RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets?

Posted by rbolaw on July 4, 2012 at 17:00:48

In Reply to: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? posted by greg7 on July 4, 2012 at 15:36:33:

I just looked at the contents of both boxes. I don't have either one, but I have many of the recordings from both, many of which are among the most famous classical recordings ever.

Neither one is remotely near a representative anthology of the greatest classical music (however one might choose what is "greatest"). That's actually a good thing, since you can evaluate them solely on the strength of the recordings.

If you are a fan of Antal Dorati, Howard Hanson and Frederick Fennell, as I am, the Mercury collection kicks @#$. However, Decca has a far larger and more varied catalog and far more great recordings. That greater length and depth shows in its box, though this particular collection may not show Decca at it's very best (note the unfortunate inclusion of The Three Tenors). You get Ute Lemper and Radu Lupu side by side, Benjamin Britten, Pierre Monteux, Renee Fleming, Julius Katchen, Ernest Ansermet, the Takacs Quartet, AND Dorati -- and on and on. Wow.

Both boxes are excellent. Enjoy either one -- or both.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - greg7 15:36:33 07/04/12 (20)

Here is my contraversial opinion - Analog Scott 07:19:21 07/07/12 (0)

Coincident miking for Chris - Botanico92007 15:15:49 07/06/12 (3)

Thanks, Botanico! - Chris from Lafayette 08:58:07 07/07/12 (2)

You're welcome - Botanico92007 13:45:30 07/07/12 (1)

Thanks again - it's actually too bad. . . - Chris from Lafayette 15:04:23 07/07/12 (0)

RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - Larry I 06:35:20 07/06/12 (0)

I much prefer the coherence and clarity of the Decca productions. - Timbo in Oz 16:29:36 07/05/12 (8)

RE: I much prefer the coherence and clarity of the Decca productions. - ahendler 20:34:14 07/05/12 (1)

Thanks, I've only read about the tree and did see a single boom version - Timbo in Oz 01:17:38 07/06/12 (0)

Timbo - what are some good coincident stereo symphonic recordings? - Chris from Lafayette 17:20:04 07/05/12 (5)

Chesky, Kimber? Hyperion esp. those where Tony Faulkner was engineer - Timbo in Oz 00:53:05 07/06/12 (2)

Thanks, Timbo - the only Chesky CD's I have. . . - Chris from Lafayette 09:30:11 07/06/12 (1)

RE: Wilkinson engineering for Reader's Digest - desertorganist 21:42:53 08/04/12 (0)

RE: Timbo - what are some good coincident stereo symphonic recordings? - ahendler 20:35:47 07/05/12 (1)

Right - I realize that - Chris from Lafayette 22:35:05 07/05/12 (0)

RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - no1maestro 08:48:20 07/05/12 (0)

RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - Chuck Y 08:27:15 07/05/12 (0)

RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - rmilewsk 17:54:46 07/04/12 (0)

RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - ahendler 17:20:10 07/04/12 (0)

RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - rbolaw 17:00:48 07/04/12 (0)

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RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets? - rbolaw 17:00:48 07/04/12 (0)

RE: Mercury or Decca classical box sets?

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