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So I know very little about classical music but enjoy the 25 or so albums that I own. Do any of you see any gems in the 50% off EMI sale at Elusive Disc?
Thanks
Follow Ups:
I agree with PAR--you need to find your own way, and that probably means traveling up a few blind alleys. The standard beginner's recommendations--Pines of Rome, Bolero, and God knows what else, are generally "light classics", a genre which is about as appealing to me as "female vocals"--a genre generally focused on licentious fantasies on the listener's part. Some allegedly difficult music might speak more directly to you, as it did to me. In my book, Scriabin beats Respighi any day.
I think that the budget labels, like Naxos, are probably a mistake. A really good performer will make the music come alive, and a perfectly fine performer probably won't. There is a lot of disagreement about what's hot and what's not, so my advice would be to trust no one!
There are some just OK performances on Naxos, and there are some very good ones. No argument from me that great performers bring music to life but that doesn't mean less famous artists don't make excellent recordings, some of them for small or budget labels. There's several big name performers on major labels I wouldn't walk across the street to hear much less buy one of their recordings,
I never need to hear Bolero again but I'd rather hear Respighi's Pines of Rome than most anything by Scriabin. So trust no one.
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"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
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"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
For cheap, there's always Naxos on CD, and, of course, Half-Price Books for vinyl and CD. If you're just getting into classical, you might look for performances by composers whose works you like among your current collection, There's always classical music radio, over the airwaves or internet to discover new music (WFMT, WQXR, WFIU, WILL etc).
This may sound like heresy on an audiophile forum, but possibly at your stage
the discovery of new works may be more important than the sound quality - depending on your system of course. If the SQ is key for you, ask here about some recommended discs. I'm sure you'll get plenty of suggestions.
Thank you for your responses. I am going to stick with inexpensive used vinyl as I continue to explore.
I have compared the ones I've purchased to the original releases and they were better. I certainly did not care for the balance they used for the remaster. In addition, HQ release's production quality was sporadic at best. I had to return one for scratches.
Edits: 07/12/17
I gave three chances. They sound poor.
A link would have helped with this. Are you referring to the Hi-Q records sale?
The first thing to say is that these LPs are not echt EMI discs but are drawn by an independent company from the EMI back catalogue. They are then are cut at Abbey Road which is now an independent facility. In general they are not that well regarded overall in the audiophile world and I suggest that you search on the Vinyl archives at AA for views. I have a couple and they are OK but many seem to disagree. I suspect that in common with much recent vinyl cut at Abbey Road from back catalogue masters they used a digital interstage.
As for the repertoire I cannot see the Beecham Scherezade that jdaniel likes but if it is there I agree it is a superb performance. Incidentally this was the very first stereo record that EMI released. The Mackerras Handel Fireworks is a bit specialised as it is brass and woodwind only as per the original outdoor performance.
If you are unfamilar with classical music then I am loath to recommend anything. You need to find your own path as I can't make you like something that you are either not ready for or will never like. My recommendations may well turn out to be exactly what you don't want to hear right now. If you have some idea of what you do like from your 25 classical discs that may help on a " If you like this then you may like...." basis.
Definitely:
Beecham Scherazahde: more exotic and charming than Reiner's
Chopin PC 1 Pollini
The Kletzki Sibelius 2nd
Tchaikovsky PC 1
Elgar Enigma Variations
Handel Music for the Royal Fireworks
Marriner The Academy in Concert
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