Hi Randy:
If the Cliburn set contains recent/good remasters of the material not released on the RCA Living
Stereo SACDs, it's well worth it for the fans. The early-era Cliburn CDs were disappointing. Sony
has been doing a good job recently, at least in the jazz arena, of making high fidelity transfers
and then not screwing them up with too much digital processing. Tape hiss is fine, lopped off top
end is not. The recent Dave Brubeck Quartet on Columbia box set is a fine example of recent Sony
reissue aesthetics.
Regarding the Byron Janis set, that's great new. Between the two Mercury CD box sets, all or most of
Byron's Living Presence albums were put back in print. His two 1990s EMI albums were put back in
print last year. Getting his RCA catalog in print (some of it was never released on CD, I think)
would be great. Byron was profiled in a PBS documentary either last year or 2011. The program was
produced by the Pittsburgh PBS station and included footage of Mercury's Moscow recording trip in
1962. The documentary also detailed Byron's hard struggle with arthritis.
Adding to Randy's list, I highly recommend the Philips Classics Original Jackets box set currently
in print:
http://www.amazon.com/Philips-Original-Jackets-Collection-Obsessed/dp/B0091HVMVO/tomslinx
We discussed this on-list a while back.
It's also worth noting that the RCA Living Stereo box set is still in print:
http://www.amazon.com/Living-Stereo-60-Collection-Box/dp/B003UCPEJ2/tomslinx
This set is made up of the CD layers of the SACD reissues (the Soundmirror transfers and remasters)
Also, it looks like "The Decca Sound" box is back in print:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Decca-Sound-Various-Artists/dp/B005D51II0/tomslinx
I have really enjoyed this one, and considered it a standard to match with the design of the new
Mercury box.
It's also worth noting that ArkivMusic is having a CD sale that includes many of the Decca and DGG
Originals series plus a few of the original Mercury reissue CDs, plus many others:
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/AlbumGroup?album_group=10
-- Tom Fine
----- Original Message -----
From: "Randy Lane" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2013 8:02 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Some notable Classical boxes to consider
> Since Tom posted the fabulous news about the second MLP boxed set todya,
> I'll call everyone's attention to a few other soon-to-be-released
> sets likely to be available only for a short time:
>
> The Complete EMI recordings of Constantin Silvestri on 15 CDs.
> Amazon link:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ACHXHII
> Available as a pre-order from ImportCds.com for only $23.59, or about $30
> after S&H and possibly sales tax:
> http://www.importcds.com/music/2551215/icon-constantin-silvestri
>
> Anyone at all familiar with Silvestri's most famous recordings (such as the
> LPO Dvorak Sym. #8, Elgar's In the South) knows how addictive this
> maestro's baton work can be. EMI issued a compiliation on Disky many years
> ago that has been a highly prized and often very expensive collector's item
> for years. If you don't know Silvestri's work, check it out. The price is
> certainly within the reach of most budgets.
>
> The Van Cliburn Complete Album Collection (Sony/BMG , 29 CDs, release date
> 02/12):
> Amazon link:
> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009EJSUBY
> ImportCds.com, again very good pre-order pricing:
> http://www.importcds.com/music/2547457/van-cliburn-complete-album-collection
> Presto CLassical UK has a good contents listing:
> http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/search.php?searchString=887654072320
>
> Many will already own many of the concerto recordings form the Living
> Stereo SACDs or the Sony Masters cheapo box of the complete concerto
> recordings. His solo recordings have not been as well represented in the CD
> catalog, so avid Cliburn fans may a=want to put this on their radar.
>
> There is also a Byron Janis Complete Album Collection (RCA Recordings only)
> coming in March, but it has not been posted on any American sites yet.
>
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