Box sets

[Harvested Sorrow]

In light of the recent thread requesting to know how many CDs we own, I decided to start one asking about box sets.* This should be interesting...

I think I've got the bases covered for numbers of box sets. Maybe even had a bit of overkill, but who knows?

*I've decided not to define operas as box sets, unless it's a full opera that is sometimes released in parts (i.e. the Ring Cycle), if anyone wants to argue about that, feel free to.

[Corlyss_D]

Depends on what they are. You have to have boxes for more than one cd. I don't know what it proves to have a lot or a few.

[Wallingford]

I used to have over a couple dozen box sets, but I had to sell most of them owing to finances.

The only CD box sets I have now are stuff I duped off the radio (like live concerts of Jarvi/Detroit Symphony & MTT/San Francisco Symphony), and prize-LP preservations (like Ormandy's Minnesota stuff & his "World's Greatest Orchestra" series from the early 50s).

[Harvested Sorrow]

I don't know what it proves to have a lot or a few.

Nothing, aside from the possibility that a person likes to collect a composer/performers works in bulk. I'm just curious.

[Ralph]

My "intake" of boxed sets started escalating with the frequent releases of very interesting sets from BRILLIANT.

[RebLem]

I have 15 boxed sets on my "to be listened to for the first time" shelves alone, plus two others--the Rostropovich Shostakovich Syms box and the Tabakov Mahler box, that I am in the middle of.

[Harvested Sorrow]

I have 15 boxed sets on my "to be listened to for the first time" shelves alone, plus two others--the Rostropovich Shostakovich Syms box and the Tabakov Mahler box, that I am in the middle of.

There's a Rostropovich Shostakovich symphonies box out?! Damn, I swear I could remember searching for one of those...thanks.

[david johnson]

i have only a few -

brilliant classics: symphonies of shostakvich, dvorak, sibelius; lvb piano sonatas
naxos white box prokofiev syms & concerti
dg karajan/bpo beethoven (60s)


dj

[Haydnseek]

Luckily I’m not the sort of listener that’s passionate about finding an ideal recording of each work so box sets have been an excellent way to enlarge my collection, and I’ve got quite a few, especially the Collectors Editions from Universal, some of the BMG Complete Collections series, several from Brilliant Classics and a few from Naxos, Telarc and EMI. I've bought a lot of music this way at a low cost per disk, and the space savings from the slim boxes with paper sleeves has been a welcome bonus. It’s really wonderful that so many fine recordings of great music are available, affordable and conveniently packaged.

[karlhenning]

FWIW, I don't consider the clunky old packaging concept of putting a pair of discs in a box, to be a "box set" (so I do not include, for instance, the Ozawa/BSO recording of Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet in my count).

That said, I still fall into the 21-40 range . . . .

[jbuck919]

I originally misread the title of this thread as "box seats" and was assuming it had something to do with the opera.

I voted low just because I don't have a massive collection in the first place. If I could get everything I wanted to listen to in box sets, I would. It is too convenient and I don't much care about slight differences in quality of performance that (reasonably) mean a great deal to more meticulous listeners (with the obvious exception of things like Bach's organ works).

For example, I own a box set of the complete orchestral works of R. Strauss with the Dresden Staatskapalle. For me, that was the convenient way to "collect" a repertory that is important but that I don't much sweat over.

[Harvested Sorrow]

I currently own 24, not including two disc sets that happen to be in a double jewel case.

[Harvested Sorrow]

I originally misread the title of this thread as "box seats" and was assuming it had something to do with the opera.

I voted low just because I don't have a massive collection in the first place. If I could get everything I wanted to listen to in box sets, I would. It is too convenient and I don't much care about slight differences in quality of performance that (reasonably) mean a great deal to more meticulous listeners (with the obvious exception of things like Bach's organ works).

For example, I own a box set of the complete orchestral works of R. Strauss with the Dresden Staatskapalle. For me, that was the convenient way to "collect" a repertory that is important but that I don't much sweat over.

