Bargains

[Bryn]

Actually, the Dowland set is cheaper via http://www.thehut.com/cd/north/dowla.../10565381.html where you don't have to pay an extra £1.99 for p&p. Not a big difference but every penny counts in these hard times.

[Chris Newman]

To anyone setting up a record collection this must be Manna from heaven.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1320259171&sr=1-1

And I am sure can be found even cheaper.

[Tapiola]

Did I but already have that Dowland set ...

Bryn,

Do you know the Lindberg set (I haven't checked, but until reissued on licence by Brilliant)? I got it for £8 in my local HMV last year. I also have the North instalments. I have listened to neither closely enough to have a preference, only occasional dips-in...

[Bryn]

I got both sets around the same time and like you have only dipped in from time to time. I find a little Dowland goes a long way. I have no particular grasp of the interpretive issues where Dowland is concerned. I just know I find both North and Lindberg well worth listening to.

[Tapiola]

reinerfan,

Thanks for the extra info . I may well order this Membran release. I have a few of their previous historical releases, which range from the very good to adequate.

I currently own the Gebhardt 53 Ring, which is good in terms of detail but with telescopic sound and light on bass.

I have had opportunity to listen today to this Membran release. It would appear to be the EMI version, thankfully.

My history with these performances has been spotty, to say the least. Originally downloaded via iTunes (on a label I did not recognise but seemed aurally to be the EMI CD release), several of the 13 or so results suffered from digital clicks at the end of tracks. My primitive handle on Audacity removed some, though in the end I did not have the time nor energy to rectify them all. Following positive reviews on Amazon about the Gebhardt transfer I paid way over the odds for a set (being stung by customs on its traversal over The Pond), and initially thought it very good. In fact the Gebhardt is a total disaster - devoid of balance and fullness of texture, regular blasting and utterly lacking in bass (a travesty in Furtwangler, IMO).

The Membran may be a direct EMI transfer which, if received opinion counts for anything, is heavyhanded in terms of filtering, but at least they retain a good depth and strong bass.

I am currently listening to Siegfried Act 1 (having listened to Rhiengold last night), and in terms of drama, nuance, tempi, transitions, and sheer understanding, in my experience there is none better than Furtwangler in this music (and I adore Krauss).

[Tapiola]

I find a little Dowland goes a long way.

I agree very much, Bryn. What I tend to do is programme a few random-play tracks and take it from there.

That said, I intend to keep both sets, if for no other reason than fact that North chooses subjective programmes in his discs and Lindberg does the chronologically published thing.

[Bryn]

Apologies for tardy reply.

There are some mis-labellings with the set. Nothing that a felt tip pen will not solve. In my set everything is there but the contents of Disc 3 and 4 are swapped so that Symphony No 5 begins on Disc 4 and finishes on Disc 3. Disc 8, the first two movements of Symphony 8 are correct as with the booklet but the screen tells you otherwise: ignore the screen. Disc 10 tries to tell you on the screen that it is the Lowe:Carragan version of the 9th Symphony which is cobblers. I have the same recording on DVD and it is Novak. Celi would never have done the Carragan which includes the fourth movement.

As far as I have got the set is tremendous. I am hanging on to mine and relabelling discs 3 and 4.

I find myself somewhat confused by this set. Are the recordings different from those issued back around 2000 by DGG?

Ah, I now see they are not.

[MickyD]

I agree very much, Bryn. What I tend to do is programme a few random-play tracks and take it from there.

That said, I intend to keep both sets, if for no other reason than fact that North chooses subjective programmes in his discs and Lindberg does the chronologically published thing.

Some time ago I got hold of the Paul O'Dette set on Harmonia Mundi - his collection runs to five discs, including various extras. A lovely recording, but I'd agree, it's certainly not to be played at one sitting!

[murieston]

Fauré Complete Chamber Music for Strings

EMI have the very recent Fauré 5 cd box set of the complete chamber music for strings for £9.99. http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProduct...;-1&sku=247136
Amazon have the same set for £21.97. The Capucon brothers, Nicolas Angelich, Michel d'Alberto , Gérard Caussé and the quatuor Ebene all feature on these discs. A really stellar, French cast. It has some delightful music and is a steal at £9.99.

[Parry1912]

EMI have the very recent Fauré 5 cd box set of the complete chamber music for strings for £9.99. http://hmv.com/hmvweb/displayProduct...;-1&sku=247136

Good spot! Duly ordered.

[Dave2002]

Did anyone else notice the Barber Anniversary CDs - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samuel-Barbe.../dp/B002ZBTWLU

Just over £9 for 2 CDs from marketplace sellers. Are these worth having?

[Dave2002]

To anyone setting up a record collection this must be Manna from heaven.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1320259171&sr=1-1

And I am sure can be found even cheaper.

MMmmm. The price is now £3 cheaper than when I ordered it, and my set hasn't arrived yet!

[Bryn]

Did anyone else notice the Barber Anniversary CDs - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samuel-Barbe.../dp/B002ZBTWLU

Just over £9 for 2 CDs from marketplace sellers. Are these worth having?

Thanks for the alert, Dave. I have ordered the lowest priced "As New" copy. I think that means that Play.com is now the most competitive supplier:

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/-/13067843/-/Product.html?source=9593&_$ja=tsid:11853|prd:78888

Bear in mind that p&p are included in the Play.com price but not in those on the Amazon Marketplace listings.

[HighlandDougie]

Dave

Worth the wait. Delivered yesterday by Patricia la Poste, having only been ordered from Amazon France on Thursday night. Much has been crammed in, resulting in some very long CDs (War Requiem on a single CD, for instance). I have a number of the discs anyway but the booklet, the packaging, the price (£1.50 per disc) and some gems unheard since my youth (Katchen's Bartok 3, Mehta's Varese) have all combined to make me not worry too much about that. A bit difficult to conceal from the other half, though

[Panjandrum]

Thanks for the alert, Dave. I have ordered the lowest priced "As New" copy. I think that means that Play.com is now the most competitive supplier:

http://www.play.com/Music/CD/-/13067843/-/Product.html?source=9593&_$ja=tsid:11853|prd:78888

Bear in mind that p&p are included in the Play.com price but not in those on the Amazon Marketplace listings.

True, but in my experience Marketplace traders fulfill their orders quicker than Play.