StarThrower

Happy 75th to the one and only, Ralph Towner!

I've been looking for the Karl Berger album. Just ordered the Blackwell box.

My sentiments exactly! He did a lot of great work, but aged 70 seemed way too young to go.

There was no classical music in my house growing up. No jazz either. Almost no records to speak of. But I love music, so I just started listening to jazz and classical radio. And buying records. That was 35 years ago. Now I have a nice collection.

Steve Kuhn - Trance is a beautiful album. I have the original edition of Charlie Haden/Egberto Gismonti In Montreal, and it sounds great. I can't see buying any title again for this SHM technology.

Speaking of a lot of alto, I bought the Braxton and Oliver Lake Black Saint/Soul Note boxes.

Never heard any Toscanini recordings until last week, when Bill McGlaughlin did a week long program on him and Stokowski. Toscanini's Missa Solemnis was very moving.

Esperanza Spalding

Jenufa

40 CDs for under 20 dollars, but no Tristan und Isolde

Snagged a used copy of this one for 3 dollars!

Yes, Peer Gynt is fantastic! Pay no attention to the Amazon reviewer calling it one of Schnittke's weaker efforts.

I bought the Sony box from the Movie Mars vendor at the Barnes & Noble sight, and I paid less than the cost of the opera alone on Wergo. And from what I've read, the English version by Salonen on Sony is the superior performance. I've watched some of the DVD on YouTube. If I ever put together an audio/video system for my retirement days, I'll get some DVDs including a few operas, and maybe the Glenn Gould on Television set.

The Sony Ligeti box is a great addition to the Teldec set because it includes a large amount of music not represented on the 5 disc set. I bought it for the piano music, the opera, and the chamber works. It also comes with a superb booklet including Ligeti's personal notes on all of the pieces. As far as the Teldec set goes, I think it's superb. If you have time to get more deeply into it, you'll find much great music there. I'm a huge fan of all of the concertos, the cello sonata, and the unique requiem.

To be released in February. Complete Erato Recordings 14 CDs Complete 20th Century Recordings 44 CDs

I acquired this set recently.

Which do you listen to the most? BIS discs are not cheap — nice collection! I don't really listen to certain pieces more than others, because I'm a big fan of his music overall. The Concerto For Piano and Strings is a great piece, and imo the best performance is on the Apex re-issue, which is very cheap. If you want something really wild and fun to listen to, try the 1st symphony, or the Concerto Grosso No. 2. The Sony disc w/ the cello concerto, and In Memoriam is also inexpensive. And the requiem is a must hear, imo. It's a very beautiful piece. If you're into symphonies, the box set is the cheapest way to go.

My Schnittke Collection: The Ten Symphonies on BIS Concerto Grosso No. 1 on BIS Concerto Grosso No. 2/Viola Concerto on Moscow Studio Archives Cello Concerto on Naxos Cello Concerto No. 2 on Sony String Quartets 1-3 on BIS Concerto Grosso No. 6/Symphony No. 8 on Chandos Piano Concertos on Apex Life With An Idiot opera on Sony Requiem/Choir Concerto on Swedish Society label Peer Gynt Ballet on BIS

Good prices on that site. Is their fill rate/delivery dependable? I've never had a problem.

Miles Davis Quintet 1965-68 6 disc box selling for 19 dollars. http://www.grooves-inc.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=miles+davis+quintet+1965-68

I don't think it's necessary for the listening and enjoyment of any kind of music, unless one desires to know what's going on technically. The effort of concentrated and repeated listening is what helps me get the most out a piece of music. That said, I have played instruments and studied music, but not at anywhere near the advanced level of sophisticated orchestral composition.

I'll grab that one next time!