Purchases Today

[kishnevi]

The extra 10 percent discount at ImportCDs was enough to get me to pull the trigger on both the Perahia and Rubinstein big boxes: total of $145.86 for both together, including the shipping charges.

Given how much of these two pianists I already have (probably have half the Perahia box,  and perhaps a fifth or a quarter of the Rubinstein), once I pull out the duplications from my CD racks, this will probably count as a space spacing move!

[kishnevi]

Yes, I got the same offer.  Will have to consider what to order there, fortunately tomorrow's my day off.

Decided to get me some Hartmann--I ordered the Wergo set of symphonies. [insert John/MI's thumbs up here.]  Fingers slightly crossed, since it's not actually in stock at JPC ("shipped in one week if available from supplier").

The alternate was the CPO set of Pettersson symphonies,  but compared to the Amazon MP prices, the Hartmann was a somewhat better deal.

[Karl Henning]

Decided to get me some Hartmann--I ordered the Wergo set of symphonies. [insert John/MI's thumbs up here.]  Fingers slightly crossed, since it's not actually in stock at JPC ("shipped in one week if available from supplier").

Different source, but this one just landed by me. Haven't had a chance to hear more than just a tease of the Gesangs-Szene.

[North Star]

Definitely thumbs up for that Wergo Hartmann set, of which John sent me the set he had bought used, as he bought a new set.

[Papy Oli]

I am weak... that JPC voucher didn't help... 

[asin]B0000DET84[/asin]

[asin]B008DBID4I[/asin]

[asin]B00DYFCZ5Q[/asin]

[Holden]

This arrived yesterday - a turn round of only 9 days from purchasing online which is brilliant in that it is coming from the USA to Australia.



I was first taken aback at the size of the box, where was I going to put it? I opened it up to find a hardback coffee table style book which had articles from Harvey Sachs, John Rubinstein, Robert Russ and John M Samuels. Each CD/CD set is represented with the album cover, track listing and recording details. There is an alphabetical discography by composer and also a chronological discography. From this I gleaned that his first recording was Brahms and his last was Beethoven.

The CDs are stored in the standard cardboard sleeeves that usually accompany box sets. On the front cover is the original 78/LP cover and, joy of joys, the original album notes though I do need good glasses to read them.

I have listened to the first CD, recordings made in 1928/29 and was very surprised at how good the sound quality was. I am now listening to AR playing LvB Op 13 which he recorded in 1946. Once again the sound quality is excellent for the era. I chose this CD because I have another recording of it on the Quadrophenia (cheapie) label and the two are sonically worlds apart despite the fact that they are taken from 78s. I am now looking forward to that great LvB PC 4 with Beecham at the helm, also from that era (1947) and on the same Quadrophenia CD. Well done Sony for remastering these so well. I have the 1945 Appassionata on a single CD from the other AR box set as well as the LvB PCs with Krips. It will be interesting to compare the two different remasterings. I'll report back on this later.

I thought hard about purchasing this for about 6 months and I'm not sure why I pulled the trigger now. Certainly the price was extremely attactive. Where could you get something as comprehensive as this for under $100 including shipping. In fact I was expecting shippping to add significantly to the price but at $8.99 for something this big and heavy it was a steal.

I am so glad that I bought this set. I have always loved Rubinstein the pianist and if you share that affection all I can say is get this before the price goes up forever. The 40 CD Cziffra box now costs 10 times what I paid for it so imagine what is going to happen to this magnificent set. I got mine from ImportCDs but Amazon has it for about $15 more. However, the $35 shipping charge is 4 times that of ImportCDs. I believe though that this item qualifies for free shipping in the US. Now listening to what I believe is a Rubinstein signature piece, Schumann's Fantasiestucke Op 12 (rec 1946) and doing a mental comparison with his stereo recording of that work in the early 60s. Ahhh, so much listening to do........

[stingo]

Pounds the table!!!! Totally awesome set, stingo! You'll love it! One of the essentials of my collection. No joke!

It was a no-brainer really. I've been looking for a complete set of the Bachianas for a while now and with the enthusiastic forum commentary, this seemed like the one to get.

[Brian]

joy of joys, the original album notes though I do need good glasses to read them.

I don't mean to add to your listening, but if you invest in the Murray Perahia complete edition - now $63 at ImportCDs, and there's a 10% off voucher available - that box set is much the same, but comes with all the original album liner notes in the hardcover book.

[Mirror Image]

It was a no-brainer really. I've been looking for a complete set of the Bachianas for a while now and with the enthusiastic forum commentary, this seemed like the one to get.

The Bachianas are fine, but it's the Choros that are the crowning achievement of that set, IMHO.

[kishnevi]

I don't mean to add to your listening, but if you invest in the Murray Perahia complete edition - now $63 at ImportCDs, and there's a 10% off voucher available - that box set is much the same, but comes with all the original album liner notes in the hardcover book.

I just realized that my postwoman is going to get a real workout when I get mine, even if they ship the two boxes separately.  (I'll probably end up having to pick them up at the post office.)

[kyjo]

From what I know, the only way you ever whittle is whittling up!

[kyjo]

hhmmmm... I might have to break my goal of not ordering in 2013 any more. I have received a 20% off voucher from JPC, to use by sunday. Considering I had the Petterson CPO symphony cycle has been lingering in my wishlist there, I might pull the trigger on it... among other considerations, the Vegh SQ, the Toch symphonies, the Peterson-Berger symphonies as well possibly.... might as well make it worthwhile...  0:)

Those are all great, Olivier, but make the ATTERBERG CYCLE your first priority!

[Mirror Image]

Those are all great, Olivier, but make the ATTERBERG CYCLE your first priority!

I'd say buy the Villa-Lobos symphony cycle with St. Clair but I may be a bit biased.

[kishnevi]

I vote for Atterberg.

[kyjo]

I'd say buy the Villa-Lobos symphony cycle with St. Clair but I may be a bit biased.

Just a little?

BTW like your "Currently Listening To" composers list better than before!

[kyjo]

I vote for Atterberg.

You da man!

[Mirror Image]

Just a little?

BTW like your "Currently Listening To" composers list better than before!

Yeah, I mean, I do like to go into 'left field' every now and again, but the fact remains: I like beautiful music that soars with an affirmation for life. This isn't to say I don't like to get gnarly every once and awhile. Composers like Scelsi, Xenakis, Rihm, Lutoslawski, to name a few, I could never truly love even though I do enjoy some of their music.

[kyjo]

Yeah, I mean, I do like to go into 'left field' every now and again, but the fact remains: I like beautiful music that soars with an affirmation for life. This isn't to say I don't like to get gnarly every once and awhile. Composers like Scelsi, Xenakis, Rihm, Lutoslawski, to name a few, I could never truly love even though I do enjoy some of their music.

[Mirror Image]

I like discovering new music and these more radical composers were definitely unfamiliar territory for me, but they will never replace my favorites. I'll be listening to RVW or Shostakovich, for example, until I'm nothing but dust in the wind.

[Mirror Image]

I just realized I had no recording dedicated to Satie's orchestral works, so I pulled the trigger on this one: