BBC Legends

[mathias broucek]

Thanks folks

I'll order the Icon box which seems to include several of Alf's recommendations. I may then explore some of the other recommendations.

[Flosshilde]

Are those champing at the bit here aware that the highest quality audio available via the Naxos Music Library is about two thirds that which is on offer from the on demand version of Radio 3 on the iPlayer, and way less than half the quality of Radio 3's HD Sound 'live' stream? It's that poor audio quality which is the deciding factor for me. If the music is worth listening to, surely it is worth hearing in very much better audio quality than is on offer at the Naxos Music Library?

Are they only available as downloads?

[Bryn]

Are they only available as downloads?

From Naxos, I think so. However, it's still worth searching for the CD issues via Google or specific CD vendors such as Amazon. Many turn up as sensible prices, though some command ridiculous sums.

[mathias broucek]

BBC Legends has now also turned-up on emusic.

Haven't downloaded any yet but apparently bit rates are 200-230ish.

[Chris Newman]

BBC recordings are now appearing on the Ica Legacy Label, pressed in Austria. I noticed a bunch of Boult live recordings, Brahms 1 and Enigma, Beethoven PCs with Emil Gilels, Svetlanov and Callas and other goodies not all BBC sourced on sale at The Collector's Corner in Salisbury. Sadly I spent all my allowance on Frank Martin's Golgothaon another label. However it is good to know that the supply of BBC vintage recordings are coming back on tap.

http://www.icartists.co.uk/classics

[Barbirollians]

I have snapped up a couple of these and the Gilels/Boult Beethoven is thrilling even if a dry old RFH recordings. The Rubinstein Brahms 2 is shaping up to be marvellous as I write .

[kirkandrews]

Regine Crespin...Les Nuits d'ete, Hector Berlioz...magnifique!!!

[Barbirollians]

This Rubinstein Brahms 2 on ICA Classics is truly marvellous - have played it lots of times over the last few weeks and it is enchanting.

[Barbirollians]

Having listened enraptured to Boult’s recording of the Unfinished this morning I do miss the BBC Legends label . I understand a few linger at Presto as downloads but considering how expensive many are secondhand - Maderna’s Mahler 9 going for £82 - it is a great shame they have gone.

[gurnemanz]

I got both the 20CD ICA boxes for a reasonable price a few years ago. Googling just now, I noticed that ICA seem to selling them as a download for an absurdly low price of £7.50

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends-volume-2

Presto are charging over £100.

[cloughie]

I got both the 20CD ICA boxes for a reasonable price a few years ago. Googling just now, I noticed that ICA seem to selling them as a download for an absurdly low price of £7.50

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends-volume-2

Presto are charging over £100.

Thanks gurn - I’ll explore shortly!

[Bryn]

I got both the 20CD ICA boxes for a reasonable price a few years ago. Googling just now, I noticed that ICA seem to selling them as a download for an absurdly low price of £7.50

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends-volume-2

[URL="https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8363111--bbc-legends-volume-2"] . . .

Mp3 only, though. Any idea what data rate?

[gurnemanz]

[QUOTE=Bryn;866483]

I got both the 20CD ICA boxes for a reasonable price a few years ago. Googling just now, I noticed that ICA seem to selling them as a download for an absurdly low price of £7.50

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends

https://icaclassics.com/releases/bbc-legends-volume-2

[URL="https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8363111--bbc-legends-volume-2"] . . . /QUOTE]

Mp3 only, though. Any idea what data rate?

No idea. It did strike me that no details were given. I can only say that at that price you might swallow only having mp3. Anyway, these are older live recordings (mostly 50s and 60s), many mono, where perhaps performance rather than quality of recorded sound is of prior concern.

A couple of pre-war Toscanini recordings with BBC SO. Gramophone wrote of the 1939 Missa Solemnis with BBC SO:

"The BBC's transfer eschews excessive de-hissing for a quiet sea of surface noise that soon ceases to matter, and although the overall sound profile emerges as rather murky (certainly in comparison with the relatively clear post-war RCA recording), the performance is so consistently gripping, that you're soon drawn in. Toscanini's audible singing (you hear it throughout the set) is further proof of his ecstatic involvement.
To encounter the Missa solemnis at such a high level of interpretative excellence is a unique privilege."

[Barbirollians]

[QUOTE=gurnemanz;866490]

No idea. It did strike me that no details were given. I can only say that at that price you might swallow only having mp3. Anyway, these are older live recordings (mostly 50s and 60s), many mono, where perhaps performance rather than quality of recorded sound is of prior concern.

A couple of pre-war Toscanini recordings with BBC SO. Gramophone wrote of the 1939 Missa Solemnis with BBC SO:

"The BBC's transfer eschews excessive de-hissing for a quiet sea of surface noise that soon ceases to matter, and although the overall sound profile emerges as rather murky (certainly in comparison with the relatively clear post-war RCA recording), the performance is so consistently gripping, that you're soon drawn in. Toscanini's audible singing (you hear it throughout the set) is further proof of his ecstatic involvement.
To encounter the Missa solemnis at such a high level of interpretative excellence is a unique privilege."

Although quite a lot of the ICA Classics discs issued later are still around on CD all those issued under the BBC Legends banner are now deleted except for the MP3s of those two 20CD boxes.

[Bryn]

No idea. It did strike me that no details were given. I can only say that at that price you might swallow only having mp3. Anyway, these are older live recordings (mostly 50s and 60s), many mono, where perhaps performance rather than quality of recorded sound is of prior concern. . . .

Aha, they are a healthy 320kbps: https://icaclassics.com/contact

However, they are not the most straightforward zips to extract from. File labelling leaves a lot to be desired, too.