The Super-Duper Cheap Bargains Thread

[Wanderer]

If you haven't heard much of his playing, I would strongly suggest trying a disc or two before dropping €156 on him.

That would be my advice, as well. Count me in as a Heifetz non-enthusiast.

[bigshot]

Heifetz is Heifetz in the same way that Caruso is Caruso. You get what you get. You can complain, but who the heck are you to complain? It's a standout.

[Ken B]

Heifetz is Heifetz in the same way that Caruso is Caruso.

Now there's an over-rated violinist.

[bigshot]

Wow! I finally sat down and started typing in the tags for the 40 CD Russian Masters box set. I'm listening to Prokofiev Romeo & Juliet by Henry Adolph and the south German Philharmonic. What a great performance. I have a million versions of this, but none of them are as spirited and thought out as this one. I have a feeling this box is going to be a drop dead bargain.

[Mookalafalas]

Wow! I finally sat down and started typing in the tags for the 40 CD Russian Masters box set. I'm listening to Prokofiev Romeo & Juliet by Henry Adolph and the south German Philharmonic. What a great performance. I have a million versions of this, but none of them are as spirited and thought out as this one. I have a feeling this box is going to be a drop dead bargain.

  Do you mean the Amado Classics ultra-cheap one? If so, I agree heartily. 

[Jo498]

I like Heifetz, although I understand some of the complaints very well. Because of the cheapo concerto box shown above and another box with the "Heifetz-Piatorsky Chamber music" which includes probably more than half of his chamber recordings I do not think one has to go for the big box unless one is a big enthusiast. Some stuff is very historical in sound and there are also multiple recordings of some concerti not everyone might be interested in. Of course it sounds cheap per disc, but one should definitely ask oneself whether one will be really listening to most of the stuff.
I think I have about half or more of the content in earlier issues.

As for "ordinary" bargains, jpc.de has a bunch of Universal twofer for 5,99 EUR, most of it standard stuff many here will already own, but this might be a nice options for those in Europe.

[Que]

If you haven't heard much of his playing, I would strongly suggest trying a disc or two before dropping €156 on him. I can't stand his playing style of the stereo era -- "impatient" remains my one-word summary. What I've heard of his earlier recordings is better, but not nearly enough for me to even consider investing in a big box.

I don't think I'm alone on that, though he obviously has many enthusiastic fans too. If I were you I would figure out where I stood on that scale before purchasing this.

I also - generally - dislike Heifetz' later recordings, with a few exceptions. Yes, his later style has a relentless and purposeless quality about it, I would describe it as  emotionally "dead" Does anyone know of Heifets by any suffered of depression or something like that?

That being said, anything up to the fifties is pure gold IMO, amazing stuff. Now in the "good old"(read: expensive) days of seperate issues of the Heifetz edition I carved out exactly what I wanted, but I guess now taking the bad with the good (at least 18 - 19 discs) seems a viable option, provided you like historical/mono recordings!

Q

[king ubu]

I love the Heifetz box!

Guess some of it is "dated", but if you have an interest in the history of violin playing, it's a fascinating treasure trove. If you want a sample of some of the best, I'd say get the EMI Icon and the Heifetz/Piatigorsky box ... and get the huge Rubinstein coffin, too (I love that one even quite a bit more than the Heifetz).

[Jo498]

The huge Rubinstein box has IMO the advantage of a lot of good sounding stereo/late mono recordings. And the interpretations are usually not as controversial as some Heifetz but almost universally acclaimed.

The drawback is that you get some repertoire (lots of Chopin, Beethoven and Brahms concertos, Grieg concerto) in 3-5 different recordings by the same artist which might be overwhelming and not quite necessary for those not hugely interested in the music in question or in Rubinstein's development.
But then there is probably some stuff in the Rubinstein box that is even harder to get separately than with the Heifetz box, although everything was issued on singles/doubles in the late 90s (those brown "book-style" ones).

[Orpheus]

Wagner's Ring by Solti!



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wagner-Ring-Nibelungen-Richard/dp/B0000042H4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422907782&sr=8-1&keywords=B0000042H4

[Abuelo Igor]

It will probably get cancelled, but you never know...

[Mookalafalas]

The British Amazon has the Das Altewerk box for 53 pounds.  This box has received approximately zero love here at GMG, and it's a crying shame.  Just check out the lineup. Warner did a terrible job of marketing this box (and the other two they released simultaneously), but it is chock full of deserving goodies for fans of pre-romantic music.


