Recordings That You Are Considering

[NJ Joe]

Thank you all for the comments/insights on Walter.  I've found that he has, with his Beethoven and Brahms, a special touch.  Although tempted, I did not order the Bruno Walter Edition but rather my usual route of several used CD's which avoided duplication.  I'll try and post tonight on the recent purchases thread.

[Karl Henning]

I would consider this

[asin]B00DHCJLWG[/asin]

which is top notch

Zowie.

[Moonfish]

What are your thoughts on this release? Is 2014 the year of the Giulini fever...?
Like Todd in a previous post I am hoping for a Giulini Opera set!!   

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Carlo-Maria-Giulini-The-Complete-Sony-Recordings/hnum/3840104

[asin] B00HEYF4BA[/asin]

[Que]

I would consider this

[asin]B00DHCJLWG[/asin]

which is top notch

Done considering on that one - just waiting for a good price....

I'm counting on you guys to spread the word if when the opportunity arises!

Q

[Mookalafalas]

The Bruno Walter Edition (and the two disc set of stereo Mozart), The Sony Giulini box(es), and the baroque opera box are all 5-Star, and they are all dead cheap--$3 or less per disc if you do a little comparison shopping at the different Amazons, etc.  If I didn't have them already, I would buy each of them post haste. 
Q, my guess is that the opera box will not come down much.  It is a very fancy set, has 4 books inside, 3 DVDs, and has designer jewel cases for the 39 discs.  If you buy it and feel buyer's remorse for spending even such a paltry sum, I fear for your musical soul   (Check on line for some of the oop operas individually--some are going for $50 or MORE just for the original 3 disc release).

[The new erato]

Q, my guess is that the opera box will not come down much.  It is a very fancy set, has 4 books inside, 3 DVDs, and has designer jewel cases for the 39 discs.  If you buy it and feel buyer's remorse for spending even such a paltry sum, I fear for your musical soul   (Check on line for some of the oop operas individually--some are going for $50 or MORE just for the original 3 disc release).

The only one i don't have individually is the Campra so I'll pass. Otherwise it's a dream box.

[Ken B]

The Bruno Walter Edition (and the two disc set of stereo Mozart), The Sony Giulini box(es), and the baroque opera box are all 5-Star, and they are all dead cheap--$3 or less per disc if you do a little comparison shopping at the different Amazons, etc.  If I didn't have them already, I would buy each of them post haste. 
Q, my guess is that the opera box will not come down much.  It is a very fancy set, has 4 books inside, 3 DVDs, and has designer jewel cases for the 39 discs.  If you buy it and feel buyer's remorse for spending even such a paltry sum, I fear for your musical soul   (Check on line for some of the oop operas individually--some are going for $50 or MORE just for the original 3 disc release).

Aha! You aren't cured of CDCDCD, you've just figured out how to give it away. It's like the Queen of Spades in Hearts. 

[Mookalafalas]

Aha! You aren't cured of CDCDCD, you've just figured out how to give it away. It's like the Queen of Spades in Hearts. 

    It is like hearts, but not giving the queen away. I shot the moon and got everything!! Now everyone else gets 25 point(er)s.

[Todd]

An intriguing June release. 

[Ken B]

An intriguing June release.

Good group.

[Que]

The Bruno Walter Edition (and the two disc set of stereo Mozart), The Sony Giulini box(es), and the baroque opera box are all 5-Star, and they are all dead cheap--$3 or less per disc if you do a little comparison shopping at the different Amazons, etc.  If I didn't have them already, I would buy each of them post haste. 
Q, my guess is that the opera box will not come down much.  It is a very fancy set, has 4 books inside, 3 DVDs, and has designer jewel cases for the 39 discs.  If you buy it and feel buyer's remorse for spending even such a paltry sum, I fear for your musical soul   (Check on line for some of the oop operas individually--some are going for $50 or MORE just for the original 3 disc release).

Good point.    My Pricenoia check (click "all") tells me I could get it for €84 incl. p&p, which is quite good for all that..

Q

[Madiel]

I'm interested in acquiring both the Schumann string quartets and the Brahms string quartets, and I know that in one case (and only one??), someone was terribly clever and solved the problem of needing 1.5 discs for each by combining them...

