Bargains

[gurnemanz]

Yes indeed. Given the great composers and very fine singers (and accompanists) who inhabit the world of lieder, I have always assumed that I must be missing something and so have persevered. I have given up trying and am waiting for lieder to come to me. A sort of reverse of 'following my lieder'

I snapped up that Wolf Anniversary box when it first came out. It's full of diverse delights. I was immediately won over by Wolf when I borrowed a double LP of Goethe settings with Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore from the public library over 40 years ago - now available in this marvellous five star box, which also contains the orchestral works conducted by F-D:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Lieder-Orchesterwerke-Gerald-Moore/dp/B00008ADJQ

Cheaper at the grocer's: http://www.sainsburysentertainment.c...duct=E10106442

"Combining the eroticism of Wagner and genius of Schumann, Hugo Wolf's lieder are mini-masterpieces," says Ian Bostridge. I agree with him. Here's his article if anyone wants converting:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2006/sep/15/classicalmusicandopera

[french frank]

The Martinon Debussy/Ravel is currently GBP 13.99 + free UK delivery at Sainsbury's Entertainment. Tempting.

https://www.sainsburysentertainment....duct=E11106977

And you get 26 nectar points - welcome NLK1971, btw (do I have to do everything is this place? )

[Mandryka]

Bernstein's Columbia (as was) Mahler cycle:

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/27992887/-/Product.html?ptsl=1&listingid=878476990

You can actually get it for about a quid less on blah, dvd.co.uk, but - in my experience - they aren't as fast.

[NLK1971]

And you get 26 nectar points - welcome NLK1971, btw (do I have to do everything is this place? )

Thanks. Personally I've never had that thrill of being a nectar point collector.

Recently I acquired Abbado's Rossini from Amazon Spain (20.16 Euros excluding delivery) - If Schopenhauer thought Rossini a genius, that's good enough for me.
http://www.amazon.es/4-Comic-Operas-...8772109&sr=1-1

And Chapuis's complete Bach Organ Works (24.74 Euros) which promptly became even cheaper for a few days...
http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B005..._ya_os_product

Warning: Prices on Amazon Spain can be highly variable.

[Petrushka]

Bernstein's Columbia (as was) Mahler cycle:

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/27992887/-/Product.html?ptsl=1&listingid=878476990

You can actually get it for about a quid less on blah, dvd.co.uk, but - in my experience - they aren't as fast.

I have all of these issues that came out in the Bernstein Century series. Can anyone tell me if it is worth replacing them with this set as I believe they have been remastered to good effect?

[Mandryka]

I have all of these issues that came out in the Bernstein Century series. Can anyone tell me if it is worth replacing them with this set as I believe they have been remastered to good effect?

I think the current Mahler Bernstein edition uses Japanese remasters, which are supposedly of high quality. I've read several reviews that comment upon the vast improvement in sound.

Only having heard the 7th symphony in the BC series, I can't really comment myself, but you might care to look at some of the amazon reviews.

[martin_opera]

Very nice 12-CD box of Leontyne Price song recitals on Amazon for £10. The Strauss Vier Letze Lieder is especially good but I haven't heard the rest so I have ordered.

[verismissimo]

I snapped up that Wolf Anniversary box when it first came out. It's full of diverse delights...
"Combining the eroticism of Wagner and genius of Schumann, Hugo Wolf's lieder are mini-masterpieces," says Ian Bostridge. I agree with him. Here's his article if anyone wants converting:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2006...lmusicandopera

It's a really excellent introduction to Wolf, this set IMO.

[remdataram]

Presto Classical have a Beethoven box featuring Simon Rattle.

It includes the Nine Symphonies with the VPO, Fidelio with the BPO, two performances with differing cadenzas of the 1st Piano Concerto and the 2nd Piano Concerto - both with Lars Vogt and the CBSO.

All for the silly price of £12.60 plus £1.50 p&p for the 9 discs! (£22.40 on Amazon).

[AmpH]

Very nice 12-CD box of Leontyne Price song recitals on Amazon for £10. The Strauss Vier Letze Lieder is especially good but I haven't heard the rest so I have ordered.

I've ordered this too - wonderful singer.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Amazon price for the Rattle beethoven now £15 post free so only pennies in it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...1991131_snp_dp

[hafod]

Presto Classical have a Beethoven box featuring Simon Rattle.

It includes the Nine Symphonies with the VPO, Fidelio with the BPO, two performances with differing cadenzas of the 1st Piano Concerto and the 2nd Piano Concerto - both with Lars Vogt and the CBSO.

All for the silly price of £12.60 plus £1.50 p&p for the 9 discs! (£22.40 on Amazon).

£8.75 at MDT plus £3 delivery.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/beethoven-complete-symphonies-piano-concertos-simon-rattle-emi-classics-9cds.html

[remdataram]

£8.75 at MDT plus £3 delivery.
http://www.mdt.co.uk/beethoven-compl...sics-9cds.html

Ridiculous prices, we end up grabbing these offers fearing we'll never see these prices (and in same cases the cd's) again. The rate that downloads are increasing in number makes me nervous about the future of cd availability, particularly as classical retailers are disappearing rapidly.

[hafod]

Ridiculous prices, we end up grabbing these offers fearing we'll never see these prices (and in same cases the cd's) again. The rate that downloads are increasing in number makes me nervous about the future of cd availability, particularly as classical retailers are disappearing rapidly.

Agreed. But there will be a good second-hand market for many years as the experience with LPs shows. In fact, when cds arrived on the scene a number of people moved exclusively to cds and virtually 'dumped' their LP collections. I acquired hundreds of LPs for pennies each in the mid 80's some of them now worth good money if I wanted and could be bothered to sell them. I will never go down the download route - too long in the tooth for starters - and my LP/cd collection will see me out. I do not see cd-players being phased out not least because of the encuraging precedent set by the continuing availability of tuntables.

[mathias broucek]

I do not see cd-players being phased out not least because of the encouraging precedent set by the continuing availability of turntables.

Right. And, although the sound from a good condition LP on a well constructed and set-up turntable can be a thing of wonder, for most people LP was a compromised medium in a way that CD is not.