I need box set recommendations!

Ericus Rex · « **on:** 22 Nov 2011, 01:29 am »

OK. It's that time of year again. The family is hounding me for my Xmas wishlist. The fact is, most everything that's affordable I just buy for myself throughout the year. And I can't very well give them a list full of audio equipment...far, FAR overbudget. So I thought I'd just give out some box set ideas; things in the $30-100 range. I'm thinking all types of classical, though I tend to listen to ensembles (big and small) more than solo rep. What's on youz guys'z shortlist?

goldlizsts · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Nov 2011, 02:14 am »

Quote from: Ericus Rex on 22 Nov 2011, 01:29 am

OK. It's that time of year again. The family is hounding me for my Xmas wishlist. The fact is, most everything that's affordable I just buy for myself throughout the year. And I can't very well give them a list full of audio equipment...far, FAR overbudget. So I thought I'd just give out some box set ideas; things in the $30-100 range. I'm thinking all types of classical, though I tend to listen to ensembles (big and small) more than solo rep. What's on youz guys'z shortlist?

Karajan's 1963 Beethoven symphonies in SACD. I've hesitated, hesitated, hesitated to sink down that $60, since I have the regular set already.

Todd_A · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Nov 2011, 05:58 pm »

In the prescribed price range, a few extremely good sets are:

And for something rather different:

Photon46 · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Nov 2011, 08:54 pm »

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/listPage.jsp?list_id=2387&page_size=100

This link to Arkiv Music's top gift recommendations in box sets should give you numerous ideas. Numbers 3,8,34, and 51 would be my top choices. I recently got #8, the Karajan Master Recordings box set, in spite of having numerous examples already on vinyl and earlier cd releases. Remasterings are wonderful, it's a very fine set of discs if you are a fan of VK's and the Berlin Philharmonic's sumptuous and burnished orchestral tones.

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Nov 2011, 12:56 pm »

Great link and great suggestions! Keep em coming!

saisunil · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Mar 2012, 09:59 pm »

Picked up Decca box set - wow!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331762308&sr=8-1

What an amazing collection ... great collection and great sound ... perhaps the most non-audiophile audiophile collection!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Mar 2012, 06:08 am »

More info on the Decca Sound Boxed Set....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd6v6d_6JQs&feature=player_embedded#! ...longer video

http://www.arkivmusic.com/albumpage/648280-E893-5

S Clark · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Mar 2012, 05:35 am »

If interested in vinyl, I picked this up cheap at Goodwill with no expectations. However, these rival the best of RCA in sound quality. Find them on Fleabay for $20-$100. Set of 12 + bonus of Dvorak's New World sym.

koyaan · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Mar 2012, 03:21 pm »

I've really enjoyed "Bach & Beyond" by Masaaki Suzuki and Collegium Japan( on BIS ) It has a few old warhorses by JS and Handle, but also has some nice Monteverdi,Sghutz,Ahle, Buxehude,Kuhnau, Zelenka and CPE Bach.
I've also really enjoyed the SACD set of Beethoven quartets by Prazak Quartet on Praga Digitals.

Tyson · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Mar 2012, 04:13 pm »

Quote from: saisunil on 14 Mar 2012, 09:59 pm

Picked up Decca box set - wow!
http://www.amazon.com/The-Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331762308&sr=8-1

What an amazing collection ... great collection and great sound ... perhaps the most non-audiophile audiophile collection!

That is insane! What an amazing bargain.

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Mar 2012, 06:12 pm »

Quote from: goldlizsts on 22 Nov 2011, 02:14 am

Karajan's 1963 Beethoven symphonies in SACD. I've hesitated, hesitated, hesitated to sink down that $60, since I have the regular set already.

Same story here - I'll break down and get it eventually as I really enjoy that particular cycle.

D.D.

Diamond Dog · « **Reply #11 on:** 26 Mar 2012, 01:29 am »

Thanks to those posts from saisunil and lonewolfny42, I went out and scooped up a Decca Sound box this PM. Listening to The Three Cornered Hat right now - the SQ is indeed mighty fine!
Thanks for an outstanding recommendation! Pretty hard to go wrong with this.

D.D.

drjjpdc · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 Mar 2012, 03:11 pm »

Quote from: Diamond Dog on 25 Mar 2012, 06:12 pm

Same story here - I'll break down and get it eventually as I really enjoy that particular cycle.

D.D.

Has anybody heard the SACD's? Are they really better or just marketing? Sorry I meant the 1963 HvK LvB set.

John

bakufu · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 Mar 2012, 03:40 pm »

i have a few out-of-the-way recommendations.

this one's out of print for now, but some would say (like me) that it's all the igor you'll ever need:

http://www.amazon.com/Igor-Stravinsky-The-Recorded-Legacy/dp/B000002767

there are at least two big messiaen sets, but i like this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Messiaen-Edition-Box-Set-Olivier/dp/B000A2ACWO/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1332862241&sr=1-1

my two favorite bruckner sets:

http://www.amazon.com/Celibidache-Bruckner-Munich-Philharmonic-Orchestra/dp/B005HYNCTK/ref=pd_sim_sbs_m_1

http://www.amazon.com/Symphonies-0-9-Symphony-F-Minor/dp/B003ZJYD92/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1332862412&sr=1-1

karajan seems to be nearly everyone's first choice, but i prefer inbal (and denon's recording technology).

and my favorite mahler set:

http://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Complete-Symphonies-Gustav/dp/B004OGDW4M/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1332862499&sr=1-1

a great, recent bax symphony cycle:

http://www.amazon.com/Bax-The-Symphonies-Arnold/dp/B0000DIGLH/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1332862603&sr=1-3

although i still enjoy the earlier bryden thomson set, also on chandos.

and the vaughan-williams vernon handley set:

http://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-Williams-The-Nine-Symphonies/dp/B00006J3LP/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1332862705&sr=1-1

there, i've spent all your money.

apog · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 01:53 pm »

FYI. The Decca set is $100.49 at Amazon at time of this posting.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1333288229&sr=1-1

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 02:43 pm »

Quote from: apog on 1 Apr 2012, 01:53 pm

FYI. The Decca set is $100.49 at Amazon at time of this posting.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1333288229&sr=1-1

Thanks for the update...great price...got one coming...

Wig · « **Reply #16 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 07:08 pm »

I suppose it's a good selection of classical music?

Tyson · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 07:15 pm »

Quote from: Wig on 1 Apr 2012, 07:08 pm

I suppose it's a good selection of classical music?

It's excellent.

Wig · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 07:40 pm »

Thanks! Just ordered...

Wig

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Apr 2012, 08:59 pm »

Quote from: apog on 1 Apr 2012, 01:53 pm

FYI. The Decca set is $100.49 at Amazon at time of this posting.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1333288229&sr=1-1

Bump for a good deal (50 Cd's)....in case you didn't see it...

I need box set recommendations!

drjjpdc