Bargains

[Bryn]

Thanks. Most probably the direct am uk one is the one to go for, then - assuming one admires Lupu sufficiently.

I can't remember ever hearing Lupu - though if I did it would have been in a concerto performance many, many years ago. I missed (just couldn't fit it into my schedule - my ticket was sold IIRC) a recital by Lupu some years ago, which had most people I spoke to saying it was the best piano recital they'd ever heard.

I already have his Schubert recordings, so the 10 disc set is not for me.

[visualnickmos]

Just arrived this morning hot-foot from Italy: RVW 'Collector's Edition' 30 CDs. I will have some duplications, of course, but I'm greatly looking forward to hearing for the first time for me, his choral and vocal works...... and probably some other works I may not be aware of. Not bad for less than £8 incl. p&p!

[visualnickmos]

Radu Lupu solo box set at a reasonable price from am market place sellers - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-lis...ords=Radu+Lupu

Also at am.it most probably at a lower price (in Euros), but you'd have to work out whether the postage would make it more expensive http://www.amazon.it/Radu-Lupu-Compl...ords=Radu+Lupu

I got this a few years ago when it was on 'special offer' - at a ludicrously bargain price. It is a lovely set - I admire Radu Lupu's approach - nothing is over-egged. He plays at a 'natural' pace..... I saw him give a concert years ago at the RFH (IIRC) of LvB piano concerto no. 5 - I can't remember orchestra or conductor!

[Bryn]

Just one working day beyond the estimated delivery date range, the Warner 30 CD RVW Collector's Edition, (£8.59 incl. p&p) from amazon.it, has just been delivered. Loads of duplicates, but still very much worth getting.

[muzzer]

Mine just arrived. Hours in fact days of listening in prospect.

[teamsaint]

Mine too. Hurrah.
And thanks to whoever flagged this up, the eternally vigilant Hafod IIRC.

[HighlandDougie]

And another thanks from me - it was in the French mailbox when I got back yesterday from Italy. I now have three sets of the Handley/V-W symphonies so, anyone who would like one of them - free - send me a PM

[Hitch]

Chalk up another RVW set from Italy. I first heard Vernon Handley's recording of the Fifth and Flos Campi on a cassette tape at a time when I needed aural succour. It was just the ticket. Now I have a treasure chest to explore. Thank you to Hafod for nosing out such a wonderful bargain - and to the Italian suppliers for being as good as their word.

[teamsaint]

There is a new copy of " The Art of Sinopoli" box set on Amazon Market place for about £22 inc Pand P.

[Dave2002]

'Portrait' box: (the one currently under consideration)

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Wolfgang-Unterzaucher/Performer/26083-2

'Masterworks' box: (the earlier one cited by Bryn)

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=92804

I leave a detailed comparison to others on the basis that life is too short and I don't want either box anyway.

There are differences between the Portraits box, and the Green and Blue Masterworks boxes.

The Portrait box has Sawallisch in the symphonies, with the New Philharmonia.

The string quartets are played by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Quartet in Portrait, and by the Sharon Quartet in the Green box.

I think the versions of Elias and Paulus are different. I've not had time or the inclination to compare them.

The Green box has cello sonatas - which are good - my copy has escaped hopefully only temporarily.

Portrait has Antigone which I'd not heard of.

The Blue box appears to have the string symphonies played by the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - which is I think a full body of strings (i.e not cut down significantly), conducted by Masur. Actually I think I have those already in another separate collection - they're very good - very crisp playing. (now more expensive - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Sym...ing+symphonies)

The Portrait box and the Green box have the String Symphonies played by the Amsterdam Sinfonietta conducted by Lev Markiz - a somewhat "softer" approach - which may be more appropriate, but the Gewandhaus performances are very impressive indeed.
Naxos also had a box of Mendelssohn works, including the String Symphonies played by the Northern Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Ward - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-...mphonies+naxos

That Naxos White box seems to be still available - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-...mphonies+naxos though is probably no longer competitively priced against other versions.

I agree about life being too short to make a very detailed comparison. At the (earlier) low price the Portrait box has things to commend it, and there's quite a lot of choral and other music which is not heard often. Some buyers may never play those CDs!

It was a bargain.

The price has now risen very substantially, so no longer a significant bargain. I suspect that Brilliant will do yet more repackaging to produce a similar, but not identical, box in the future. Anyone who got the Portrait box cheaply should find something to enjoy within it. However, anyone who only wants the usual numbered symphonies might look for the Sawallisch performances elsewhere (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-...ohn+Sawallisch ),
or look to Abbado's set - for example - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-.../dp/B00005ONMP

Incidentally one thing I did not know was the (approximate) order of composition of Mendelssohn's numbered symphonies. The Scottish was the last to be completely composed, and the order is

1 (1824 - Mendelssohn 15 years old)
5 (1829-30)
4 (1833 - performed, but not published during Mendelssohn's life time)
2 (1840)
3 (1829-44 - premiered in 1844)

The early string symphonies were written between 1821-23 - Mendelssohn was 12-14 then.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_M...ohn#Symphonies

[verismissimo]

Great post, Dave.

[visualnickmos]

Talking things Mendelssohn bargains, I acquired this some years ago (at about a quarter of this price, alas) and it is superb. Christoph Eschenbach's playing where appropriate, is sublime. A great set, worth hunting out a cheaper offer; there may well be a few about.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-Complete-Chamber-Music-Various/dp/B00008GQFF/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1431413422&sr=1-3&keywords=mendelssohn+brilliant

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Talking things Mendelssohn bargains, I acquired this some years ago (at about a quarter of this price, alas) and it is superb. Christoph Eschenbach's playing where appropriate, is sublime. A great set, worth hunting out a cheaper offer; there may well be a few about.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mendelssohn-...sohn+brilliant

Ah! Those are the recordings that were also in the green box (nla) that Dave mentions in his splendid post.

[Dave2002]

Whilst checking out some of the other Mendelssohn offers I came across this Beethoven string quartet set for less than a tenner http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Co...B929XE2M2G1BQV I have those recordings already, and despite my previous reservations about some of the AB's playing which I need to check again, this is surely a good deal for anyone who doesn't have it already, or any Beethoven quartets. Perhaps Hafod will reemerge and tell us it's even cheaper ordered from Planet Zog or Ruritania [thanks for all your previous suggestions, BTW] but I would call this one a bargain.

The snag is that due to the change in Amazon's delivery policy you have to buy £20 or more of "stuff" to get free delivery. Some will delight in that, others will find it a pain.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The snag is that due to the change in Amazon's delivery policy you have to buy £20 or more of "stuff" to get free delivery. Some will delight in that, others will find it a pain.

Not that much of a snag, though - if anyone only wants the Quartets, the p&p is only £1.49, so total for the box is £10.12: still a bargain for seven CDs of this quality.