I'm of a somewhat similar nature. To me hearing the music comes first, having the absolute best interpretation of it (or something in the top two or three) second. If the set is known for most of the interpretations being great with a few of lower quality I have no qualms with simply picking up some 'supplementary' discs for those works later and sticking with one set of interpretations for a long while. Albeit, there a few exceptions to this such as Beethoven's piano sonatas. (I own three sets and am currently looking at number four when I eventually have money to purchase it)

That said...you mentioned one obvious exception being Bach's organ works, so tell me: What do you think of this set (assuming you've heard it, or parts of it)?

[jbuck919]

That said...you mentioned one obvious exception being Bach's organ works, so tell me: What do you think of this set (assuming you've heard it, or parts of it)?

It is one of the three complete sets that I own. It is, of course, itself a box set. Complete sets are not very efficient because, and I feel the deepest sense of irony every time I have to comment on this, half of the organ works of Bach are not masterpieces (or even particularly interesting), whereas almost everything else that has survived is. But to get all the gold in an efficient manner, one must accept the dross.

The last of the Marie-Claire Alain sets is a stupendous achievement. As you may be aware, for many generations Bach organ interpretation was subject to certain Romantic accretions that just would not go away (that does not mean they were awful). Alain's earlier recordings were much along those lines. For her, in her later years, to come to the conclusion that she had to drop all that and then make a new cycle of masterly performances is a tribute to both artistic integrity and plain courage.

Come to think of it, I'm going to put on the E minor Prelude and Fugue as my evening listening.

[Haydnseek]

One more advantage of collecting slim box sets is their low profiles. If your spouse is the type that doesn’t grasp the urgent necessity for buying hundreds of CDs you can answer the question “what was in that package that came in the mail?” with “oh, just a Haydn recording” while flashing the tiny box in an offhand manner from a secure distance. She may not realize there are nine CDs in that little case and you will avoid that stare that reminds you of Mae Busch in "Sons of the Desert" (Laurel & Hardy fans will know what I mean).

[Harvested Sorrow]

That said...you mentioned one obvious exception being Bach's organ works, so tell me: What do you think of this set (assuming you've heard it, or parts of it)?

It is one of the three complete sets that I own. It is, of course, itself a box set. Complete sets are not very efficient because, and I feel the deepest sense of irony every time I have to comment on this, half of the organ works of Bach are not masterpieces (or even particularly interesting), whereas almost everything else that has survived is. But to get all the gold in an efficient manner, one must accept the dross.

The last of the Marie-Claire Alain sets is a stupendous achievement. As you may be aware, for many generations Bach organ interpretation was subject to certain Romantic accretions that just would not go away (that does not mean they were awful). Alain's earlier recordings were much along those lines. For her, in her later years, to come to the conclusion that she had to drop all that and then make a new cycle of masterly performances is a tribute to both artistic integrity and plain courage.

Come to think of it, I'm going to put on the E minor Prelude and Fugue as my evening listening.

I'm fine with the idea that they're not all masterpieces...that set is going for around $100 now, and I highly doubt I'd be able to find a set with exclusively the great ones with an organist of that level playing them for the same price or lower. I don't mind hearing the other material, anyway.

I must admit, that was a bit of a loaded question as I recalled a post by you stating that you loved her interpretations of Bach's organ works (I apologize for the horrible paraphrasing, however, this was several months ago), and I assumed that set would be the one you most favored as it seems to be considered the pinnacle of her career. It's nice to know she drops the romanticism, although I'm sure I'd heard about that somewhere before. I didn't know that for many years they were primarily played with a romantic 'attachment' of sorts, so that was an interesting piece of information.

[Harvested Sorrow]

My "intake" of boxed sets started escalating with the frequent releases of very interesting sets from BRILLIANT.

