Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

Interesting.  I saw this same CD set in Detroit at a music store for $59.99!
I wasn't sure about the quality (or pleased with the price) so I didn't buy, but
if I ever see it for $19.99, I certainly will!

Sounds like you got a tremendous bargain!

D

    
    
    
    I picked up the same set at Tower Record in Boston for $16.00. I
    considered that a tremendous bargain.
    
    
                                         ISM

    Yup. You interested in this bridge I have....?

    If you're in the UK...
    
    WH Smiths have started a Classical Selection CD club (like the book
    clubs). They are offering a five CD set purporting to be all Beethovens
    symphonies in DDD by the Dresden Philharmonic an an introductory
    price of...
    
    5 Pounds!!! plus 1-50 postage.
    
    You have to buy about 6 full price CDs from them in the first year,
    thats the only catch. Still a good deal though. Pity I'm not into
    Beethoven.

    Richard

    Regarding the base note:
    $16 (or even $19.99) may be an unbelievable price for a 5 disc set,
    but Andy gave it a 7 rating for performance, and 6 for sound quality.
    In my collection, that would rate these at the bottom of my listening
    list.  Whatever I paid for it would be a waste, because each of
    the discs would only make it into my player once.
    
    A disciminating Beethoven lover will disregard the price and buy
    Von Karajan's DG budget series or possibly the new releases by
    Christopher Hogwood & Academy of Ancient Music.  And those are only
    two of the excellent editions released.
    When I listen to the symphonies of history's greatest composer,
    I want to hear all the power and vitality that was intended to be
    there.
    
       Marty
    
    
    

    Incredible.
    
    I have had a sense of deja vu for some time now with regard to CD
    software -- it seems so much like the early days of stereo, when:
    all the "sonic spectacular" warhorses (like the 1812 Overture,
    recorded with real cannons on a 60's Mercury disk and now with digital
    cannons on a Telarc) were getting a share of attention
    disproportionate to their musical value, and when lesser-known (either 
    because they are beginning or because they deserve to be) conductors 
    and artists seem to be prevalent.
                     
    But now this.  You could buy the Krips set in the Harvard Coop in
    the 1960's for (I believe) $19.99 on Everest Hill, a label which
    nobody I know had ever heard of, and it always lingered near the 
    cutout bin even then.  
    
    Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.
    
    But I guess I don't understand the recording industry -- given my
    understanding of the production and royalty costs for CD's, it sounds
    as if the estate of Josef Krips must be paying a dollar a disk as
    a reverse royalty !!
    
    

    re: .7
    Remember that $19.99 in 1966 is $49.99 today.  That's pretty
    expensive considering that all the mono releases I bought from
    '64-'66 cost $2.99 (albums by the Byrds, Hollies, Dylan, Manfred
    Mann, Stones, etc.).  Releases in stereo cost $3.49.
    
       Marty

    re:  .8
    
    Well, maybe it was $9.99.....
    
    dq

    
    I own symphonies 1,2,3,5,6,and 9 on top label, top conductor CDs.
     They all sound wonderful and I wouldn't listen to the $20 set even
    if I was given them for free.  If all you can afford is that set
    then by all means it's a good bargin.  But if you can afford the
    $150, spend it.  The difference in sound quality and performance
    is enormous.
    
    Regards, Jim
    

...and how come you don't own the 7th?  
Beethoven thought that was his favorite.

AAA

    
    Maybe he liked it best but I love the 6th best, 3rd and then 5th.
     Maybe he did brown shoes, I do black.  Just opinions...I wouldn't
    want to bet my paycheck on it, but I think I did mostly DGs for
    Beethoven, Telarcs for Previn's stuff, Mozart, Williams and all
    the rest are a mix I think.  Would have to check.  I buy CDs primarily
    based on 2 sources: magazine reviews and word of mouth from others
    interested in quality music.  Every so often I take a chance on
    something that looks good or a conductor, orchestra or composer
    whose work has a good track record.
    
    Regards, Jim
     

RE:  -2.  Beethoven's favorite of his symphonies as recorded by many sources
	  was the 8th.  At one time when he was asked why the 8th (which was
	  introduced at the same concert with the 7th) was so much less 
	  popular than the 7th he replied, ". . . because it is so much
	  better!".

RE:  3 (I think).  The Kegel/Dresden Philharmonic set of complete Beethoven
	  symphonies is a pretty good recording.  I have it, and I would
	  give it an 8 for performance, and a 9 for the recording.  I paid
	  $35 for it at Lechmere with a $3 rebate from the label.

	  I think that complete sets
	  by the same conductor are pretty much a bad idea in any case,
	  since I generally like a certain conductor's way with one par-
	  ticular symphony but not with another.  But an inexpensive set
	  set gives me a reasonable version of those symphonies which I
	  don't listen to all that much anyway (i.e. the 1st, 2nd, & 4th)
	  and wouldn't therefore buy seperately.  As for which conductor,
	  it's just a matter of preference -- I personally don't care for
	  von Karajan's interpretations of Beethoven, I think he's too
	  syrupy - technically competant but no emotion - but that's just
	  my opinion.  You listen to various versions til you find one you
	  want to live with.

Re: .13 et al.

> I think that complete sets by the same conductor are pretty much a bad
> idea in any case, since I generally like a certain conductor's way with
> one particular symphony but not with another.  But an inexpensive set...

Right.  Occasionally you get a good overall set, but not often.  The
Masur/Leipzig Gewandhaus set of Beethoven symphonies is better than
Kegel/Dresden, in my book.  Either is probably better than the Karajan/BPO
- I too think little of Karajan's saccharinely dramatic handling of
Beethoven.  (And much else, for that matter - I can count on my thumbs all
the Karajan recordings I have kept after listening to them once.)

One particularly lucky complete set I found is the Serkin/Ozawa set of
Beethoven's piano concertos.  I rate the performances at 9.5 and the sound
at a solid 10.

- Dick

    Publisher's Central Bureau (1 Champion Ave; Avenel, NJ 07001-2301)
    has the Krips set in its March, 1988 catalog for $19.98 + $3.50
    for shipping, handling, etc. for those who can't find the set in
    the local stores -- maybe sales tax, travel time & expense would
    make this worthwhile.
    
    Although those of us who have more keenly developed musical
    appreciation may scoff at the less-than-definitive versions of the
    symphonies, this set seems to be an excellent way for beginners in
    "serious" music or for those who are just getting to know Beethoven
    to break into this genre.  Krips and the London Symphony are not
    exactly third rate and the price is hard to beat.  It's also a great
    way to build up a CD library.
    
    When I was beginning to meet classical music, I stocked up on cutouts
    because my wallet wouldn't let me make mistakes with the full priced
    versions.  Later, when I got more discriminating about composers
    and performers, I could take more educated chances -- but I would
    hate to dissuade anyone from this set because it isn't top notch.
    
    >R.Michael

    
Seconded!    Absolutely !