A request for assistance, all advice gratefully received

[Seán]

Right I have a real problem here. I am hoping that some of you can be of assistance so please indulge me. I have vouchers for amazon.fr and they are worth about €55 and I have a basket that is simply overflowing with CDs.

Now I could simply go out and buy another couple of sets of Beethoven Symphony cycles and enjoy them and that would be that, but I’d rather not.

There are significant gaps in my collection particularly when we consider the lack of Baroque music in my CD cabinet. I have a small Bach collection, a few Purcell CDs, a little Zelenka, other odds and ends and that’s about it.

I have a pathetically small opera collection. That said, I have all of Mozart’s Operas in the Brilliant Classics 170 CDs set but I don’t find them very satisfactory.

The following CDs are of music that is new to me.

The Kempe/Staatskappelle Dresden Richard Strauss set for €13.88
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B ... dition=new


The Reiner/CSO Strauss set for €9.49
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B ... dition=new


Perhaps I should take a real plunge into the world of opera:
Harnoncourt’s 18 CD Mozart cycle for €45.95
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B ... dition=new



What about the Laangaard set, I LOVE Symphony cycles and I have had this in my sights for some time now, I can get it for €53.64:
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B ... dition=new


I am considering getting the Kondrashin Shostakovich cycle, I am almost ashamed to say that I still don’t have it at this stage, that said, I rarely listen to Shostakovich’s music. It’s less than €60.00
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B ... dition=new



Then there is Clifford Curzon’s 24 CD Decca set, it’s a snip €60.22:
http://www.amazon.fr/gp/offer-listing/B ... dition=new


Perhaps there are Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Modern music recordings out there that I must have?

What do you make of these and/or do you have other CDs that you’d like to recommend, so c’mon lads and help me spend the money (wisely)

[fergus]

What an interesting dilemma Seán!

My advice is succinct....buy the Kempe Strauss and the the Kondrashin Shostakovich cycles. That advice is solely based on the performances included in those two sets.

[Jared]

Sean, the Kempe Strauss set should be in everyone's collection.... it's a staple and very reasonably priced.

I'm going to throw a different idea in your direction for the remainder of the money... lacking in Baroque? Lacking in Opera/ Oratorios? Just consider this for a thought:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ortorios-Messia ... DGMEKLNSSV

[Seán]

What an interesting dilemma Seán!

My advice is succinct....buy the Kempe Strauss and the the Kondrashin Shostakovich cycles. That advice is solely based on the performances included in those two sets.

One vote for Kempe's Strauss in preference to Reiner's, I have a couple of Reiner's anyway and a thumbs up for Kondrashin, thanks Fergus

[Seán]

Sean, the Kempe Strauss set should be in everyone's collection.... it's a staple and very reasonably priced.

I'm going to throw a different idea in your direction for the remainder of the money... lacking in Baroque? Lacking in Opera/ Oratorios? Just consider this for a thought:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ortorios-Messia ... DGMEKLNSSV

Kempe again, that's interesting. I do LOVE that Dresden orchestra, perhaps I should get it.

Now you have me salivating Jared, that looks like a super set and it's only €34 too:


Any more suggestions?

[Seán]

and here's another one I was thinking of getting, I think that Ciaran likes it:

http://www.amazon.fr/Bach-Concerts-plus ... pd_sim_m_2



I do not have any recordings of Schubert's sacred music, do you like these performances?

[Jared]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cherubini-Masse ... ubini+muti

Sean, this is a set which has intrigued me for a while... the music is meant to be delightful (although I've never heard it myself), well performed and a ridiculous bargain 7 CD set... what think you?

[Jared]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schubert-Sacred ... sawallisch

Sean, this is the complete set of Schubert Religious & Secular choral works in 11 CDs, again at a bargain price... it's excellent.

[Seán]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schubert-Sacred ... sawallisch

Sean, this is the complete set of Schubert Religious & Secular choral works in 11 CDs, again at a bargain price... it's excellent.

Yes, I am definitely interested in the Sawallisch set, it has been in my basket for a long time.

[Ciaran]

and here's another one I was thinking of getting, I think that Ciaran likes it:

http://www.amazon.fr/Bach-Concerts-plus ... pd_sim_m_2

I certainly do, I found it very lively and enjoyable. At the moment I'm trying not to buy further performances of things I own multiple performances of already. Instead I'm trying out new things, though temptation often gets the better of me. It's been a good while since I bought any new Mahler, but I don't know how long I can hold out!