Comments on On An Overgrown Path: Even more Brilliant Classics

I fully share Daniel, Ben and Berend's appreciatio...

2006-01-11T10:14:00.000Z

I fully share Daniel, Ben and Berend's appreciation of the musical riches that are now available at budget price, and I don't want to be seen as a kill-joy.

What does concern me though is the equation of short term benefit (wonderful recordings at very low prices) against long term cost (falling income for musicians and composers, concentration on 'safe' recordings, demise of 'niche' labels, falling concert attendances due to low cost of CDs/downloads, collapse of physical distribution of CDs etc).

The result of that equation is not currently known. I am delighted that my article drawing attention to these Brilliant bargains has been so widely read.(I should incidentally own up to a conflict of interest, the producer of the Giulini Missa Solemnis Chris Bishop is a great friend of mine, and Godfather to our oldest child, but I hasten to add he is not on a royalty!). But I do think it is also incumbent on me to at least make people aware of the possible long term costs.

Meanwhile many thanks for the informed and considered comments which are so typical of the readership of this blog, and enjoy those wonderful bargains!

" Only the richest people in the world can afford ...

2006-01-11T09:21:00.000Z

" Only the richest people in the world can afford the best recordings of every piece of music"

;)

In the good old days, when HMV used to let you use your 10% student discount on sale items, I built up a large collection of the perceived 'best' recordings purchased from the Oxford Street Megastore (which has a very large classical dept).

I guess even then I shared pliable's quibble that some of the music and recordings seemed far too 'cheap' given their technical and musical qualities. But who was I to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Nonetheless, if these fine box sets attract people on a budget all the better.

Ah yes indeed, Brilliant Classics is brilliant! I'...

2006-01-10T21:39:00.000Z

Ah yes indeed, Brilliant Classics is brilliant! I'm just back from a visit to Holland and I brought back a few kilo's of CDs as well. I disagree with you about the low price though. It's excellent to be able to have a recording of every piece of classical music in the home. Even if it isn't the best. Only the richest people in the world can afford the best recordings of every piece of music.

Actually, the Saint-Saens set is listed at the Bri...

2006-01-10T13:25:00.000Z

Actually, the Saint-Saens set is listed at the Brilliant Classics site, but you must find it by going to "S" in the alphabetical list of composers; the poor fellow's name is misspelled, so plugging the correct spelling in the search engine won't take you to the proper page!

Thank You for this informative article. The wonder...

2006-01-10T11:22:00.000Z

Thank You for this informative article. The wonderful Giulini Beethoven Works, I have them on vinyl but I've been waiting for a cd re-release of these fine interpretations for ages! The Mass is superb! :D

Thanks for putting them on my radar!

Dan