Mercury Living Presence Box 2

[bigshot]

I just received this in the mail from Amazon Japan, and I can't wait to dive in. Lots of interesting stuff... Dorati, Paray, Hanson... The repetoire is a bit more adventurous than the RCA or Philips boxes. It includes a mono Dorati Rite of Spring that I can't wait to hear.

[maestrob]

Thanks for the headsup! That's definitely on my wishlist.

[Lance]

I didn't get Box 1 since I had already collected most of the CD issues independently. I see the price has soared for Box No. 1. I wish someone would show the complete contents of Box No. 2. It seems to be going at a higher price online than usual.

[Harold Tucker]

Check out the MDT site for both content and price. Releases next month in the U.K.

[John F]

What is the MDT site, and can you post a link to it? Thanks.

[maestrob]

Hi, John: It's here: http://www.mdt.co.uk/mercury-living-pre ... 55cds.html

[John F]

Thanks! Quite a few familiar Dorati items and some Kubelik. Also 9 CDs of Eastman Wind Ensemble/Frederick Fennell, which I passed when they were new, and others I could do without - besides which I don't buy CDs by the cube. But I'm sure the set will appeal to some.

[slofstra]

Now that I've purchased mine, I can tell you that the first box is to be had on amazon.ca for about $CDN 90. That's as low as I've seen it, and works out to under US$88.
http://www.amazon.ca/Living-Stereo-Coll ... ing+stereo

Compare at over $150 on amazon.com.

[stenka razin]

Another must have box. I collected all of the Mercury CDs when first issued on CDs individually except the Corigliano Piano Concerto which is included for the first time in Volume 2. Since, I originally had most of the contents of these two glorious boxes on LP way back when, I can attest to the overall brilliance of the Mercury series. This is prime material for classical music lovers. I recommend these important reissues be quickly purchased or these wonderful recordings may be gone forever.

Regards,
Mel

[bigshot]

Now that I've purchased mine, I can tell you that the first box is to be had on amazon.ca for about $CDN 90. That's as low as I've seen it, and works out to under US$88.
http://www.amazon.ca/Living-Stereo-Coll ... ing+stereo

Compare at over $150 on amazon.com.

That's the RCA Living Stereo box, not the Mercury Living Presence box.

[slofstra]

Now that I've purchased mine, I can tell you that the first box is to be had on amazon.ca for about $CDN 90. That's as low as I've seen it, and works out to under US$88.
http://www.amazon.ca/Living-Stereo-Coll ... ing+stereo

Compare at over $150 on amazon.com.

That's the RCA Living Stereo box, not the Mercury Living Presence box.

Egad, how did I mess that up, as I'm well aware of the difference. Sorry about that and thanks for pointing out my error. I'll leave the post there for the sake of the bargain conscious unless anyone objects.

[bigshot]

The Living Stereo box is great too. They should do a second box on that too.

[slofstra]

The Living Stereo box is great too. They should do a second box on that too.

Well, while we are on this, let me put you on the spot and ask you, and anyone else, which is the better box? I think I asked this before once, and almost everyone said, "Well, buy both, why would you consider any other option". Fact is, I simply can't listen to them all, and even allowing for more free time coming up in my not currently imminent retirement (Freedom 75?), there is already a considerable backlog.
I just purchased the Living Stereo box purely "for inventory" and because the price was too good to pass up. I have the Decca box, yet untouched, and the Philips box also beckons. You'd think I don't listen to anything, but actually I do, and have. Even a "small" 20 CD box set takes a while to listen to, and I like to listen to a new CD at least a couple of times, more if it grows on me. I hope none of this sounds like complaining; it's very nice to have all this music at my disposal.

But of the two "Living" boxes, which makes a better first purchase? Stereo or Presence? Reiner or Dorati?

[bigshot]

I buy mostly big boxes, because I want to hear new things, not stuff I already know about. $2 a disk makes it worth the risk, and in most cases, I end up finding lots to love.

I don't have the DGG big boxes because I have a lot of DGG CDs already. And I don't have the new one of Eminence. But of the ones I have, the Living Stereo is the best for 50s core repetoire. It's a good basic library. The Decca Sound is the most interesting, because there's no theme to the music, just a collection of first class recordings and performances. The Mercury boxes have some very unusual stuff in them... American composers conducted by Hansen, light classical overtures in spectacular sound by Parry and wonderful Dorati. Mercury's sound is the most direct. No gain riding or mixing of multiple microphones. It sounds like it's right in front of you. The Vivarte box is excellent, but it's all Beethoven and earlier. The Philips box is good, but it really just seems like a bunch of CDs. It didn't strike me as having any overall theme, although there's some wonderful Neville Marriner recordings in there.

The Living Stereo and Living Presence boxes are quite different. The RCA box is more focused on core repetoire that you might already have versions of. The Mercury one has more unique things, and the Mercury sound quality is unmistakable.

I suppose if I was going to rank them, it would be like this...

Decca Sound
Living Stereo
Mercury Living Presence
Vivarte
Philips

I'll let you know what I think of the new Archiv box when it arrives.

[John F]

Mercury never undertook to record the core classical repertoire - no Beethoven or Brahms symphony cycles for them. They focused on orchestral music (and wind ensemble music) that their state-of-the-art recording techniques could do sensational justice to.

