Brilliant Classics sets

Started by XB-70 Valkyrie, September 27, 2013, 10:45:36 PM

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XB-70 Valkyrie

I have been working my way through "Legendary Russian Pianists"--all 25 CDs of it--and greatly enjoying all the music and performers I've never heard before. In general, I really like these Brilliant Classics sets, not only because they're cheap and a very good value for the money, but also because they include a lot of stuff I never would have bought separately from other labels (especially at $17.95 a disc  >:(  ). I feel compelled to listen to all of the discs in the set--especially if they feature unfamiliar works/performers--and this sort of forces me out of my musical comfort zone.

Any recommendations would be appreciated. I will definitely pick up the Oistrakh chamber music set, and I am also considering the Reger set: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-4yk9pGkL.jpg
If you really dislike Bach you keep quiet about it! - Andras Schiff

Octave

OT/FYI: Nav made the useful suggestion of this online dealer: Selections
I've not done a lot of comparison, but for newer Brilliant titles I've definitely seen lower prices than, say, Amazon MP-US/UK, even for delivery to USA.  I saved ~$20+ just on the CZECH STRING QUARTETS (Stamitz Quartet) box.  Older releases, maybe not quite.

The following are probably too-mainstream rep for XB's request, but I have enjoyed them very much:

I've enjoyed a cheap set of alternatives in the Second Viennese School string quartets box and the Zemlinsky quartets 2cd (for which I have no alternatives yet), both LaSalle.  (Both of which are being reissued soon, together in one box, by Universal/DG.  It seems the two Brilliant volumes still come out cheaper.)  I also liked the 2cd of Zemlinsky songs, also licensed iirc from DG.

I really liked the Wilhelm Stenhammar symphs/PCs, though I know no alternatives.

I opted for the Brilliant ~complete Domenico Scarlatti keyboard sonatas (P-J Belder), which I've not regretted at all, except in the moments when I think the Scott Ross would have been the better way to go.  Anyway, I bought it for traversal, and to season other listening, and it has easily paid for itself.

Someone at GMG recommended this somewhat older 2cd of Handel's Italian Cantatas featuring Maria Zadori.  I found a used copy and it is excellent; not to be confused with the newer series of the ICs that Brilliant is releasing as original recordings (not licensed).  Here is the badly-tagged product page I used; there is a second product page for this item, but for the moment I cannot find it:

[asin]B00009W3RL[/asin]
Help support GMG by purchasing items from Amazon through this link.

mc ukrneal

#2
I like the idea of exploring multiple composers. How about: 
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[asin]B00BI8SEKG[/asin]
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Last one will be released at the end of October...

I like the Stenhammar and Alfven collections as well. If you are in the US, you might take a look at what they have at Berkshire as well. They used to have a number of the diffrent issues, for example the various Russian conductor series (not to mention tons of composer by composer stuff).

There is also this line on DHM (I will post just one, but the others are easily searchable - also quite inexpensive and highly reviewed here):
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Be kind to your fellow posters!!

Opus106

Regards,
Navneeth

prémont

Quote from: Opus106 on September 28, 2013, 01:58:59 AM
Brilliant Classics Must-Haves

With you exellent memory at our disposal we do not need any search function in this forum.  :)
Reality trumps our fantasy far beyond imagination.

stingo

I picked this set up for much, much cheaper than its current listing. While I've not listened to the entire set so far, every disc I've heard has had something unique and amazing on it.

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Holden

Quote from: stingo on September 30, 2013, 08:59:20 AM
I picked this set up for much, much cheaper than its current listing. While I've not listened to the entire set so far, every disc I've heard has had something unique and amazing on it.

[asin]B000T2ONOI[/asin]

I also got this at a ludicrously cheap price ($64 incl p&h) and agree that this is a real treasure trove.
Cheers

Holden