Has there ever been a better time to collect recordings?

[mathias broucek]

There's much legitimite doom and gloom about how few studio recordings we get these days from big name conductors and orchestras.

However on the positive side:

1. There are truly amazing box set bargains to be had - Icons, Sony Classical Masters, Celi/EMI, Bertini/Mahler, C Kleiber/DG, etc etc

2. We are getting some stunning vintage material from radio station master tapes (RIAS on Audite, Bav RSO on Orfeo, Audite and BR-Klassik, Salzburg Festival on Orfeo, EMI, Sony etc)

3. You can buy 2nd hand stuff VERY cheaply on Marketplace

4. Downloading means that fewer and fewer recordings are out-of-print

Any views?

[Parry1912]

I agree with you. In addition, there seems to be a much wider selection of composers and works available than ever before.

My only grouse (and it's a small one really) is that more and more new recordings seem to be made live and include all the audience noise and applause. Personally, I'm not keen.

[Petrushka]

I do agree but it has had the knock-on effect of creating a serious storage problem!

Looked at from another angle I do feel sorry for those artists performing in the present who are not, perhaps, getting the exposure they deserve. Our loss.

[Alison]

All very true Mathias.

I'd still love a classical CD shop in my own home town.

[Mandryka]

I do agree but it has had the knock-on effect of creating a serious storage problem!

Looked at from another angle I do feel sorry for those artists performing in the present who are not, perhaps, getting the exposure they deserve. Our loss.

Yes, indeed: I do sympathise with up and coming artists who are in danger of being overlooked (or forced to become crossover artists).

This is an ideal time to be a collector, but I fear we may be living in its twilight: with Osborne set to close the Channel Islands tax loophole, CDs (items that are only kept in existence, we're told, by the purchasing power of the over-40s) may soon become a thing of the past. I, for one, will be very sorry if this proves to be the case, as I still think the CD is a thing of beauty and far, far better from every point of view, than any other music medium.

[Mahlerei]

Up-and-coming artists may not be well-served by the majors, but even a cursory survey the smaller, independent labels show they are well represented there. And that's the really depressing part; the big guns are churning out umpteen versions of standard rep and falling back on their back catalogues. Which is why I seldom find anything of interest among their new releases.

[Barbirollians]

Probably not - especially when by today's prices it seems that it cost an arm and a leg to buy a full price LP in the 1960s and with incomes much lower too .

The disappearance of too many records to download only however is a worry - how are new buyers to learn without scholarly sleevenotes ?

[gurnemanz]

I do tend to buy mainly re-releases amongst which there are plenty of great bargains. Some brand new recordings I have greatly enjoyed this year are:

Winterreise, Natasha Mirkovic-De Ro accompanied by the hurdy gurdy: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winterreise-...2092659&sr=8-1

Louis Lortie: Complete Années de Pèlerinage on 2CDs: http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product...HAN10662-2.htm

Thomas Hampson's chamber Knaben Wunderhorn: http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product/CD/4779289.htm

Not to forget Tom Waits, Bad as Me (also same age as me): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bad-As-Me-To...2093699&sr=8-4

[Dave2002]

I do agree but it has had the knock-on effect of creating a serious storage problem!

That's why I'm trying to rip all my CDs to hard drive. It's not quite ideal though. Unless I get rid of the CDs, they still need to be stored somewhere, though the current solution is to put them in large plastic boxes, and store them at the back of our wardrobes. Since our house is one of those chalet bungalow things, the back of the wardrobe is otherwise not really usable because of the sloping roof, so it does make better use of the space. However, getting at them, if ever needed, is a real pain!

It's also a bit tricky working out an optimum strategy for ripping. Single CDs in jewel cases are prime candidates, particularly if you don't want to see the CD cover or read the booklets. Those large volume CD sets with cardboard covers inside are actually quite compact, and it may be that you don't actually want to play all 40 of a 40 CD set very often, so ripping the whole lot may not be ideal. However, for accessibility, that means the box has to be kept out. Opera sets with libretti are useful to have to hand.

The ease of use of accessing a ripped CD from multiple locations is also worth having though, but it might not be worth ripping everything.

I'd be less bothered if the quality of downloads from music stores was at least as good as CD quality, and if the booklet and other design work could be available, but that's just not the case. I think we'll end up with a hybrid solution, where some CDs are available for playing, and others are stored. Maybe we'll have them on rotation to and from the accessible shelves.

[Biffo]

- how are new buyers to learn without scholarly sleevenotes ?

I am afraid scholarly sleevenotes are also a thing of the past. For a discussion elsewhere, I was reading the booklet that came with Harnoncourt's 1966 version of Bach's Mass in B minor. I can't remember when I last saw something as comprehensive with a new release. Reissues seem to have minimal (or no) sleeve notes, not even the ones from the original issue.

[vinteuil]

Yes, maybe lovely for us, who buy CDs.

I'm far from sure it's lovely for young musicians wanting to make a career at the moment. With all these marvellous cheapo CDs from the past, who is going to be interested in buying a really 'new' CD from a new ensemble?

[Panjandrum]

Yes, maybe lovely for us, who buy CDs.

I'm far from sure it's lovely for young musicians wanting to make a career at the moment. With all these marvellous cheapo CDs from the past, who is going to be interested in buying a really 'new' CD from a new ensemble?

I take it you always take the expensive option and further the cause of new ensembles whenever the opportunity presents itself?

[Rolmill]

I am afraid scholarly sleevenotes are also a thing of the past....I can't remember when I last saw something as comprehensive with a new release.

Generally agreed, but an honourable exception should be made for Hyperion - especially Graham Johnson's various lieder series.

[Roehre]

Generally agreed, but an honourable exception should be made for Hyperion - especially Graham Johnson's various lieder series.

As well as for BIS, CPO, MDG, Dutton Epoch, Harmonia Mundi, Channel Classics and other "small"/"specialist" labels

[Biffo]

Perhaps I was being a bit too gloomy. BIS and CPO do provide excellent notes. Harmonia Mundi are a bit more variable but they usually provide full texts and translations. I don't have enough Dutton discs to comment fully but the few I have do contain good notes.