[ejp626]

85 discs for 75 dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Arturo-Toscanini-The-Complete-Collection/dp/B006VKKAWQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338662565&sr=8-1

That's interesting. I actually paid somewhat more for this from Amazon.co.uk, though fortunately not drastically more. But it now seems to be OOP in the UK. Hope it actually turns up on Amazon.com.

[B. Goren.]

85 discs for 75 dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/Arturo-Toscanini-The-Complete-Collection/dp/B006VKKAWQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338662565&sr=8-1

That's interesting. I actually paid somewhat more for this from Amazon.co.uk, though fortunately not drastically more. But it now seems to be OOP in the UK. Hope it actually turns up on Amazon.com.

How's the sound quality of these recordings?

[Chuck Nessa]

Thorough reviews on the UK Amazon site.

[B. Goren.]

Thorough reviews on the UK Amazon site.

Thanks Chuck.

[ejp626]

One thing about the Toscanini Collection is that there is a pressing problem where the 1953 live version of Beethoven Eroica is repeated twice instead of the 1949 studio version (on CD1). Sony appears to be aware of this, so the Amazon.com set will *probably* be corrected. One can only hope. People who have already ordered from Amazon.co.uk are hoping that there will be a way to contact Sony (or possibly Amazon) to get the one disc fixed (as with the Glenn Gould set) rather than returning the entire thing. Not sure anyone else on the board was impacted, but I can post my experiences if I do find out how to get a corrected disc.

[A Lark Ascending]

This has appeared as a download - probably later to appear in CD, memory stick and God only knows what other format:

If you don't know Bridge there's a marvellous journey there from Edwardian sub-Brahmsianism through Impressionism to the edge of the world of Berg and Bartok.

Got to be better than yet another 900 CD Celebrity Conductor Ancestor Worship box playing all the usual suspects!

[Stefan Wood]

Too much Toscanini for me. Now, if it was Hermann Scherchen.......

[king ubu]

Hope EMI continues with their 20th Century Classics series (http://www.emiclassics.com/catalogueresults.php?sser=MjB0aCBDZW50dXJ5IENsYXNzaWNz ) , but frankly I can't think of any of the "big" composers they have not covered yet (well, they actually miss Berg and Webern... and all Americans... they still miss a lot actually).

Any particular favorites and recommendations there?

I've laid eyes on the Honegger and the Satie but haven't jumped for them (nor for any others from the series).

[A Lark Ascending]

6CDs for £15 on Amazon, a bit more elsewhere.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/4404712

It's all been out in various permutations before but looks like a good 'thorough immersion' set for anyone not familiar with Holst beyond 'The Planets'.

[David Ayers]

Hope EMI continues with their 20th Century Classics series (http://www.emiclassics.com/catalogueresults.php?sser=MjB0aCBDZW50dXJ5IENsYXNzaWNz ) , but frankly I can't think of any of the "big" composers they have not covered yet (well, they actually miss Berg and Webern... and all Americans... they still miss a lot actually).

Any particular favorites and recommendations there?

I've laid eyes on the Honegger and the Satie but haven't jumped for them (nor for any others from the series).

If you haven't yet done Dutilleux, that's worthwhile (though ignore the opening piece, Le Loup). There's a few of those quite promising if you don't already know the repertoire. The Hindemith with Mathis etc. is a very good compilation. I don't know the Abbado Kammermusiken but can't be bad. I never too much interest in Hartmann but there's a chance to revisit him. Stockhausen! And Suk cond. Pesek. Dutilleux for sure.

BTW the list at DD's link is not complete. There are over 60.