Agreed. I have a few Brilliant sets on the wish list, and some here with me. Mahler symphonies (with Horenstein's 3rd), Grieg's chamber music (just got that in today!) Schumann's chamber music (I've only seen that on E-Bay, strangely enough)...and I'm possibly forgetting a few.

[Ken]

None, but I am very tempted to buy the complete Mozart Piano Concerto collection to simplify things... Does anyone have any recommendations for this?

[Werner]

Murray Perahia recorded the complete set ten or twenty years ago, conducting the English Chamber iOrchestra from the piano. I have the set and still like it very much.

Another eminent Mozartean whose set would be worth having is Mitsuko Uchida.

[Gary]

Does a multi-CD jewel case count as a "box"? Or does it have to be a "paper" box?

[Harvested Sorrow]

Does a multi-CD jewel case count as a "box"? Or does it have to be a "paper" box?

I'd say a multi jewel case with three or more CDs would qualify...albeit, if it wasn't all the same work, if that makes sense.

For example...I wouldn't qualify one opera as a box set, but a set of a composer's chamber music? Sure.


EDIT: Something tells me this is going to get rather sticky, very soon...

[Brendan]

One opera may not qualify, and I didn't count them. But I did count my three copies of the entire Ring as three box sets.

[Gary]

Does a multi-CD jewel case count as a "box"? Or does it have to be a "paper" box?

I'd say a multi jewel case with three or more CDs would qualify...albeit, if it wasn't all the same work, if that makes sense.

For example...I wouldn't qualify one opera as a box set, but a set of a composer's chamber music? Sure.


EDIT: Something tells me this is going to get rather sticky, very soon...

Okay, I voted correctly then, since I didn't include complete operas. I'm in the 0-20 range.

[Lance]

Murray Perahia recorded the complete set ten or twenty years ago, conducting the English Chamber iOrchestra from the piano. I have the set and still like it very much.

Another eminent Mozartean whose set would be worth having is Mitsuko Uchida.

Perahia and Uchida are outstanding. But there is still something in the Geza Anda complete Mozart concertos (on DGG) that draws me very much.

[Corlyss_D]

Perahia and Uchida are outstanding.

I third the motion.

[Harvested Sorrow]

One opera may not qualify, and I didn't count them. But I did count my three copies of the entire Ring as three box sets.

I would agree with that being a box set, as operas from the Ring Cycle are often released separately from the other three. (I counted my single copy of the Ring Cycle as a box set)

[Ken]

Any opinions on EMI's recording of Daneil Barenboim performing the complete Mozart Piano Concertos? I'm tempted to pick this up on eBay!

[premont]

half of the organ works of Bach are not masterpieces (or even particularly interesting),

Good to remember the masters words, when you (not just you - everyone) are seduced to think otherwise.

[premont]

Any opinions on EMI's recording of Daneil Barenboim performing the complete Mozart Piano Concertos? I'm tempted to pick this up on eBay!

You should do so, it is beautiful, elegant and most enjoyable,

[Harvested Sorrow]

Any opinions on EMI's recording of Daneil Barenboim performing the complete Mozart Piano Concertos? I'm tempted to pick this up on eBay!

He plays Chopin like Mozart, so I guess his Mozart would be good. I've heard both complaints and good things about it, though.

[karlhenning]

. . . half of the organ works of Bach are not masterpieces (or even particularly interesting) . . . .

Even in minor things, a great artist can often be of interest (for one listening, at least) :-)

[david johnson]

i never saw it in one box, but i have all the mozart symphonies on mca with leinsdorf/london philharmonic.

dj

[Wallingford]

i never saw it in one box, but i have all the mozart symphonies on mca with leinsdorf/london philharmonic.

dj

Actually, THAT orchestra (which MCA/Westminster called "The Philharmonic Orchestra of London") has long since been revealed as the ROYAL PHILHARMONIC. In fact, in many library entries on this particular set, the RPO is listed along with its monicker.