Bargains

[hafod]

Amazon France has a number of Brilliant Classics composer ‘big’ boxes at keen prices e.g.

CPE Bach 30cd/€29

Telemann 50cd/€32

Dvorak 45cd/€32

Schumann 45cd/€32

Boccherini 37cd/€33

Tchaikovsky 55cd/€40

Brahms 58cd/€40

Vivaldi 66cd/€46

Schubert 69cd/€46

[Stanley Stewart]

Serendipity at work again. Last week, I checked with the river people re the price of the Warner
Classics. Vernon Handley, Icon 5CD boxset; the quote was £49 14 + £1.26 delivery with the cautionary note that it may not arrive until after Christmas. Delighted to receive and unsolicited response from amazon.de with a quote of £12 40, incl delivery. I placed an order, instantly confirmed, with a delivery date of 2/3 Dec. Package arrived this morning and it looks a treat!

[Dave2002]

I had an offer of 20% off from jpc.de but unfortunately couldn't find much to suit right now. Mistakenly I thought that the Norrington Romantic box was from there, but it isn't - I reverted to Amazon.de for that. Also decided to go for the Handley Icon box and also spotted a Mackerras Icon box at the same price. Both Icons for £21. There's also the 6 CD Holst Collector's box at a good price, but I think I may have that already - though will check my shelves later.

https://www.amazon.de/Holst-Collectors-Various/dp/B007QEHQY6/ref=pd_lutyp_simh_1_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B007QEHQY6&pd_rd_r=9K9F7JS8KVMEYN2TPJ26&pd_rd_w=3OyiA&pd_rd_wg=hQUUT&psc=1&refRID=9K9F7JS8KVMEYN2TPJ26

https://www.amazon.de/Icon-Charles-Mackerras/dp/B005AAVFHM/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1480841253&sr=1-1&keywords=icon+mackerras

[Dave2002]

The two Icon boxes have arrived already-and the other set is apparently on its way. Not sure if they really do get sent from Germany - even allowing for the clock difference - that's pretty swift service for orders placed yesterday.

[gurnemanz]

I had an offer of 20% off from jpc.de but unfortunately couldn't find much to suit right now.

I also had that offer but did not use it. Brexit devaluation of sterling has not helped.

[gurnemanz]

Enjoying working through 12 CD Brahms historical chamber set just issued at a reasonable price from French Diapason, chosen by France Musique. Some lovely rareties among them.

[mathias broucek]

Maazel's Bavarian RSO Bruckner cycle (including the Nullte) in only £7.99 on Google play for 320 kbps mp3. Sampling the 8th now and very impressed

[Dave2002]

Enjoying working through 12 CD Brahms historical chamber set just issued at a reasonable price from French Diapason, chosen by France Musique. Some lovely rareties among them.

Personal choices come in here. Is the sound quality bearable? I'm getting to the point where a performance would have to be superb, with no modern equivalents, to put up with moderately poor sound.

Having said that, I have heard (even very recently) some brand new recorded performances which I am prepared to dismiss almost instantly, even though the sound may be good enough.

[cloughie]

DG 70 years of Bamberg SO on 17cds available from amazon.de around £26 inc p&p.

[Dave2002]

DG 70 years of Bamberg SO on 17cds available from amazon.de around £26 inc p&p.

Have you heard/got them? I have wondered, but the reviews on R3 a while back weren't enthusiastic about the whole set - sounded a bit curate's egg - good in parts. However, one doesn't have to take R3 reviewers' opinions as gospel, eh?

[cloughie]

Have you heard/got them? I have wondered, but the reviews on R3 a while back weren't enthusiastic about the whole set - sounded a bit curate's egg - good in parts. However, one doesn't have to take R3 reviewers' opinions as gospel, eh?

Ordered today. I just thought it looked an interesting box at £1.50 per CD.

[Dave2002]

I look forward to hearing how you get on with it. I'm sure there's some good stuff in there.

I have recollections of the first recording of Dvorak's cello concerto I heard, on Telefunken, being by the Bamberg SO.
Not quite sure about the cellist or conductor - vague feeling of Hollreaiser and Keilberth, but I can't find any trace in the catalogues right now.

I really enjoyed that, though it was a long while ago and it wasn't my LP. That's not in the box though, as that piece is not included.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/DG/4795805

[Dave2002]

For fans of Roger Norrington (and that includes me) - 10cd box 'The Romantics' Hanssler €10 (£12.37 delivered).
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00H5DNAB6/

Certainly good value - some of the individual CDs are still selling for twice the cost of all 10 in the box on UK sites. I'm working my way through this now, slowly, so don't know whether to give an unqualified thumbs up to the performances or not. Perhaps my hearing has been affected by my recent cold though - the volume level does seem down quite a lot. I can fix that as my amp has a high volume setting which I can switch in if I want to, but I wonder if others notice this.

PS: In the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique the bass sounds - e.g timpani are really pronounced - and sound deep - reall room shakers. I'll have to reassess some of these discs for their sonics when (hopefully) my hearing has returned to something closer to what it was last week.

PPS: The Bruckner 4 version here is not one which many will recognise. There is a programme booklet, but unfortunately it gives very little information about the music, and in particular this Bruckner symphony. It is close to the first version of 1874 - or at least I assume it is. It does sound very different from versions which are more frequently played. This seems to be the Nowak version - http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/...lbum_id=206473

This may make the set more recommendable for some, less for others. I am rather enjoying it.

[Parry1912]

The Bruckner 4 version here is not one which many will recognise. There is a programme booklet, but unfortunately it gives very little information about the music, and in particular this Bruckner symphony. It is close to the first version of 1874 - or at least I assume it is. It does sound very different from versions which are more frequently played. This seems to be the Nowak version

abruckner.com says that it's the 1874 Original version - Ed. Leopold Nowak [1975]

[Dave2002]

Indeed, but to be sure one would have to listen with the Novak 1975 version of the score to hand. Hence my choice of words. Norrington does manage to make some pieces sound very different.