Large Box Sets

[Bulldog]

I vote "no".  My reasons will be revealed as the thread develops (assuming development).

[MN Dave]

In the immortal words of me: "Box sets are for chumps."

Just kidding.

But I will listen to a single disc more readily than I'll dig through a box set.

[bhodges]

Unless I have absolutely none of the boxed set's recordings individually, I don't like the high probability of duplicating recordings I already have. 

The only boxed sets I have are relatively small (12-14 CDs in each box): the Concertgebouw Anthology series, and those are live recordings generally not available in other formats (although there are a few exceptions here and there). 

--Bruce

[karlhenning]

I vote no understanding large to mean 40+

(This way, I can rationalize my Britten box, which contains (a) enough which is new to me or otherwise unduplicated and (b) fine quality performances, so that I find it has justified the cost.  The Bach box is a bit spottier, but as it was a bargain purchase, I can simply be perfectly satisfied with all the Jaccottet harpsichord work on it.)

[Scarpia]

Can't possibly vote, size is not the issue. Organizational principal is important.

Complete works of composer X:  no
Complete symphonies (or other well defined genre) of composer X by a specific ensemble: yes
Complete chamber music (or other vaguely defined genre) of composer X by various ensembles : no, a more attractive option if all recordings by the same ensemble.
Complete recordings of artist X: on rare occasions

I like getting a self contained set with one artists vision of a well defined body of work.  I don't like hodgepodge sets.

[karlhenning]

Complete works of composer X:  no

[...]

Complete recordings of artist X: on rare occasions

I am apt to reverse these.  But then, I'm a composer.

(Well, I'm a performer, too . . . .)

[Todd]

The poll needs two things: a definition of large, and a "Somtimes" option.

I have several large box sets, but they are, with one exception, repertoire related (Haydn symphonies, etc).  The one exception is the Casadesus Edition, which was a convenient, cheap way to get almost all of his CBS recordings.

The new, cheap, complete works of Composer X boxes, on the other hand, have no interest for me.

[Scarpia]

I am apt to reverse these.  But then, I'm a composer.

(Well, I'm a performer, too . . . .)

Actually, now that you mention it, there are exceptions, I have the complete Poulenc edition that EMI issued (but that is four boxes of about 5 CDs each, not a mega-box) and a complete Chopin edition.  My only mega-boxes are a complete Karajan/EMI edition (all the wonderful Philharmonia recordings from the 50's, when he was a performing artist, rather than an institution) and the Ciccolini edition from EMI.   I have to resist the urge to get the Cziffra edition. 

[Sergeant Rock]

I'm experiencing déjà vu...didn't we just have this poll? (Don't pay any attention to me....I'm old and forgetful...and worse, often remember things that didn't happen  )

Anyway, I like boxes if they provide the identical contents of the individual discs but at a far cheaper price. Prefer the individual discs when the boxes don't include everything, e.g., Chailly and Gielen's Mahler which had interesting fillers that weren't included in the box sets.

Sarge

[mc ukrneal]

I'm experiencing déjà vu...didn't we just have this poll? (Don't pay any attention to me....I'm old and forgetful...and worse, often remember things that didn't happen  )

Anyway, I like boxes if they provide the identical contents of the individual discs but at a far cheaper price. Prefer the individual discs when the boxes don't include everything, e.g., Chailly and Gielen's Mahler which had interesting fillers that weren't included in the box sets.

Sarge

There definitely was a thread (so you can rest easy knowing the ole grey cells are still firing)!   I don't remember if it was a poll or just a discussion.

[Franco]

Anyway, I like boxes if they provide the identical contents of the individual discs but at a far cheaper price.

I've been on the wrong end of this kind of thing: buying the works individually only to see a box come out a few years later at half what I paid.  The Hyperion Schubert Edition was one.

[karlhenning]

I've been on the wrong end of this kind of thing: buying the works individually only to see a box come out a few years later at half what I paid.  The Hyperion Schubert Edition was one.

Out of dumb luck, I stopped at one singleton disc (not deliberately) . . . and then when I learnt of a box, I had thus minimized the pain of redundancy.

Did that with both the Langgaard (Da Capo) and Shostakovich Symphonies (Supraphon) sets.

[Bulldog]

I've been on the wrong end of this kind of thing: buying the works individually only to see a box come out a few years later at half what I paid.  The Hyperion Schubert Edition was one.

Not the wrong end at all.  You got to enjoy those individual discs long before those who waited for a cheap price.  In my situation, waiting a few years could be a losing proposition.

Overall, I feel that quality trumps quantity and price. 

[Scarpia]

Not the wrong end at all.  You got to enjoy those individual discs long before those who waited for a cheap price.  In my situation, waiting a few years could be a losing proposition.

Overall, I feel that quality trumps quantity and price.

I generally don't deny myself a recording because I am waiting for a better deal.  If the box set is cheap enough you can but the discs you are interested in, get the box when it is available and recoup losses by selling the individual discs.  I had collected Karajan's Bruckner cycle one disc at a time when they were first released in the late 80's.   Last year I sold them and some other Karajan recordings on ebay to fanatics who wanted the "original cover" editions and used the proceeds to get the Karajan "symphony edition" from DG, which contains about 40 CDs, including the Bruckner, Brahms, Beethoven, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and some Haydn and Mozart.   Now I have more CDs in less space and some extra cash to boot! 

[Bulldog]

The poll needs two things: a definition of large, and a "Somtimes" option.