CD 1 Herbert Tachezi - C.P.E. Bach: Organ Sonatas
CD 2 Herbert Tachezi - Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge
CD 3 Gustav Leonhardt - Bach: Goldberg Variations
CD 4 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - Bach: Harpsichord Concertos BWV 1056–1060
CD 5 & 6 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Mass in B minor
CD 7 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1–3
CD 8 Il Giardino Armonico - Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 4–6
CD 9 Münchner Bach-Chor/Karl Richter - Bach: Cantatas BWV 67, 108 & 127
CD 10 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Double Concertos by J.S. Bach and his Sons
CD 11 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Orchestral Suites 1 & 2
CD 12 Angela Maria Blasi/Yvonne Kenny/Kurt Equiluz/Robert Holl/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: "Jagdkantate" & "Bauernkantate"
CD 13 Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Matthäus-Passion (Highlights)
CD 14 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Biber: Sonatae · Ballettae · Battalia · Sonata "die Pauern Kirchfahrt"
CD 15 Andreas Staier - Clementi: Keyboard Sonatas
CD 16 Il Giardino Armonico - Corelli · Manfredini · Torelli · Vivaldi: Christmas Concertos
CD 17 Concerto Köln - Dall'Abaco: Concerti
CD 18 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Concerti grossi, op.3
CD 19 Palmer/Rolfe Johnson/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV 76
CD 20 Herbert Tachezi/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Organ Concertos, op.7
CD 21 Herbert Tachezi/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Water Music Organ Concertos HWV 295 & HWV 304
CD 22 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Haydn: Harmoniemesse · Te Deum Cantata "Qual dubbio ormai"
CD 23 Chanticleer - Jerusalem: Matins for the Virgin of Guadaloupe (1764)
CD 24 Concerto Köln - Mendelssohn: String Symphonies 8–10
CD 25 Tragicomedia - Monteverdi: Madrigali concertati
CD 26 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Monteverdi: L'Orfeo (Highlights)
CD 27a & b Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610)
CD 28 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Mozart: "Credo" Mass, K257 - Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento, K243
CD 29 St James's Singers and Baroque Players/Ivor Bolton - Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
CD 30 Andreas Staier/Concerto Köln - Salieri · Steffan: Fortepiano Concertos
CD 31 Gustav Leonhardt/Jürgen Jürgens - Schütz: Die Sieben Worte unsers lieben Erlösers · Lukas-Passion
CD 32 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Telemann: Musique de table (Tafelmusik) (Production III)
CD 33 Frans Brüggen/Franz Vester/Paul Doctor - Telemann: Overtures & Concertos
CD 34 Concerto Köln - Vanhal: Symphonies
CD 35 Pro Cantione Antiqua - Victoria: Sacred Music
CD 36 Giovanni Antonini/Il Giardino Armonico - Vivaldi: Concerti op.10
CD 37 Il Giardino Armonico - Vivaldi: 4 Seasons · Concertos RV 454 & 332
CD 38 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Zelenka: Hipocondrie à 7 · Ouverture à 7 Trio Sonata for 2 oboes and bassoon
CD 39 Pro Cantione Antiqua - Ars Britannica — Old Hall Manuscript · Madrigals
CD 40 Frans Brüggen/Anner Bylsma/Gustav Leonhardt - Italian Recorder Sonatas
CD 41 Anner Bylsma - Baroque Music for Cello
CD 42 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - English Consort & Keyboard Music
CD 43 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - English Music of the 17th Century
CD 44 Pro Cantione Antiqua - English Part Songs & Lute Songs
CD 45 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Komödiantische Musik des Barock
CD 46 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Music at the Court of Mannheim
CD 47 Bob van Asperen - J. Bull: Music for Harpsichord
CD 48 Il Giardino Armonico - Musica da camera a Napoli
CD 49 Max van Egmond/Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - Songs of the Baroque Era
CD 50 Tragicomedia - Vanitas vanitatum — Rome 1650

[Ken B]

The British Amazon has the Das Altewerk box for 53 pounds.  This box has received approximately zero love here at GMG, and it's a crying shame.  Just check out the lineup. Warner did a terrible job of marketing this box (and the other two they released simultaneously), but it is chock full of deserving goodies for fans of pre-romantic music.


