Bargains

[MickyD]

It is a great shame about the lack of notes from the Mozart and Haydn boxes, they were all part of the pleasure of the original issues for me...but still, as Dougie so rightly says, don't hesitate at these prices. The recordings are some of the very best from the L'Oiseau Lyre catalogue, with that unmistakeably fabulous Decca sound.

[Bryn]

When I borrowed the Hogwood Mozart set from the local library a decade or so ago, I was sufficiently impressed with the booklet notes that accompanied that release to photocopy them. I received an email from amazon.it yesterday advising that though delayed, the set I ordered onm the 18th inst. is now being prepared for dispatch, and that the delay in the dispatch should not cause delivery to extend beyond that estimated. Bated breath.

[amateur51]

Amazon.it is selling the Decca 33 CD Richter box for about £46, a bargain if you have not already got a good chunk of it

Then there is a bargain of bargains, a 15 CD set of recordings by the wonderful French pianist Yves Nat including his complete cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas (7 CDs) which is one of my favourites.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Documents/600113 .. down to £10.87 inc delivery on amazon uk Prime

[Bryn]

Amazon.it is selling the Decca 33 CD Richter box for about £46, a bargain if you have not already got a good chunk of it

Then there is a bargain of bargains, a 15 CD set of recordings by the wonderful French pianist Yves Nat including his complete cycle of Beethoven piano sonatas (7 CDs) which is one of my favourites.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Documents/600113 .. down to £10.87 inc delivery on amazon uk Prime

Tempting at first sight, but it's a Membran product. Their transfers tend to be highly variable in quality. It might well be worth paying the extra for the EMI/Warner set, amazon.co.uk ASIN: B000BS6Y74.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Finally got round to it - anyone who's been following the new releases thread will understand - Hogwood's Mozart and Haydn Symphony boxes from amazon.it for under £60 including postage.

http://www.amazon.it/Sinfonie-Complete-Academy-Ancient-Music/dp/B0041KU1OK/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403548352&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=Hogwood+Mozartr

http://www.amazon.it/The-Symphonies-Christopher-Hogwood/dp/B009LNI0T0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403548385&sr=8-1&keywords=Hogwood+Haydn

I gave up when it was also suggested that I buy a box of Vivaldi. Perhaps I shouldn't have, as that last box by itself costs nearly £100 at amazon.uk. I wonder if I can add it in to my order from italy?

http://www.amazon.it/The-Vivaldi-Recordings-20-CD/dp/B00E57KC3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403549205&sr=8-1&keywords=Vivaldi+Hogwood

Dangerous this thread .... Deleted my order, and put in a new one with all 3 - total cost under £90.

Many thanks for the steer Dave2002: I should shortly be able to say that I've got all the Haydn symph's without recourse to one big complete set. Well, the 'proper' run from 1 to 104 anyway. Via many single LPs and CDs, a couple of the Fischer CD 'small' CD sets and two boxes from the Dorati LP run I'd managed to get to 90/104. What are 107 and 108 in this box? - I'm guessing 107 is the sinfonia concertante as it's in 3 mov'ts. And what am I missing without 105 and 106??[EDIT: don't rush to answer now folks, Wiki has told me all I need to know!]

Had fun with the Italian website: at one point I was trying to work out why I was paying over £75, then realised I'd somehow got two boxes in the basket <doh-icon>

[reinerfan]

Tempting at first sight, but it's a Membran product. Their transfers tend to be highly variable in quality. It might well be worth paying the extra for the EMI/Warner set, amazon.co.uk ASIN: B000BS6Y74.

Fortunately, in this case, the transfers sound very good on my equipment.

[amateur51]

Fortunately, in this case, the transfers sound very good on my equipment.

If it sounds good in Spain, that's good enough for me reinerfan many thanks! - I have the EMI box but am thinking of this set as a delightful AND affordable present


Nat is a significant Schumann player too

[gurnemanz]

Fortunately, in this case, the transfers sound very good on my equipment.

jpc has sound samples of the Membran Nat.

[Pianorak]

jpc has sound samples of the Membran Nat.

And extremely generous sound samples at that!

[Dave2002]

When were those Yves Nat recordings made? Based on the samples from the jpc site it seems that some of the transfers are better than others, but some have hiss/crackles and distortion, which if the recordings were made a long while ago could be inherent - for example if the recordings were made to 78s. Schumann's piano concerto shows typical signs, and some of the Beethoven sonatas have some significant pop and crackles. Presumably most (all) are mono.

There might also be slight touches of wow - though probably not enough to worry about. From the dates of the pianist it seems likely that many of his recordings would now be considered historic, and it would be wrong to expect current standards of audio quality in the transfers.

[Bryn]

Fortunately, in this case, the transfers sound very good on my equipment.

Thanks. I did hope that someone had taken the plunge and would comment.

[vinteuil]

When were those Yves Nat recordings made? .

... the Beethoven 1954/55 - but others from much earlier - Stravinsky 1929, Schumann cto 1933, other Schumann variously 1937/38 to 1950s, Franck 1942.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Many thanks for the steer Dave2002: I should shortly be able to say that I've got all the Haydn symph's without recourse to one big complete set.

Wow, 'shortly' I said, but didn't realise just how shortly! Ordered on Italian Amazon website Monday night, acknowledged Tuesday, delivered to darkest Cornwall today, Thursday. Now that really is impressive: I've waited far longer for Amazon UK stuff

[Dave2002]

Wow, 'shortly' I said, but didn't realise just how shortly! Ordered on Italian Amazon website Monday night, acknowledged Tuesday, delivered to darkest Cornwall today, Thursday. Now that really is impressive: I've waited far longer for Amazon UK stuff

Ah - now you're making me wonder if the parcel which we've been notified about is actually for me - rather than AN Other - who has apparently also got stuff in the pipeline. Looks like I'll have to take a detour via the sorting office tomorrow.

[cloughie]

Wow, 'shortly' I said, but didn't realise just how shortly! Ordered on Italian Amazon website Monday night, acknowledged Tuesday, delivered to darkest Cornwall today, Thursday. Now that really is impressive: I've waited far longer for Amazon UK stuff

What do you mean, Lanson's nearly in England!