Muti's Complete Beethoven Symphonies for $9.99 at iTunes

[Scott]

I got an e-mail yesterday from a friend who told me that he'd just downloaded all of Beethoven's symphonies, plus a few of the overtures, played by Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra, at the iTunes website for a total of, get this, only $9.99. I immediately went to iTunes and downloaded it for myself. I recall that set being applauded when it came out in, I think, the late 1980s. This is the equivalent of 6 CDs for the price of one Naxos CD. Not bad, eh?

[gmstudio]

Thanks for the tip!  Am downloading now...

I only have 2 complete sets:  Karajan/BPO   &   Szell/Cleveland.   Lots of partials, but it will be nice to add another set...

[PerfectWagnerite]

Thanks for the tip!  Am downloading now...

I only have 2 complete sets:  Karajan/BPO   &   Szell/Cleveland.   Lots of partials, but it will be nice to add another set...

For about $15 you can also get Norrington/EMI or Virgin, Blomstedt/Brilliant, both are excellent supplements to your listening pleasure.

[gmstudio]

For about $15 you can also get Norrington/EMI or Virgin, Blomstedt/Brilliant, both are excellent supplements to your listening pleasure.

I have part of the Norrington set (1, 6, 9) but am only finding the complete set for $30...

[PerfectWagnerite]

I have part of the Norrington set (1, 6, 9) but am only finding the complete set for $30...

Caiman has it for $17.98 new and I have seen it as low as $12 sometimes. Just check back periodically on Amazon and you'll find it

[longears]

But, Scott--aren't iTunes downloads still 128kbps lossy compression files? 

[stingo]

Ah I have my CD playing via Itunes, and I was pretty surprised to see the Beethoven set at #1 - this explains why.

[Scott]

But, Scott--aren't iTunes downloads still 128kbps lossy compression files? 

That's the default, I believe, but one can increase it to 320kbps. I suspect my ear my not be as good as yours. I find little to complain about at 128kbps.

[longears]

Good news for Apple downloaders, then, for 320kbps AAC sounds perfectly fine to me over the playback equipment I use (including my middle-aged ears whose high-frequency response rolls off like the face of Half Dome at 16kHz!).  I might just have to check out the iTunes store again (though I really despise Apple and hate throwing any business their way  ).

[gmstudio]

But, Scott--aren't iTunes downloads still 128kbps lossy compression files? 

yes, but they're AAC files, not MP3 files...a 128 kbps AAC file is vastly superior to a 128 kpbs MP3 file.  I've never had any personal problems with them. It's actually the way I rip all my classical (and other) CDs.

[longears]

yes, but they're AAC files, not MP3 files...a 128 kbps AAC file is vastly superior to a 128 kpbs MP3 file.  I've never had any personal problems with them. It's actually the way I rip all my classical (and other) CDs.

Disagree.  AAC (mp4) at 128 is slightly superior to the crappy mp3 coder Apple built into iTunes (at least the highs won't give you a migraine in ten seconds flat!), but it's no better than LAME mp3s for quality and not nearly as good for compatibility. 

[Mark]

Disagree.  AAC (mp4) at 128 is slightly superior to the crappy mp3 coder Apple built into iTunes (at least the highs won't give you a migraine in ten seconds flat!), but it's no better than LAME mp3s for quality and not nearly as good for compatibility. 

Agreed. And MP3s don't come hampered with DRM.

[gmstudio]

Disagree.  AAC (mp4) at 128 is slightly superior to the crappy mp3 coder Apple built into iTunes (at least the highs won't give you a migraine in ten seconds flat!), but it's no better than LAME mp3s for quality and not nearly as good for compatibility. 

Well in 3 years of having my iPod, I've never had a complaint nor a compatibility problem.  I guess to each their own, eh? 

Agreed. And MP3s don't come hampered with DRM.

Apple's DRM is incredibly easy to bypass. As a matter of fact, backing up one's purchase all but bypasses the DRM anyway. Again, to each their own.

[marvinbrown]

I got an e-mail yesterday from a friend who told me that he'd just downloaded all of Beethoven's symphonies, plus a few of the overtures, played by Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra, at the iTunes website for a total of, get this, only $9.99. I immediately went to iTunes and downloaded it for myself. I recall that set being applauded when it came out in, I think, the late 1980s. This is the equivalent of 6 CDs for the price of one Naxos CD. Not bad, eh?

  An EXCELLENT price for the complete Beethoven Symphonies!  Although I do not think this is offered for UK iTunes customers  ??  I could be mistaken though!


  marvin

[MN Dave]

I saw this and should have mentioned it here I guess. I didn't pick it up, but if I recall correctly it's iTunes Plus, which means better sound and no DRM.

[Mark]

Apple's DRM is incredibly easy to bypass. As a matter of fact, backing up one's purchase all but bypasses the DRM anyway. Again, to each their own.

Care to elaborate?

[gmstudio]

Care to elaborate?

I burn audio CD's of all my iTunes purchases as backup and file them with my collection.  Once they're burned (as audio) to a CD, simply reimporting them creates new AAC files free of DRM.

File-type things aside, I'm really enjoying this set.  I headed straight for the 8th (one of my favorites) and was pleasantly surprised with the drive Muti brings to this often-overlooked piece.  Overall I think the low brass is weak throughout, (particularly in the 9th) but the strings have that nice Philly 'grit' that I enjoy on the Ormandy recordings I've heard before.

[Mark]

I burn audio CD's of all my iTunes purchases as backup and file them with my collection.  Once they're burned (as audio) to a CD, simply reimporting them creates new AAC files free of DRM.

Oh, like that. I thought you had some clever crack for the DRM, rather than going down the CD burning route. That's how everyone gets around DRM, but I'd be interested to find out how to simply strip it from the original file. I dare say some genius has already done it (indeed, I believe someone did with an earlier version of Apple's Fair Play system).

Thanks for sharing.

[gmstudio]

Oh, like that. I thought you had some clever crack for the DRM, rather than going down the CD burning route. That's how everyone gets around DRM, but I'd be interested to find out how to simply strip it from the original file. I dare say some genius has already done it (indeed, I believe someone did with an earlier version of Apple's Fair Play system).

Thanks for sharing.

I'm sure there are other tricks and work arounds, but really, I just don't care that much.  I download, I listen, I enjoy. 

[PerfectWagnerite]

I don't download anything. I just buy the CD, so I know I am getting the best