Recordings That You Are Considering

[Mirror Image]

Samsara ; )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saṃsāra

This would be an interesting idea for a composition. If it hasn't been done already.

[Karl Henning]

aka "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity"

Also, "Sufficient unto the day is the trouble thereof"

Considering:

Are you weighing that VS. the Bix Haydn Box which includes it, Dave?

[asin]B001FY7BFC[/asin]

[Scarpia]

Are you weighing that VS. the Bix Haydn Box which includes it, Dave?

[asin]B001FY7BFC[/asin]

It's more than $1, so now I feel that it is a rip-off. 

[Mirror Image]

[asin]B001FY7BFC[/asin]

Now that's a lot of Haydn.

[DavidRoss]

Are you weighing that VS. the Bix Haydn Box which includes it, Dave?

RAther considering more than weighing. The impending Hogwood set factors into the weighing, too, Karl.

[jlaurson]

RAther considering more than weighing. The impending Hogwood set factors into the weighing, too, Karl.

You'll want a complete Haydn set -- and you already have several LONDON symphonies... (which is this set's one weak-spot), so this is a very fine set to consider... equal, I'd say, to Dorati... superior to Dennis-Russell Davis'... and sufficiently different from Hogwood which isn't, in any case, complete. If it's a matter of Hogwood OR Fischer... probably Hogwood, considering that you're most likely to have plenty other Haydn symphony recordings that are more different from Hogwood than they are from Fischer. Does that make sense?

[Wakefield]

You'll want a complete Haydn set -- and you already have several LONDON symphonies... (which is this set's one weak-spot), so this is a very fine set to consider... equal, I'd say, to Dorati... superior to Dennis-Russell Davis'... and sufficiently different from Hogwood which isn't, in any case, complete. If it's a matter of Hogwood OR Fischer... probably Hogwood, considering that you're most likely to have plenty other Haydn symphony recordings that are more different from Hogwood than they are from Fischer. Does that make sense?

Hi, Mr. Laurson. Your presence here is a bit phantasmagorical these days. 

[jlaurson]

Hi, Mr. Laurson. Your presence here is a bit phantasmagorical these days. 

"phantasmagorical: characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtapositions"

huh? say what?

[DavidRoss]

Spooky or not, I understand you fine, Jens.

As you probably recall, I'm a HIPster at heart. Though I do have some by Fey and Davis and Bernstein, most of the Haydn symphonies I have are HIP -- including all of Brüggen's. Thanks to Mog, I'm able to make some comparisons twixt Fischer & Hogwood. Hogwood, hands down.

[Wakefield]

"phantasmagorical: characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtapositions"

huh? say what?

Almost. 

phantasmagoric, phantasmagorical
adjective
1. having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination.
2. having the appearance of an optical illusion, especially one produced by a magic lantern.

... an elusive, evasive presence, as a sort of ghost (or "phantom"), that's it. 

[PaulR]

I don't have much of a Wagner collection, so I am thinking about getting this:
[asin]B008YKRRJU[/asin]

Just wondering, is it a good price for these performances?

[Scarpia]

I don't have much of a Wagner collection, so I am thinking about getting this:
[asin]B008YKRRJU[/asin]

Just wondering, is it a good price for these performances?

It is hard to predict if the best price is gotten with an initial pre-order or in post-release competition by marketplace sellers and other web sites.

But you prefer this over the existing Wagner/Solti and Wagner/Bayreuth boxes, and over the soon-to-be-released complete Wagner from Decca?

[mc ukrneal]

I don't have much of a Wagner collection, so I am thinking about getting this:
[asin]B008YKRRJU[/asin]

Just wondering, is it a good price for these performances?

It's quite cheap considering. The performances are ok and that is a cheap price. The alternative is the Solti Wagner set, but that is $30 more. If price is the major driver, then go for it. By the way, importcds has it for $61. Add $4-5 for shipping and it is still a nice bargain. Their sale lasts until Nov. 4.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

I don't have much of a Wagner collection, so I am thinking about getting this:
[asin]B008YKRRJU[/asin]

Just wondering, is it a good price for these performances?

With two Rings to their credit (Haitink and Sawallisch) it's extremely gratifying to see EMI put artistic quality before name recognition and issue Sawallisch's Ring instead of Haitink.

I'd say this box is worth it alone for Sawallisch's Ring, one of the sleeping giants among Ring cycle recordings.

I know nothing about the rest of box, aside from the reputation of Kempe's Lohengrin, which has always been a front-runner.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

But you prefer this over the existing Wagner/Solti and Wagner/Bayreuth boxes, and over the soon-to-be-released complete Wagner from Decca?

Solti has never floated my boat in Wagner (still have his Rheingold) so with an alternative in the EMI I'd say it'd be the way to go.

[Sergeant Rock]

I don't have much of a Wagner collection, so I am thinking about getting this:

Just wondering, is it a good price for these performances?

There are some fantastic performances in that box: Klemperer's Dutchman, Kempe's Lohengrin (both desert island choices). I love Hollreiser's Rienzi (and a Rienzi isn't included in the Solti or Bayreuth boxes). I haven't heard the Sawallisch Ring but there is at least one forum member who promotes it every chance he gets. The Solti Ring, though, is considered to be one of the greatest recordings ever. Karajan's Meistersinger is a good one (and I think preferable to Solti). Haitink's Tannhäuser is a bit of a dud, with an unattractive title character while Solti's is probably the best modern version. And Goodall's Parsifal...well, you really need to be a Goodall fan. It's slow beyond belief. It's certainly not a first recommendation. The Pappano's Tristan has its fans while Solti is barely mentioned. So a toss up:

Rienzi EMI
Holländer EMI
Tannhäuser Decca
Lohengrin EMI
Tristan EMI
Meistersinger EMI
Ring Decca
Parsifal Decca


I think that Goodall Parsifal (while fascinating in a perverse way) takes the EMI box out of the running for a Wagner neophyte.

And to answer your main question: yes, it's an unbelievable bargain.

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

I don't have much of a Wagner collection, so I am thinking about getting this:
[asin]B008YKRRJU[/asin]

Just wondering, is it a good price for these performances?

Interesting box set but when it came to Wagner I found it better to just pick and choose rather than go for huge box set like this one which probably don't contain that many memorable performances. It seems that a lot of people are divided when it comes to Wagner conductors. I consider myself a member of the Karajan camp as his Wagner performances are my favorites. His Ring and Parsifal are still some of the best Wagner performances I've heard. I do own a good bit of Solti as well, but my biggest problem with Solti is the lack of detail and the general way he shapes the musical lines in the music. Without getting into it with those who are in the Solti camp, I still love his Parsifal. Amazing performance. Bohm, Barenboim, and Levine are also outstanding Wagnerians. It really just comes down to preference as with anything. Nobody is really right, but I urge you to go read some reviews, listen to audio samples, etc., because in many cases it's better to go in with some knowledge than completely taking a stab in the dark.

[trung224]

 I don't know why EMI put the Konwitschny's Tannhauser aside and choose Haitink's. Possibly because Haitink is the bigger name

[Mirror Image]

I don't know why EMI put the Konwitschny's Tannhauser aside and choose Haitink's. Possibly because Haitink is the bigger name

So many times with those larger box sets that "try to do it all" there are going to be questionable choices. I wouldn't have picked Haitink either. I think EMI could have put a bit more care into their selections, but this is one those cookie-cutter jobs from EMI.

[Karl Henning]

This, from jpc.de, release expected ~October 30:

Must say, I'm considering this, as well.