Bargain Music

[bohemian]

I scour charity shops and such for bargain music cds, especially for classical music.  A problem arises sometimes when the shop puts the classical discs on the bottom shelf and I can't get down to look - and if I did, I would never get up again!

 

This week I picked up some good ones:

Ralph Vaughan Williams symphonies 2 and 8 conducted by Barbirolli.

RVW Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis; Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus; Job - a Masque for dancing.

Leó Weiner violin sonatas

Lennox Berkeley chamber works (Berkeley Ensemble)

Prokofiev Peter And The Wolf (narrated by Sting); overture on Hebrew themes; and the Classical Symphony

Arthur Bliss violin Concerto and The Lady Of Shalott (ballet)

Carl Orff Carmina Burana

Richard Wagner Tristan Und Isolde (4 discs) Furtwängler's 1955 version (considered one of the top two versions!)

 

Each cost me £1 only.

 

Some great entertainment ahead with beautiful music.

[Thesauron]

Sounds fantastic. Were the recordings any good?

[bohemian]

The RVW discs are excellent!  Espeicially the Barbirolli conducted symphonies with the Hallé Orchestra.

The recording of the Prokofiev is good, although I am not completely enamoured of Sting's narration and characterisations. The Overture on Hebrew Themes is wonderful, both recording and performance.

The disc of Lennox Berkeley is well-played and superbly recorded and I am just 'getting into' the music. The trio for flute, clarinet and bassoon is delightful.

Sir Arthur Bliss - nice recording but the music I will have to have a few listens to.

Leó Weiner's music is new to me, but I enjoyed it very much. The sonatas are well-played and well-recorded.

I haven't played Carmina Burana yet, (my wife doesn't enjoy such choral works) and we are planning an evening for Wagner so we can hear the entire at one sitting.

 

All in all I am well pleased with my bargain purchases.