COLLECTING CLASSICAL RECORDS - Where to begin? Part 2

You have beaten me to it. This was something I was going to do when I retired. Good video very much enjoyed it. How many classical lps do you have ?. I have around 8000.

Excellent presentation. Congratulations! I have almost all the records from this presentation of yours and I totally agree with all your comments about them. One note please. It would be very useful for us to mention in addition to the label and the code as well. For example (Decca SXL 1111 ...etc). Thanks.

Have recently arrived at your channel and am enjoying it very much. I have been collecting classical music since about 1990, mostly on vinyl but more so recently on CD. I have found vinyl to be rather hit and miss in quality and since the cost went through the roof I decided to re-investigate my CD's & SACD's. My collection is large now along with Jazz and more pop related. I look forward to the next video. As an aside what is your listening system?

Though I am a seasoned record buyer & trumpet player- that was a superb introduction to collecting classical music. Some fantastic records. Just come across your channel. Am in the UK. I use Discogs & possibly the last remaining 2nd hand classical record shop in London that is left which is part of the Record & Tape Exchange emporium. Thank you. I will be checking out your other videos.
Best wishes.
Steve Sincock ( London UK).

I much prefer Pinnock’s earlier recording of FourSeasons on the CRD label…in fact it’s the complete Op.8

Milstein has always been one of my faves, as well. Despite the horrid pressings, I have a bit of nostalgic feel about those old Capitol records, and prefer getting them on EMI when possible.

I’m very happy to have “The Big-Box-o-Reiner” on CD. That Scheherazade is one of the all time great recordings of anything by anyone. I’m ashamed to admit that I haven’t pulled it out in years, favoring some more exotic recordings by Chalabala, Dobroven, Quadri, Scherchen, and Rossi. I felt that I’d listened to Reiner so much in my youth, and imprinted on it. I need to pull it out again. Also, the marvelous Ozawa recording from Boston on DGG.

Decca engineers truly found a sweet spot in that Geneva hall, didn’t they? The combination of their expertise, Ansermet’s analytical style of interpretation, the clear, sinuous string texture he cultivated in his orchestra (with minimal vibrato), and the “bite” in attack from the winds and brass gave all of those recordings such color and clarity. This all culminates in possibly the greatest recording of anything, by anyone, at any time…..that stupendous de Falla Three Cornered Hat. I have it on LP, open reel, and CD….and I like the open reel best of all.

Water Music….you discussed Pinnock’s period instrument recording. That was my very first CD purchase and it is still my reference recording. For me, nothing else comes close.

What are your thoughts on Marriner’s complete Schubert cycle? I absolutely LOVE it, but I get the sense I’m in the minority these days.

Hogwood’s recording of Handel’s Concerti a due cori. Discuss.

I find this gentleman's contribution much more interesting and valuable to listen to than Hurwitz, who I just don't like. There are recordings Hurwitz just doesn't understand and he trashes them (Barbirolli's Sibelius for one). I've disliked, and battled with, Hurwitz for his New York snobbery since the newsgroups back in the 90's. "Executive Editor" of his own one man operation. Whereas here we have someone sharing their enthusiasm with genuine love for the music. I sound harsh because Barbirolli has moments of deep beauty in his Sibelius set and to literally trash them shows a complete lack of understanding for S's music. There are bad edits in the Barbirolli set, but not bad interpretations and the two deserve to be separated. At any rate, this is a good channel in my view.

Great video. Going to order the Orff for fun.

Hello, are the French Decca pressings any good?

I heard Kingsway Hall was demolished a long time ago, the subway was too noisy making it imposssible to record there anymore

i have Peer Gynt on a London cassette conducted by Feldstat

Once I got into the classical game - which took quite a while to learn, I have found some amazing things either through thrift stores, estate sales, or collections I have bought. Usually very cheap. I mainly buy to sell but keep a number of pieces that sound great but don't command the prices. Classical in shops is either non-existent, priced cheap or on the dollar bins as they usually are slow movers and shops usually don't do the research on them. Always enjoy your videos and as a bonus... I get to hear the correct pronunciation of the names of these great artists. Cheers, and keep the videos coming.

Might suggest a few others? First is an RCA production of Verdi’s La Forza Il Destino recorded live at Walthamstow town Hall available in a white box set. Fabulous recording on their Red Label with fabulous artists and production.

Next is Boitto’s Mefestofeles on Decca (unfortunately a Decca Digital but it is fabulous) with Pavarotti, Sutherland and Ghuiarev.

On direct cut to Vinyl side of things I agree with the choice of Mike Valentine’s “Chasing the Dragon” productions are a must. These were recorded at Aire Studios London, many with John Webber as the sound engineer. The very best include the Four Seasons as Vivaldi intended it, with the intended arrangement using period instruments, recorded using Neumann valve powered mics and cut direct on a Neumann valve cutting lathe. The other is The Big Band Extravaganza, with my good friend Graham Tricker of GT Audio as consultant and provider of some very special Neumann valve mics again direct cut to vinyl on a Neumann valve cutting lathe. These are amongst the finest analogue productions you are ever likely to hear.

On pre baroque, Jeff Dowland’s Second Book of Songs on period instruments is a must. Some great vocal pieces one of which is one of my reference recordings when voicing some of my loudspeaker designs.

Vivaldi’s Four Concerto’s for Two Orchestra’s (music for the Feast of the Assumption) available on HMV’s baroque edition is simply magical. I think that the code is HMV HQ1066.

Great selection, many of which I have in my collection. I’ll certainly look up the one’s I haven’t got.

i have the lyre bird four seasons by christopher hogwood, by far my favourite on the original instruments.

Saw Vikingur Olafsson play the Goldberg Variations at Aldeburgh Festival - he was terrific.

Thanks for the content ! You got me started in this with this video : )