CD 1 Herbert Tachezi - C.P.E. Bach: Organ Sonatas
CD 2 Herbert Tachezi - Bach: Die Kunst der Fuge
CD 3 Gustav Leonhardt - Bach: Goldberg Variations
CD 4 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - Bach: Harpsichord Concertos BWV 1056–1060
CD 5 & 6 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Mass in B minor
CD 7 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 1–3
CD 8 Il Giardino Armonico - Bach: Brandenburg Concertos 4–6
CD 9 Münchner Bach-Chor/Karl Richter - Bach: Cantatas BWV 67, 108 & 127
CD 10 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Double Concertos by J.S. Bach and his Sons
CD 11 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Orchestral Suites 1 & 2
CD 12 Angela Maria Blasi/Yvonne Kenny/Kurt Equiluz/Robert Holl/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: "Jagdkantate" & "Bauernkantate"
CD 13 Arnold Schoenberg Chor/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Bach: Matthäus-Passion (Highlights)
CD 14 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Biber: Sonatae · Ballettae · Battalia · Sonata "die Pauern Kirchfahrt"
CD 15 Andreas Staier - Clementi: Keyboard Sonatas
CD 16 Il Giardino Armonico - Corelli · Manfredini · Torelli · Vivaldi: Christmas Concertos
CD 17 Concerto Köln - Dall'Abaco: Concerti
CD 18 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Concerti grossi, op.3
CD 19 Palmer/Rolfe Johnson/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV 76
CD 20 Herbert Tachezi/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Organ Concertos, op.7
CD 21 Herbert Tachezi/Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Handel: Water Music Organ Concertos HWV 295 & HWV 304
CD 22 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Haydn: Harmoniemesse · Te Deum Cantata "Qual dubbio ormai"
CD 23 Chanticleer - Jerusalem: Matins for the Virgin of Guadaloupe (1764)
CD 24 Concerto Köln - Mendelssohn: String Symphonies 8–10
CD 25 Tragicomedia - Monteverdi: Madrigali concertati
CD 26 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Monteverdi: L'Orfeo (Highlights)
CD 27a & b Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine (1610)
CD 28 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Mozart: "Credo" Mass, K257 - Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento, K243
CD 29 St James's Singers and Baroque Players/Ivor Bolton - Purcell: Dido and Aeneas
CD 30 Andreas Staier/Concerto Köln - Salieri · Steffan: Fortepiano Concertos
CD 31 Gustav Leonhardt/Jürgen Jürgens - Schütz: Die Sieben Worte unsers lieben Erlösers · Lukas-Passion
CD 32 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Telemann: Musique de table (Tafelmusik) (Production III)
CD 33 Frans Brüggen/Franz Vester/Paul Doctor - Telemann: Overtures & Concertos
CD 34 Concerto Köln - Vanhal: Symphonies
CD 35 Pro Cantione Antiqua - Victoria: Sacred Music
CD 36 Giovanni Antonini/Il Giardino Armonico - Vivaldi: Concerti op.10
CD 37 Il Giardino Armonico - Vivaldi: 4 Seasons · Concertos RV 454 & 332
CD 38 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Zelenka: Hipocondrie à 7 · Ouverture à 7 Trio Sonata for 2 oboes and bassoon
CD 39 Pro Cantione Antiqua - Ars Britannica — Old Hall Manuscript · Madrigals
CD 40 Frans Brüggen/Anner Bylsma/Gustav Leonhardt - Italian Recorder Sonatas
CD 41 Anner Bylsma - Baroque Music for Cello
CD 42 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - English Consort & Keyboard Music
CD 43 Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - English Music of the 17th Century
CD 44 Pro Cantione Antiqua - English Part Songs & Lute Songs
CD 45 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Komödiantische Musik des Barock
CD 46 Concentus musicus Wien/Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Music at the Court of Mannheim
CD 47 Bob van Asperen - J. Bull: Music for Harpsichord
CD 48 Il Giardino Armonico - Musica da camera a Napoli
CD 49 Max van Egmond/Leonhardt-Consort/Gustav Leonhardt - Songs of the Baroque Era
CD 50 Tragicomedia - Vanitas vanitatum — Rome 1650

Indeed. But I have about 20 duplicates, and all the music.

[The new erato]

It will probably get cancelled, but you never know...

They sent it. Got confirmation today.

[otare]

Now it is 65£.

I already have it in the big Solti conducts Wagner box.

[The new erato]

Now it is 65£.

I already have it in the big Solti conducts Wagner box.

I managed to stay away from that. Don't listen to Wagner much, but at that price for a classic set? Wouldn't have bought it at £20 + P&P though.

[marvinbrown]

  Anyone interested in the Beethoven Brilliant Complete works box set can pick it up NEW from ebay for about £30- now that is super duper cheap!

  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beethoven-Complete-Edition-/351307442435?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51cb8e2903

  marvin

[jut1972]

Bargain!  Speedyhen are a decent seller too. . Good spot!

[Abuelo Igor]

They sent it. Got confirmation today.

With me, they only got as far as sending me a new "expected delivery" date for next week. I guess I don't trust AmUK much since, very recently, an MP seller offered at 20 quid one of my greatest objects of desire, namely, the Haitink Concertgebouw anthology, which has been fetching prohibitively high prices elsewhere, and, of course, someone realised their mistake and all I got was a polite apology.

[The new erato]

With me, they only got as far as sending me a new "expected delivery" date for next week. I guess I don't trust AmUK much since, very recently, an MP seller offered at 20 quid one of my greatest objects of desire, namely, the Haitink Concertgebouw anthology, which has been fetching prohibitively high prices elsewhere, and, of course, someone realised their mistake and all I got was a polite apology.

I draw a clear distinction between items sold amazon and those sold by their MPs.