Similar CD companies

[Dave2002]

I'm just curious to know - are Regis and Brilliant related compnies? They seem to have similar cds, for example of Maria Joao Pires playing Mozart.

[Roehre]

I'm just curious to know - are Regis and Brilliant related compnies? They seem to have similar cds, for example of Maria Joao Pires playing Mozart.

No, they aren't.
What they both do -and Regis started that succesfully before Kruidvat began Brilliant- is licensing old(er) recordings from a range of (formerly independent) labels varying between Melodija, Unicorn(-Kanchana), Koch (Regis), DGG, EMI, Capriccio, Berlin Classics[=Eterna], Melodija and Decca (Brilliant) and release these at (super-)budget price.

Brilliant began recording for themselves as they started the two big "complete" Mozart and JSBach sets: they recorded -and undeniably quite well- e.g. the complete Mozart symphonies and concertos, and ALL bachian church cantatas (only the secular cantatas were leased from Berlin Classics), keyboard works etc.
For the later "complete" sets, e.g. the Beethoven, Shostakovich, Chopin, they changed tactics and relied mainly on leasing from a whole range of companies, not only the already mentioned ones, but also ASV, Collins, and .... Naxos.
The Brilliant business model is based on the Naxos one, combined with selling them -originally that is- in drugstores in a couple of European countries, the Netherlands as well as Britain.

Regis is now completely overshadowed by Brilliant.

[Alain Maréchal]

Out of curiosity would you mind clarifying "drugstore" please? Its a US English expression which I do not understand in a European context (nor in a US context as it happens - I have never been there). Presumably you do not mean pharmacies.

[Roehre]

Out of curiosity would you mind clarifying "drugstore" please? Its a US English expression which I do not understand in a European context (nor in a US context as it happens - I have never been there). Presumably you do not mean pharmacies.

Haven't you got in Belgium [in Vlaanderen, that is] a store-chain called Kruidvat [een drogisterij-keten], as is the case in the Netherlands?
They were the parent company of Brilliant.

[Alain Maréchal]

I'm a Wallon, and don't know them. Also I made the move to France as soon as I could, and only go back for family festivities (usually funerals these days). I'm also surprised to realise on reflection that I have only ever visited the Netherlands briefly. So, what are they? Pharmacists? and if so what are they doing selling CDs?

[Bryn]

... So, what are they? Pharmacists? and if so what are they doing selling CDs?

In the UK they trade as Superdrug. They and Brilliant Classics have the same parent company IIRC. In the UK, Superdrug were only used to clear excess Brilliant Classics stock at well below their already bargain prices, e.g., towards the end, the complete Shostakovich Symphonies (Barshai) for £5 or even less.

[Dave2002]

No, they aren't.
What they both do -and Regis started that succesfully before Kruidvat began Brilliant- is licensing old(er) recordings from a range of (formerly independent) labels varying between Melodija, Unicorn(-Kanchana), Koch (Regis), DGG, EMI, Capriccio, ...

So (msg 1) these recordings might be different performances and or pressings, then:

http://www.selections.com/mozart-c-te-piano-sonatas-5cds-10220.html

http://www.selections.com/mozart-piano-sonatas-15-18.html

http://www.selections.com/mozart-piano-sonatas-10-12-14.html

[verismissimo]

Brilliant is brilliant... So many terrific acquisitions in recent years, not least the Bach cantatas.

[Roehre]

I'm a Wallon, and don't know them. Also I made the move to France as soon as I could, and only go back for family festivities (usually funerals these days). I'm also surprised to realise on reflection that I have only ever visited the Netherlands briefly. So, what are they? Pharmacists? and if so what are they doing selling CDs?

They are a kind of extended pharmacists, selling soaps, hygiene products in general, cleaning products, sweets, some toys, but also some books and CDs/DVDs, though recently the choice of CDs is decreasing rapidly.

[Roehre]

So (msg 1) these recordings might be different performances and or pressings, then:

http://www.selections.com/mozart-c-te-piano-sonatas-5cds-10220.html

http://www.selections.com/mozart-piano-sonatas-15-18.html

http://www.selections.com/mozart-pia...-10-12-14.html

though not necessarily so -as both companies obviously are able to release identical recordings under ther own licenses- these are likely different recordings and certainly different pressings.

But keep in mind that EMI until recently re-issued material which is/was available on Brilliant too (Saint Saens symphonies and concertos, Ravel and Debussy complete orcehstral works springing to mind here), and the same is done by DGG (the Schönberg/Berg/Webern string quartets - LaSalle a very recent example)

[Alain Maréchal]

Roehre, Thank You. I had no idea Superdrug in the UK sold CDs, I have been in them a few times and never noticed. I'm not sure I like the idea, I prefer (probably because I am accustomed to it) a strict division of retail. I assume it's made possible by deregulation in the UK, pharmacies in France being regulated (like almost everything else).

[Don Petter]

They are a kind of extended pharmacists, selling soaps, hygiene products in general, cleaning products, sweets, some toys, but also some books and CDs/DVDs, though recently the choice of CDs is decreasing rapidly.

I hadn't realised that any of the Superdrugs were pharmacies, as none of our local ones seem to be, just selling health and beauty products. But Wiki says that over 220 of the 900 stores do have a pharmacy counter.

In my fairly rare patronage I haven't seen any CDs there since the great Shostakovich days.

[amateur51]

They are a kind of extended pharmacists, selling soaps, hygiene products in general, cleaning products, sweets, some toys, but also some books and CDs/DVDs, though recently the choice of CDs is decreasing rapidly.

I'll never forget the disorientated look on my father's face when he came home to announce

"I've just seen an extraordinary thing -Boots The Chemist is selling sandwiches!"

[visualnickmos]

In my fairly rare patronage I haven't seen any CDs there since the great Shostakovich days.

Likewise, namely The Strand (London) and Lewisham branches.

[Dave2002]

though not necessarily so -as both companies obviously are able to release identical recordings under ther own licenses- these are likely different recordings and certainly different pressings.

But keep in mind that EMI until recently re-issued material which is/was available on Brilliant too (Saint Saens symphonies and concertos, Ravel and Debussy complete orcehstral works springing to mind here), and the same is done by DGG (the Schönberg/Berg/Webern string quartets - LaSalle a very recent example)

Are licensing companies required to acknowledge the original source? I suspect not nowadays, so hard to trace versions - maybe need to do the Hatto test with iTunes.

Re chemists and similar in the UK I think they can sell mostly what they want, though the converse would not be true - a general shop could not sell medicines or handle prescriptions without some controls. I didn't think France was more regulated than the UK. Boots used to sell CDs - some were licensed from BIS amongst other sources.