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Post by kate on Apr 22, 2014 23:06:28 GMT -5
I wandered into classical late last Fall while searching for the same satisfaction I achieved through the nuanced improvisation and complexity of sound produced by the Dead, which many of you likely find in jazz...while obviously not improvisatory, the sheer diversity of instrumentation and the compositional interactions and dialogues between performing sections (whether full orchestras or smaller ensembles) proved just as rewarding!
Long story even longer, purchasing options revealed that historically esteemed record companies like Sony, Arkiv, DG, etc., were selling large box sets of phenomenal performances at remarkable prices in what I can only guess is a harbinger of the end of physical media. While the big boxes can sometimes be problematic (e.g., "Mozart's/LVB's/Etc. Complete Works" by assorted minor conductors/performers), I discovered that the cream allowed the amateur to quickly amass a collection of titles that many veterans had spent the last 50 years acquiring by single release.
Anyway, since November 2013, I have purchased the following: (1) Toscanini RCA Complete; (2) Masterworks Heritage; (3) Walter The Edition; (4) Abbado Symphony Edition; (5) Callas 30 operas; (6) Furtwangler Legacy; (7) Vivarte The Collection; (8) Berlin PO Century Edition; (9) Arkiv 1947-2013; (10) Perahia 40 years; (11) HVK 1938-60; and the smaller 5-cd Szell/LVB symphony cycle.
On the first listen, I'm moving sequentially through each box, and most recently completed the Abbado symphony set, which made me realize that a contemporary conductor (only recently passed) stood tall with the battery of giants I posthumously call my favourites. This prompted me to research active conductors, ultimately leading to my latest acquisition, which arrived by post today:
A collection of David Zinman's (an American) rather recent performances with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra beginning with his association as music director in 1995.
P.S.: Should you come across an outstanding deal, even if you're not purchasing, please feel free to post here! Incidentally, the Zinman box is selling on Amazon USA for $286USD, yet I purchased it on Amazon Canada for about $75USD with shipping included !!
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Post by Admin on Apr 23, 2014 8:29:48 GMT -5
Interesting post Kate. I started with Jazz and progressed to Classical. Kind of parallel, I was into country music, had to learn Rock and Roll out of necessity (sign of the times in 1954) and then found the blues. My Grandchildren led me to the world of Hip-Hop...
I have a limited collection of Classical, pretty extensive Jazz and very extensive country, blues and gospel...
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Post by Admin on Apr 23, 2014 11:14:10 GMT -5
Actually, the latest purchase was this one that I found at the local "used record store". Don't really understand why anyone would want to part with it.
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Post by tomd on Apr 23, 2014 17:04:03 GMT -5
I just ordered a couple of box sets:
Budapest String Quartet complete Beethoven SQ (1951-52 recordings, 8 CDs); Michel Chapuis complete Bach organ works (14 CDs).
I'd been thinking about both for a while, but they've been hard to find. However, inexpensive UA/France reissues just turned up at Berkshire Record Outlet!
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Post by tom1960 on Apr 23, 2014 19:16:18 GMT -5
Ok, I have yet to make these purchases. But the following are on my radar for the near future. Hopefully.
Living Stereo Collection Volume 2 - Volume 1 has proven to be quite enjoyable and I look forward to the latest edition.
Mercury Living Presence Volumes 1 and 2
Complete Sibelius Symphonies - I haven't made up my mind completely, but I'm learning towards the Herbert Blomstedt/San Francisco Symphony as opposed to the Colin Davis/Boston Symphony performances. The reason being that I really enjoy what Blomstedt and the San Francisco S.O. did with the Carl Nielsen Symphonies.
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Post by kate on Apr 23, 2014 20:43:40 GMT -5
TOM! You are awesome or prescient or both! I just came to this thread to post a heads up for prospective buyers, as I have been oogling the LSC Vol.1 for some time, but simply refused to pay the $200USD required on the secondary market after the first pressing went out of print.
However, Amazon notified me recently that LSC/1 would be reissued with the upcoming (well, now delayed) release of volume 2, and at a remarkable price! Just this evening, I checked my Amazon "wish list" and discovered that the reissued volume 1 has dropped almost $40 since the original announcement (it's down to $100!)....here's the link:
link
What's more, volume 2, the release of which has been pushed back a month to mid-May, is down about 10% since its announced release, check it out here:
link
I would LOVE to order both (check out the contents!), however, I've promised myself to keep VISA under a couple hundred bucks each month and I've already ordered the reissue of Dicks Picks 18 as well as the 2 Morphine albums...{{{sigh}}}
Nonetheless, superlative call, tom!
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Post by tom1960 on Apr 24, 2014 6:10:44 GMT -5
Kate, you should be quite happy with the Living Stereo sets. While I've yet to listen to the entire set of Vol. 1, it has proven to be a most enjoyable experience. Also the fact you're able to purchase the set for less than $2/disc.
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Post by tomd on Apr 25, 2014 13:37:05 GMT -5
Thinking seriously about Probably will buy soon.
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Post by kate on May 12, 2014 17:20:45 GMT -5
Kate, you should be quite happy with the Living Stereo sets. While I've yet to listen to the entire set of Vol. 1, it has proven to be a most enjoyable experience. Also the fact you're able to purchase the set for less than $2/disc. I'm backlogged hundreds of cds over a number of boxes so I don't feel justified purchasing at this time; however, to anyone else watching this magnificent set, I just received notice of a sale over at popmarket.com at which volume 2 is going for $85USD, which, even with added shipping, should come in about 10-15% under Amazon's current price of $107.../k
link
Additionally, you must sign up (register with an email address) to see the sale price and order. I've done so and receive emails weekly about similar sales from just about every major genre - usually box sets.
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2014 15:47:53 GMT -5
SOR: 24 Exercises, Op. 35 / Pieces de Societe, Op. 33 Steven Novacek This is one great guitar album.
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Post by kate on Jun 20, 2014 15:26:52 GMT -5
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Post by tomd on Jun 24, 2014 21:23:21 GMT -5
This was the headline item in Berkshire Record Outlet's weekly e-mailing; I had to order it:
Label: MONOPOLE BRO Code: 158723 UPC Code: 7011778130625 Label Cat. #: MONO 062 Format: CD Amount/set: 3 Audio Type: Mono Genre: Solo Piano{s} Country: GERMANY Bach, The Well-Tempered Clavier. (Samuel Feinberg, piano. Rec. 1959. Remastered 2012. PLEASE NOTE: comes in sparsely annotated plastic case) Price: $5.97
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Post by tomd on Jul 8, 2014 23:13:42 GMT -5
Two more bargains from Berkshire:
Label: BERLIN CLASSICS Format: CD Amount/set: 9 Audio Type: Analogue Haydn, The Piano Sonatas. (Walter Olbertz, piano) Price: $17.91
Label: BERLIN CLASSICS Format: CD Amount/set: 5 Audio Type: Analogue Dvorak, The Nine Symphonies. (Staatskapelle Berlin/ Otmar Suitner) Price: $12.45
I've always been pleased with Berlin Classics releases. Documentation/packaging never very good, but performances are generally excellent, from East German archives.
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