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Any thoughts on these performances (in any of their release iterations)?

[Mandryka]

[Daverz]

I'm interested in acquiring both the Schumann string quartets and the Brahms string quartets, and I know that in one case (and only one??), someone was terribly clever and solved the problem of needing 1.5 discs for each by combining them...

[asin]B004KDO2IO[/asin]

Any thoughts on these performances (in any of their release iterations)?

I don't know that one, but I do like this set by the Cherubini Quartet, which will at least give you the Schumann Piano Quintet as a fill up:

[asin]B000EMSIAI[/asin]

[Moonfish]

Question: Is it worthwhile investing in the new Zinman set? I understand that opinions differ greatly about him, although his recordings generally were well received when they were released. However, I do not really notice anybody here at GMG listening to them. Thoughts? Worth the money?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Symphonies-Zurich-1995-2014-Limited/dp/B00I0IL3FA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394836183&sr=8-1&keywords=zinman

[Ken B]

Question: Is it worthwhile investing in the new Zinman set? I understand that opinions differ greatly about him, although his recordings generally were well received when they were released. However, I do not really notice anybody here at GMG listening to them. Thoughts? Worth the money?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Symphonies-Zurich-1995-2014-Limited/dp/B00I0IL3FA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394836183&sr=8-1&keywords=zinman

His Beethoven is great but the Strauss disappointed me. Excellent sound.
I think highly of him as a conductor overall. You get it at a lower price once the VAT comes off.

[Moonfish]

His Beethoven is great but the Strauss disappointed me. Excellent sound.
I think highly of him as a conductor overall. You get it at a lower price once the VAT comes off.

Yeah, I like the VAT reduction.     I did a pre-order a while ago so it is at 45 GBP (incl. S&H) for me at this point. I am just reconsidering so I appreciate your feedback. Where do you go for Strauss? Kempe?

Anybody else? Will Zinman change my world?   

[Mookalafalas]

A while back there was a lot of talk about the Bernstein New York box.  Most thought highly of it, but the price was up near $200. At Amazon.de it's dropped down near $120 again, for those still on the fence...

[kishnevi]

Yeah, I like the VAT reduction.     I did a pre-order a while ago so it is at 45 GBP (incl. S&H) for me at this point. I am just reconsidering so I appreciate your feedback. Where do you go for Strauss? Kempe?

Anybody else? Will Zinman change my world?   

It's a mixture of first rate performances (particularly the Beethoven concertos and some of the Mahler) with some duds (particularly the Schumann and the Mahler 10) and some simply workmanlike and competent (the Beethoven symphonies and some of the Mahler).  The Strauss I would rate as somewhere between excellent and competent.

Instead of the whole box, I'd suggest
--the entire Strauss cycle, which I got years ago as a box set on Arte Nova
--the Beethoven concertos (all five PCs, the violin and triple concerto as well) and possibly the double CD set of the overtures.  These were also released on Arte Nova.
--Mahler 3, 4, and 9--the latter is actually one of the best recordings of the Ninth I've ever heard, and the only one I'd rate as a "must have".

The rest is, barring the Schumann and Mahler 10, fine as far as they go, but I don't think you'd be missing much, if anything, if you never hear them.

If getting the performances I suggest is more difficult or more expensive than simply getting the box set (and remember that it was not until he started the Mahler cycle that his recordings were released on RCA and not Arte Nova, which means the Strauss and Beethoven may still be available rather cheaply),  then get the box set and be prepared for a bunch of stuff that won't grab you.

Mandatory disclosure:  there is some stuff in that set, such as the Brahms, which I've never heard.

[kishnevi]

A while back there was a lot of talk about the Bernstein New York box.  Most thought highly of it, but the price was up near $200. At Amazon.de it's dropped down near $120 again, for those still on the fence...

Question: Am I correct in thinking this Bernstein box has only the Haydn symphonies and not the Haydn masses he recorded with the NYPO? 

I'm interested enough in those masses--they've been on my wishlist long enough--that if it doesn't have them,  I am not interested in the set, since I would at some point be getting his full Haydn in New York set.  Just a matter when I get around to it.