Д.Д.

I am not that much into Chopin. I like Scriabin, though, and for Scriabin you have to go to Sofronitsky recordings. I also like Nancarrow player piano, not sure if this counts . Late Beethoven sonatas by Gilels. Mozart by Bezuidenhout. Prokofiev by Sultanov and Pollini.

For Ligeti you might want to go for the cheapo box on Teldec (http://www.amazon.it/The-Ligeti-Project-Various-Composers/dp/B0016A8E1K?SubscriptionId=AKIAIVGTH525N57WM2NQ&tag=pricenoia-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0016A8E1K )

I don't have the complete list but if you go to Europadisc and do Advanced Search, then enter "EMI 20th" under 'label', I think that will show you them all. Thanks for that. Still a conspicuous lack of American composers. Might be because EMI already has a budget American Classics series running: http://www.emiclassics.com/catalogueresults.php?sser=QW1lcmljYW4gQ2xhc3NpY3M=

Any particular favorites and recommendations there? I've laid eyes on the Honegger and the Satie but haven't jumped for them (nor for any others from the series). Respighi, Roussel, Hartmann (the one with piano works - the symphonies are good, but I don't like the Metzmacher performances that much ), Milhaud. Ravel and Prokofiev (orchestral) look good. You might want to check out the EMI 20th Century Masterpieces Box: http://www.amazon.it/20th-Century-Masterpieces-Classical-Edizione/dp/B001DCQJUY?SubscriptionId=AKIAIVGTH525N57WM2NQ&tag=pricenoia-21&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B001DCQJUY

Courtesy of Bons Plans Classiques blog - Mozart Complete Edition on Brilliant (170 CDs) for €13 from a market seller at Spanish amazon: http://www.amazon.es/gp/product/B00410LHBG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bonsplanscl05-21&linkCode=as2&camp=3626&creative=24822&creativeASIN=B00410LHBG

Ottorino Respighi: Orchestral Works (EMI Classical) for £4 at amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co...37018766&sr=8-3 Listened to disc 1 only so far - loved it. This Pini di Roma piece is dramatic! Hope EMI continues with their 20th Century Classics series (http://www.emiclassics.com/catalogueresults.php?sser=MjB0aCBDZW50dXJ5IENsYXNzaWNz ) , but frankly I can't think of any of the "big" composers they have not covered yet (well, they actually miss Berg and Webern... and all Americans... they still miss a lot actually).

John, I can't say about early XX century Russia, but today if you would insist on being called "I-VA-nov" you would look preposterous (particularly given that Ivanov is one of the most common Russian last names) .

You can, but it would be wrong. It's sɪm'ɒn.

Promising Music is reissuing Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly! Fly!, available at European amazons in July: http://www.amazon.co...CDU/ref=lh_ni_t AMG review: http://allmusic.com/...fly-fly-r148618

Guys, I don't know where you get this sort of information from. i-VA-nov is not impossible theoretically, but would be a very unusual last name in Russia.

The most interesting aspect of this article for me is its mentioning of pianist Thollem McDonas whom I have never even heard of, but now plan to check out.

It's also good to remember that this is not the case.

There is also a CD of Keith Yaun group improvisations on Messiaen: http://www.allmusic.com/album/amen-improvisations-on-messiaen-r528994/review I have not heard it.

It's na-BA-tov. And [ʌ] for both "a".

Dvorak symphonic works (8 CDs) for $8 at amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0077DDWEE/

For Europeans the good place it get it for merely €6 (this is a double CD) is amazon.it: http://www.amazon.it/Dynasty-Stan-Getz/dp/B001NHZ2PW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333896809&sr=8-1 This is excellent release, indeed. My favorite Getz at the moment is his live one from '75 "My Foolish Heart". I barely listen to jazz these days, but Getz is once of the few exceptions.

Dowland Complete Lute Music (Nigel North) (Naxos) - 4CDs - for £8 at amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dowland-Complete-Lute-Music-North/dp/B002N5KEBU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333720266&sr=8-1 Dowland Comlete Lute Music (Jakob Lindberg) (Brilliant) - 4CDs - for £8 at amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dowland-Complete-Music-Jakob-Lindberg/dp/B001716JQ0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1333720266&sr=8-2

Upcoming release: Messiaen - Orchestral Works (DG) - 10 CDs - $43 at amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Collectors-Edition-Messiaen-Orchestral-Works/dp/B007CW2FGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332856312&sr=8-1

Excellent composer that is rarely mentioned: Viktor Suslin. Here is one piece from youtube: Madrigal for two cellos

More doorsteps! The Debussy Edition on DG (18 CDs): http://www.amazon.de...30470093&sr=1-7 Simultaneously released Debussy Collection on Sony (also 18 CDs): http://www.amazon.de...uct/B006VKKAXU/ And to make sure your postman hates you forever - Magnificat - 500 Years of Choral Masterworks on Decca (50CDs) - http://www.jpc.de/jp...ks/hnum/4917132 MDT has a tracklist

There are quite a few lengthy recent interviews of Klaus Heymann (Naxos founder and CEO) online where he seems to be saying that all is going just fine for Naxos. "Fine" might imply us paying a bit more for Naxos CDs, but just today I placed an order at amazon.it with six Naxos CDs for less than €5 each.

Another composer I would highly recommend is Galina Ustvolskaya. She wrote only about 30 pieces. Very austere music, very rigorous. Does not sound like anything else. Shostakovich (her teacher in the conservatory) was apparently enraptured, writing in his letters that her music was influencing him. I have this CD of hers, and Shostakovich work really pales in comparison to hers:

One of my favorite "modern" composers too. I can highly recommend the Henze Symphonies 1-6 set on Brilliant (Henze himself conducting).

John Cage "Complete Piano Works" (18 CDs) for €36 at amazon.fr: http://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B006TYJ3RM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A1X6FK5RDHNB96