I have several large box sets, but they are, with one exception, repertoire related (Haydn symphonies, etc).  The one exception is the Casadesus Edition, which was a convenient, cheap way to get almost all of his CBS recordings.

The new, cheap, complete works of Composer X boxes, on the other hand, have no interest for me.

Large - VERY BIG.

Concerning a "sometimes" category, that can easily be explained in a posting just as you did above.

[Bulldog]

I generally don't deny myself a recording because I am waiting for a better deal.  If the box set is cheap enough you can but the discs you are interested in, get the box when it is available and recoup losses by selling the individual discs.  I had collected Karajan's Bruckner cycle one disc at a time when they were first released in the late 80's.   Last year I sold them and some other Karajan recordings on ebay to fanatics who wanted the "original cover" editions and used the proceeds to get the Karajan "symphony edition" from DG, which contains about 40 CDs, including the Bruckner, Brahms, Beethoven, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, and some Haydn and Mozart.   Now I have more CDs in less space and some extra cash to boot!

When I have any extra cash, my family members somehow get their hands on it unless I hit the casino first.

I think the biggest box set I've ever bought was Bach's organ works from Lionel Rogg on Harmonia Mundi; about 12 discs.  The big boxes just don't grab my attention.

[Brian]

The single best CD purchase I've made over the last year has been this:



A 100 CD set containing great live recordings of - well, look at the image: Richter, Gilels, Oistrakh, Kogan, Rostropovich, and many more. I now have a treasure trove of spectacular performances of the great concertos, and some of the great sonatas and solo showpieces; the sound is never unacceptable, and often adds to the charm. Besides, the Russian radio engineers really spotlit the solo instruments, which I suppose would irritate an audiophile, but not me: the full, glorious, blooming sound of Oistrakh, or Kogan, or Daniil Shafran, is right there in the room with me, and so rich and huge that I could wrap myself up in it. Even the lesser-known performers are great: I'm loving the work of Victor Tretiakov, and one of the great joys of the set so far has been Shafran playing J.C. Bach's almost totally unheard-of cello concerto. There is a lot of obscure Russian repertoire here, but there are also great go-to choices for the big hits. If I'm in the mood for the Rach 3, I go to Gilels; Beethoven's late sonatas, or the big Schubert sonatas, there's Richter; Kogan live in THE best Tchaikovsky concerto I have ever heard; for the Sibelius concerto, Oistrakh and Tretiakov; for Bach solo cello suites, Shafran and Rostropovich.

In other words, it's been a gold mine for me. Especially since I paid $36 for it, at Abeille Musique's clearance sale, I couldn't be happier with a box set. Hours and hours of the very best artistry of the 20th century.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for big boxes generally, I will freely admit to having the Complete Works of Rachmaninov [Brilliant], Brahms [Brilliant], and Chopin [Hyperion]. They're inexpensive ways to acquire, fast, a whole lot of new music to explore. The Brilliant set has been my gateway to Brahms' chamber music (I'd only heard the Clarinet Quintet before), and while I am sure there are superior performances out there (in fact, for the Clarinet Quintet, I know there are), for the time being a college student on a shoestring budget is very grateful to have such an inexpensive welcome to a wealth of music he didn't know existed. Ohlsson's Chopin has been mostly quite satisfying, but I will probably never listen to all of the "spare" pieces and unpublished miniatures. I'm taking it slowly with the Rachmaninov. I could have had the complete Beethoven for $36, but even I'm selective with big boxes: the symphony and SQ cycles wouldn't improve my collection, the Gulda would be nice to have but I only listen to 5-6 of the sonatas nowadays (Waldstein and Opp 79, 90, 109, 110, 111), and I didn't know if the obscurities would be worth the investment.

Now, if big boxes mean 5-15 CDs, they're indispensable for me. I love me some Beethoven, Schubert, Sibelius and Shostakovich symphony cycles - as my roommate can tell you. 

Speaking of which, my roommate is one of those who listens through a box set when he gets it. Or when I get it.    I got the Barshai Shostakovich cycle last year; he listened to every symphony in order. I'm not that type of person; my listening habits are very scattered and improvisational, even when I know that I'd like to devote more time to X genre or Y composer. So I've still only heard Shosty symphonies 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. Maybe I am underutilizing, or improperly using, the box sets. Maybe I am just taking my time.

[Bulldog]

Speaking of which, my roommate is one of those who listens through a box set when he gets it. Or when I get it.    I got the Barshai Shostakovich cycle last year; he listened to every symphony in order. I'm not that type of person; my listening habits are very scattered and improvisational, even when I know that I'd like to devote more time to X genre or Y composer. So I've still only heard Shosty symphonies 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. Maybe I am underutilizing, or improperly using, the box sets. Maybe I am just taking my time.

I don't think it's possible to improperly use a box set.  You bought it, you own it, and you can do anything you want with it (including sending it to the Bulldog).

[DavidW]

I like having some big box sets just to have some fresh music to turn to whenever I'm bored.

But I strongly prefer individual cds it's the easiest, most economical way to find recordings that are what I want performance and sound quality wise.  I think an excellent single cd is worth more relistens than a large set of mediocre recordings.  Having a big set doesn't mean that the recordings will be mediocre, but it's difficult to buy several huge box sets to find the "best" or preferable set while it is pretty easy to do that with a single cd or a twofer.

[Brian]

I don't think it's possible to improperly use a box set.

Hmm, maybe if I use it as a weapon...