Arrau's Complete Recordings/Decca 80 CDs

[Lance]

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... SY355_.jpg
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... SY355_.jpg

Packaged very much in the same manner as Decca's Alfred Brendel complete recordings, this set looks like a winner for Arrau fans. What I like is that it contains all of Arrau's Decca recordings (of which there was not much), and some things that were not previously released. The problem is, most of us pianophiles already have a huge number of his Philips recordings and those already published by Decca.

Price is reasonable through Amazon for 80 discs and deluxe packaging. Will I go for it? Not sure. Probably not.

[Len_Z]

I'll definitely go for it. I did have all the Philips CDs, but in anticipation of this release sold most of them on Ebay.

[Lance]

Well that's one way to do it. Did you get decent prices on the individual units?

I'll definitely go for it. I did have all the Philips CDs, but in anticipation of this release sold most of them on Ebay.

[Len_Z]

Well, not as much as I would like to, obviously (is it ever enough?:)), but I'm happy overall, because it gave me a chance to get the new box set. Hopefully, I'll save some shelf space, too.

[slofstra]

I was quite disappointed with this set (RCA Victor and Columbia), and that's speaking as a fan of his Beethoven Sonatas and a few other recordings by Arrau which I have had for some time.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00UOF ... ge_o04_s00

Can I expect that this Decca set would be better?

[Lance]

Well, those RCAs and Columbias were largely from the days of 78s as I recall. I was glad to get it as I admired the younger Arrau more than in his latest years. I always felt those recordings he made for EMI were some of his best commercial efforts even though in good mono sound for most of the solo recordings. Did you ever acquire the 12-CD EMI "Icon" box [84322] containing all of Arrau's EMI recordings? I also very much enjoyed his American Decca LP recordings all of which, I understand, will now be included in the new Decca 80 CD boxed set. His American Decca years didn't last too long for some reason.

I was quite disappointed with this set (RCA Victor and Columbia), and that's speaking as a fan of his Beethoven Sonatas and a few other recordings by Arrau which I have had for some time.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00UOF ... ge_o04_s00

Can I expect that this Decca set would be better?