[Chalkperson]

Mercury never undertook to record the core classical repertoire - no Beethoven or Brahms symphony cycles for them. They focused on orchestral music (and wind ensemble music) that their state-of-the-art recording techniques could do sensational justice to.

Interesting, refreshing even.

[slofstra]

I buy mostly big boxes, because I want to hear new things, not stuff I already know about. $2 a disk makes it worth the risk, and in most cases, I end up finding lots to love.

I don't have the DGG big boxes because I have a lot of DGG CDs already. And I don't have the new one of Eminence. But of the ones I have, the Living Stereo is the best for 50s core repetoire. It's a good basic library. The Decca Sound is the most interesting, because there's no theme to the music, just a collection of first class recordings and performances. The Mercury boxes have some very unusual stuff in them... American composers conducted by Hansen, light classical overtures in spectacular sound by Parry and wonderful Dorati. Mercury's sound is the most direct. No gain riding or mixing of multiple microphones. It sounds like it's right in front of you. The Vivarte box is excellent, but it's all Beethoven and earlier. The Philips box is good, but it really just seems like a bunch of CDs. It didn't strike me as having any overall theme, although there's some wonderful Neville Marriner recordings in there.

The Living Stereo and Living Presence boxes are quite different. The RCA box is more focused on core repetoire that you might already have versions of. The Mercury one has more unique things, and the Mercury sound quality is unmistakable.

I suppose if I was going to rank them, it would be like this...

Decca Sound
Living Stereo
Mercury Living Presence
Vivarte
Philips

I'll let you know what I think of the new Archiv box when it arrives.

That's quite interesting. I would have to say that some of the boxes I have, like two Mahler sets I've just gone through, I will likely play only once with some exceptions. At least for a while. In a way, it's like attending a performance of a piece with which you're already familiar. But repertoire that is new to me, requires a few repeats at least, to really enjoy.
I'm now more interested in those Living Presence boxes, on the basis of containing more outlier repertoire.

[slofstra]

I buy mostly big boxes, because I want to hear new things, not stuff I already know about. $2 a disk makes it worth the risk, and in most cases, I end up finding lots to love.

I don't have the DGG big boxes because I have a lot of DGG CDs already. And I don't have the new one of Eminence. But of the ones I have, the Living Stereo is the best for 50s core repetoire. It's a good basic library. The Decca Sound is the most interesting, because there's no theme to the music, just a collection of first class recordings and performances. The Mercury boxes have some very unusual stuff in them... American composers conducted by Hansen, light classical overtures in spectacular sound by Parry and wonderful Dorati. Mercury's sound is the most direct. No gain riding or mixing of multiple microphones. It sounds like it's right in front of you. The Vivarte box is excellent, but it's all Beethoven and earlier. The Philips box is good, but it really just seems like a bunch of CDs. It didn't strike me as having any overall theme, although there's some wonderful Neville Marriner recordings in there.

The Living Stereo and Living Presence boxes are quite different. The RCA box is more focused on core repetoire that you might already have versions of. The Mercury one has more unique things, and the Mercury sound quality is unmistakable.

I suppose if I was going to rank them, it would be like this...

Decca Sound
Living Stereo
Mercury Living Presence
Vivarte
Philips

I'll let you know what I think of the new Archiv box when it arrives.

I've just started going through the Decca box and I can already see why it is #1 on your list. I'm a bit disappointed to see Philips at the bottom. I've had my eye on that box for a while as well.

[bigshot]

I'm enjoying Mercury Box 2. I like the American composers in the Howard Hanson disks, and Dorati is a wonderful conductor. I'm not so keen on Brendel and Haitink and the Philips crew. It's nice, but it rarely is spectacular.

[slofstra]

I'm enjoying Mercury Box 2. I like the American composers in the Howard Hanson disks, and Dorati is a wonderful conductor. I'm not so keen on Brendel and Haitink and the Philips crew. It's nice, but it rarely is spectacular.

Whereas I have more Haitink in my collection than any other conductor, so I guess that makes me a fan. I didn't think there was all that much Haitink in that collection, so I checked. I count 4 Haitink led discs out of the 55 in the set. I'm not arguing with your impression, which is quite valid, but I would not want the Haitink detractors, and there are a few, to think that the Philips box is all Haitink.

[John F]

If the "Mercury" box includes recordings by Brendel and Haitink, they don't belong there, as neither ever recorded for Mercury. False advertising.

[bigshot]

We were talking about the Philips box. I was saying I'm not as keen as Philips stable of performers as I am Decca or RCA Living Stereo.

[slofstra]

We were talking about the Philips box. I was saying I'm not as keen as Philips stable of performers as I am Decca or RCA Living Stereo.

Or Mercury.

[Mookalafalas]

The Mercury boxes are a lot of fun because they're such strange grab-bags of interesting and unexpected stuff. Balalaika, Civil War music, home grown American composers, and then some more traditional fare. Of the boxes, it's the most fun, I think--at least if you are like me and don't have a clue about a lot of this stuff.

[Dimma]

The Mercury II set just dropped to $85 (from $115) in case anybody has extra cash (and shelf space...and time.......)

http://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Living-Pr ... GNZ2F5321J