Brahms Violin Concerto

[cloughie]

Having ordered the 'RCA' Monteux box, today I was advised of the forthcoming release of a 44 CD box of Sxeryng's Philips, Mercury and DGG recordings. THe lowest 'pre-order' price appears to ve that from HMV online (£79.99 with free p&p).



This new set will include his Haitink and Dorati recordings of the Brahms concerto.

Full listing on the Presto Classical site.

Obviously Bryn you were more fortunate than me in getting into the HMV ordering and registration system!

[Bryn]

Obviously Bryn you were more fortunate than me in getting into the HMV ordering and registration system!

It was indeed something of a struggle, but I got there in the end. They have the cheek to charge £3 for their "Pure" loyalty card, though they do credit one with several thousand 'points' as a reward. It's many a year since I was a regualar user of their old site. Back then, many new releases were at usefully reduced prices.

[cloughie]

It was indeed something of a struggle, but I got there in the end. They have the cheek to charge £3 for their "Pure" loyalty card, though they do credit one with several thousand 'points' as a reward. It's many a year since I was a regualar user of their old site. Back then, many new releases were at usefully reduced prices.

So is pure card ownership part and parcel of the privelige of buying from them?

[Bryn]

So is pure card ownership part and parcel of the privelige of buying from them?

I think it is voluntary. The 10.001 points I got at registration are worth at least £1.66 once another 19,999 points are added. Their individual value rises as more and more are accumulated. At 150.000 points in total, 10,000 ponts contribute £3.33 towards a total discount of £50. Confused? You won't be after this week's episode of S***.

[pastoralguy]

I had a LOT of HMV points before they went into liquidation. I lost the lot! On the very rare occasions I go into the one HMV shop in Edinburgh I always find it amusing when I'm asked if I have a loyalty card. The classical section is pitiful, over stocked with Katherine Jenkins, Alfie Boe and Russel Watson. The 3 or 4 items I'm interested in can be procured cheaper from Amazon.

[cloughie]

I think it is voluntary. The 10.001 points I got at registration are worth at least £1.66 once another 29.999 points are added. Their individual value rises as more and more are accumulated. At 150.000 points in total, 10,000 ponts contribute £3.33 towards a total discount of £50. Confused? You won't be after this week's episode of S***.

Would have been easier if HMV signed up to Nectar!

[Bryn]

Would have been easier if HMV signed up to Nectar!

Ah, but they clearly want to tie one closely to HMV and encourage extravagant purchasing. I doubt I will ever fully recoup my £3 upfront outlay. This Szeryng order will take me up to 18,000 points. Still a long way to go before I can employ even the minimum £5 discount. (Typos in #64 about to be corrected.)

[mikealdren]

Europadisc are £79.75 without the hassle of HMV, I'm tempted as I haven't many of the Szeryng CDs in the box apart from the Mozart Sonatas and Concertos.

[richardfinegold]

The Monteux box arrived yesterday, which I think is the fastest that I’ve ever been shipped anything on Amazon. I didn’t get a chance to listen to it

[Bryn]

Mine (from a marketplace supplier) has been dispatched, but the quickest amazon related delivery (and service in general) came last week from Winghale Books. On the 8th inst. I contacted them seeking clarification of the hopelessly inaccurate Amazon description of the Vogel biograph of Janacek they were offering for £7.00 plus p&p. Winghale responded withing an hour with a detailed description of the book. I ordered it immediately and it arrived the next day. Now that's want I call service. Trouble is, Amazon would not let me rate Winghale until several days later.

[pastoralguy]

I'm listening to Christian Ferras' recording with Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker in a side by side comparison with the '1960's' box set and a 'Compact Classics' compilation from the 80's. I have to say, the 1980's presentation is much kinder to Ferras' tone and the bass is much better focused.

[Barbirollians]

I'm listening to Christian Ferras' recording with Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker in a side by side comparison with the '1960's' box set and a 'Compact Classics' compilation from the 80's. I have to say, the 1980's presentation is much kinder to Ferras' tone and the bass is much better focused.

I have been listening to the live 1950s mono recording of Ida Haendel with the SWR Orchestra and Hans Muller-Kray on Hanssler Classics . It is a very moving account getting to the heart of Brahms in a way that eludes Szeryng to my ears.

It remains one of the great missed opportunities of recorded music that EMI did not let Ida H loose in a recording studio in the 1970s with all the great concertos and not just the Sibelius,Elgar etc .

[pastoralguy]

I have been listening to the live 1950s mono recording of Ida Haendel with the SWR Orchestra and Hans Muller-Kray on Hanssler Classics . It is a very moving account getting to the heart of Brahms in a way that eludes Szeryng to my ears.

It remains one of the great missed opportunities of recorded music that EMI did not let Ida H loose in a recording studio in the 1970s with all the great concertos and not just the Sibelius,Elgar etc .

Absolutely! Wasn't the senior EMI producer, David Bicknell, married to Gioconda de Vito who, naturally, got opportunities that Ida should have got?

[mikealdren]

Absolutely! Wasn't the senior EMI producer, David Bicknell, married to Gioconda de Vito who, naturally, got opportunities that Ida should have got?

There may have been some truth in this earlier but I don't think Gioconda de Vito (born 1907) was still recording in the 1970s, her main recordings date from the 1950s.

[Cockney Sparrow]

..........Gioconda de Vito........

I'd not heard of this artist. Thanks for the recommendation (#72) - I'll give the Haendel a listen (on Naxos Music Lib - PDF booklet available - Catalogue No CD94.202 http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...-library/page2-#16 et al ).