The Super-Duper Cheap Bargains Thread

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for the clarification - I read some of the above in a way that the new Warner version of the Teldec set contains stuff that was on Sony initially (and/or the other way 'round) and thought that would be really odd (hardly anything ever crosses the red lines between majors ... unless of course Warner just buys it all ...)

I was actually into (some) Ligeti way before I started listening to classical music, back in high school in the nineties - and I think Sony had just stopped it series around that time, or Teldec had started theirs and I read something about it all. The library back then had two of the three Wergo discs, which I copied onto K7 back then ... now I have that "set", too (three separate discs with some cardboard around 'em).

Am somewhat surprised to read the Sony is OOP as it seems I just bought it and it was cheap (less than 20€) ... but that was somewhat over 2 years ago and maybe they were dumping the last copies? I had the Aimard disc previously and was happy to pass it on to a friend who really wanted to have his own copy of it.
I knew that the DG was unrelated ... but the cover is so cool and the price was even cooler (I guess around 15€-ish) ... haven't yet explored much from it.

I forgot about the Wergo series. I particularly liked the Gielen-led discs. Great stuff. Anyway, my understanding of the Teldec recordings was they were new recordings for the time and weren't previously recorded by Sony. If Warner wanted the performances from Sony's Ligeti Edition, they probably would have acquired them, but this, of course, didn't happen, so this why we have two different sets from two different labels. But in any way you look at it, people who admire this composer are rather spoilt with choices, which is a great thing.

Like you, I haven't explored the DG set, but I've been meaning to get around to it.

[André]

I know, it's not super duper cheap - especially with the soaring euro  , but I doubt this can be found at a better price (59.99€ for 16 discs), and in more definitive interpretations as these:

[king ubu]

I know, it's not super duper cheap - especially with the soaring euro  , but I doubt this can be found at a better price (59.99€ for 16 discs), and in more definitive interpretations as these:

I got it for around the same on one of the yurpeen amazon sites a few years back ... nedless to say I haven't really explored it yet.

As I guessed the Janowski symphonies cycle would be the perfect addition, that one's on the piles now, too - here's a (partial) review (the "box" is just flimsy cardboard wrapped around the original single releases anyway):
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2014/Jul14/Henze_sys_WER67212.htm

[Mirror Image]

I own the Henze DG set and he's a composer I just can't get into. I never know who I'm actually listening to.

[André]

New as of today on JPC's web site (among other things), for 12.99€ (less if ordered outside E.U.)




Part of today's order. I'm glad I waited before ordering, I would have missed that If I had ordered last week 

[Todd]

Classics Select has a large assortment of Musical Concepts and Bach Guild downloads for $0.99 each.  Amazon sells the same things, though prices range into the several dollar range.  The site also has a variety of other sales.

[king ubu]

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[asin]B078XGY4K6[/asin]

pre-order price at amazon.it currently is € 5.95 ... let's see if they actually sell it for that or cancel (elsewhere it's 30ish).

[Abuelo Igor]

My advice is: do it if you're interested.

[king ubu]

My advice is: do it if you're interested.

already did 

[Spineur]

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[asin]B078XGY4K6[/asin]

pre-order price at amazon.it currently is € 5.95 ... let's see if they actually sell it for that or cancel (elsewhere it's 30ish).

Thank you King Ubu.  I am on your bandwagon.

[André]

« Attualmente non disponibile ». Also unavailable at Amazon.ca

[king ubu]

« Attualmente non disponibile ». Also unavailable at Amazon.ca

Yeah, when items are not out yet, some a-sites give a release date (aDE mostly does), while others just state "currently not available" (aFR and aIT usually do) - nothing new, you can still put in a pre-order (at least this morning, yurpeen time, it was still possible)

[The new erato]

GBP 18 at mdt.co.uk. I ordered at amazon.it as well.

[André]

Shiping price to Canada is 3x that of the item itself 

[king ubu]

Shiping price to Canada is 3x that of the item itself 

Ha ha, well - same with shipping the other way 'round these days.

[Jo498]

Christa Ludwig will have her 90th birthday march, 16th. I have probably ca. 2/3 of that box in older incarnations. She is rarely less than very good, so commendable for everyone interested in Lieder.

[André]

I've always had a soft spot for Ludwig. She has been the most vocally reliable among mezzo/altos of the period 1955-1980. Always the intelligent and sensible artist, she was beloved but never quite rose to the status of superstar by dint of her natural reserve.

I would buy this set if it was very cheap. The lack of a proper booklet means lots of wasted time looking for the sung texts on the net, which is a pity. Not a real problem for the main items (the orchestral song cycles), but a real hindrance for non-german listeners in the song recitals.

[André]

Some nice bargains at JPC  for the historically minded collector:

First, this:




31 discs for 30€ (25€ if ordered outside the EU). Richter had a long and extremely fruitful career. These recordings are from Richter's première manière, recorded by Telefunken in the mid-to-late fifties in excellent early stereo. In those days Richter was a total stranger to the budding HIP movement. His interpretations are unfailingly dedicated, but often using a large string contingent and moderate tempi. If you can survive the soup of strings heard in the Brandenburg concerto I:IV or the Sinfonia that opens Part II of the Christmas Oratorio, this will provide hours of pleasure. To sample, check the sound bites helpfully provided by JPC in the track listing:

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/die-karl-richter-edition/hnum/4154127.

Not everything is slow and heavy-handed. There's a superb big band Mozart Requiem, incisive and dramatic, one of the best out there, and a big, bold Mass in b minor.  Richter the harpsichordist/organist is also represented.

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For those curious to have a comprehensive survey of some of last century's most celebrated operatic voices, there are some very interesting 10cd sets that sell for less than 5€:



Leonard Warren is often called the greatest Verdi baritone ever. This is a very enticing set. Samples are available on the JPC web site.

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I own this set. Varnay was the greatest dramatic soprano in the fifties. Not for the faint of heart. Her intensity is often hair-raising, and she privileged characterization over beauty of voice. Like Callas', the voice wasn't a conventionally beautiful one. Sample Starke Scheite (disc 3, track 4) or Entweihte Götter (disc 4, track 6) and brace yourself. This set has provided me with countless thrills over the last few years.



Simoneau is - still today - acknowledged as the finest Mozart tenor who ever graced the stage or the gramophone studios. His artistry in that department is well documented in this set, but he was at his best IMHO in the french classic/romantic works. Sample Orphée's lament in this lambent yet urgent J'ai perdu mon Eurydice (disc 1, track 2) or his nonpareil assumption of the roles of Nadir (disc 6, track 1) and Gérard (disc 5, track 8 ).

[Jo498]

One should however note that the Hänssler Box has different recordings (radio? live?) than the better known DG Archiv that made Richter a household name.

[aligreto]

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I own this set. Varnay was the greatest dramatic soprano in the fifties. Not for the faint of heart. Her intensity is often hair-raising, and she privileged characterization over beauty of voice. Like Callas', the voice wasn't a conventionally beautiful one. Sample Starke Scheite (disc 3, track 4) or Entweihte Götter (disc 4, track 6) and brace yourself. This set has provided me with countless thrills over the last few years.

Having only "discovered" Varnay in recent times that set would be of interest André. Is the sound quality reasonable?