Presto's Black Friday

[underthecountertenor]

Amongst the inundation of Black Friday emails in my inbox, I have found one which might almost tempt me to part with some money. Presto is offering 10 big boxes at 60% off. Barenboim's 'complete' (though not really) Wagner operas for £30, for example. The biggest is the Callas ultra-complete studio recordings, 69 CDs plus libretti on CD Rom for a touch over £90. I'm really torn - tempted but should I splurge on yet more CDs when my shelves are already groaning?
Anyway, that's my crisis. What I'd like to know is: what would tempt you from this selection, and why? This thread has a very limited shelf-life, but I'd love to hear your thoughts before deciding whether to take the plunge and, if so, how bit a splash....

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/promo.php?promo=602&blurb=602

[french frank]

Heh, heh: probably Schubert as I don't think I could risk a set of the Mozart where PC 21 is subtitled 'Elvira Madigan'. I'd get away quite cheaply with those on offer :-)

[underthecountertenor]

Ha! Funnily enough, the Schubert is the only one I already have, in its original incarnation. Thanks for the much needed bucket of cold water, ff!

[french frank]

Thanks for the much needed bucket of cold water, ff!

Oh, dear, I do feel guilty - it isn't every year we have a Black Friday, after all …

[Bryn]

I was briefly tempted by the Delius box, until, that is, I checked and found it was available for somewhat less elsewhere.

[Dave2002]

I was briefly tempted by the Delius box, until, that is, I checked and found it was available for somewhat less elsewhere.

I have the Delius already - not much played - which is normal! I had to look hard at the Mozart PCs to realise that most of the performances are by Brendel. Some of those are really good - though it might not be my faviourite set overall. I really like some of the early Mozart as played by Brendel - but I'm less keen on some of the later ones - they're good, but some others do at least as well. I actually liked some of Brendel's early recordings a lot - such as for PC 27, which came out on Vox. At the price it's probably a good buy - unless Bryn or others can find it cheaper elsewhere. I might still try for that, though I might keep my credit card locked up for safety!

The Schubert box looks good - though I'm not sure that I need another Schubert set - though I don't have that one. Similarly for the Emerson's Beethoven.

For non CD/DVD purchases I did go for Adobe Elements 14 and Premiere - on Amazon, which do seem to be at a good price today. Originally I looked at John Lewis, as we apparently need a new iron system - and there is a significant saving today. It was then that I spotted today's price on the Adobe software, but Amazon turned out to be more convenient.

[underthecountertenor]

A VERY full response, Dave!! Thanks!

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks for the much needed bucket of cold water

.

[Flosshilde]

How about this for £17.80!

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/6089852

[Bryn]

How about this for £17.80!

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/EMI/6089852

Did I not already have nearly all the recordings therein ...

[Alison]

Good info Nethers, I was similarly tempted by the Delius.

[Dave2002]

Am I now going to regret having kept my wallet closed? Perhaps not. The (mostly) Brendel Mozart set is now around £36 at Presto C. I shall console myself eventually by playing some other versions which I happen to have lying around.

However, turns out that the Adobe software which I did order was a very significant saving - now up to around £80, and I hope it does what it was intended for.

[Conchis]

The Delius is one of the best boxes I've bought - and I managed to get it for under a tenner last year! Just to make the deal even sweeter, the box didn't have that wretched and unwelcome Warner logo on it.

Pretty much a one-stop shop for the casual Delian (which I am): you get some very fine versions of just about everything he ever wrote (some are the best recordings available).

[cloughie]

The Delius is one of the best boxes I've bought - and I managed to get it for under a tenner last year! Just to make the deal even sweeter, the box didn't have that wretched and unwelcome Warner logo on it.

It is quite annoying as are Phillips reissues with the Decca logo, not that I have any problem with the Decca logo on genuine Decca reissues.

[Conchis]

It is quite annoying as are Phillips reissues with the Decca logo, not that I have any problem with the Decca logo on genuine Decca reissues.

It's really VERY unwelcome, isn't it? Can't they leave it in the small print as to who actually owns the catalogue, without wrecking the cover with an (historically) anomalous logo?