Post by Hedgehog August 3, 2010 (21 of 29)
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Peter said:
It has shut.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2010/jul/28/independent-classical-shops-mdc-record
As has the small, but very interesting MDC right next to English National Opera in St. Martin's Lane, naturally with a strong focus on opera. You could pick up some real rarities there, but clearly not in SACD. MDC used to have an excellent shop just opposite Charing Cross Station, and I would always head there first on CD-hunting expeditions. This was staffed by knowledgable experts, and they often had delectable offers. That went quite a few years ago. Similarly, the above-mentioned Tower, Virgin/Zavvi and Farringdon Records.
I'm afraid you will find nothing at Foyle's. Been there several times and passed straight through. Harold Moore's in Great Marlborough Street still has lots of rarities and second-hand, but you'd have to know what you were after. I keep meaning to try Gramex, but it's a bit of a trek south of the Thames.
However, none of these flags up SACD specifically. HMV at the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street is the only place I now choose to go out of my way for if I'm in town for a concert or opera. While SACDs are not flagged up, they are certainly in the store, but again you'd need to know what you are looking for. However, this is a large, comfortable basement oasis, with new releases, a reasonable DVD selection and large racks of composers, artists and opera. Staff are knowledgable and helpful. Best of all, they usually have piles of stuff, opera sets, boxed sets and single discs on special offer, and I rarely come away not having been tempted to a bag full of goodies and feeling satisfied.
In terms of the pleasures of old-fashioned browsing and shopping, though, these really are sad times, but I am surely as much to blame as any. I buy almost 100% online now and have undoubtedly contributed to the downfall of these outlets. But why? Having been a collector for over 50 years of LPs, cassettes, CDs and SACDs, and having acquired large amounts of mainstream repertoire in various, not to say too many, formats, my collecting habits (not necessarily the same as my concert- and opera-going habits!) have focussed on the fringes of the repertoire, and the only place I can hunt for and actually find what I want is online. Consequently, I am constantly rooting round the smaller companies and, above all, Amazon Marketplace across the globe. For example, despite being among the greatest Wagner singers of their generation, Birgit Nilsson and Jon Vickers actually performed 'Tristan und Isolde' together only a few times. Research revealed a truly rare Myto edition of a live performance of 5th December 1976 at the Vienna State Opera under Horst Stein. This is as incandescent as anything you could imagine. Fairly primitive sound, but an absolutely scorching performance. This set I acquired from an obscure dealer off French Amazon. And where else could I possibly hope to find rare recordings of music by Vitezslava Kapralova, Matinu's highly gifted pupil and lover, but from cdmusic.cz? If you like Czech music and Martinu in particular, try the Kapralova Portrait disc on Studio Matous (MK 0049 - 2011). So there you have it.
Fortunately, SACD has given a very welcome boost, with all kinds of opportunities opening up. There is the thrill of re-hearing core repertoire in fabulous sound, and the increasing number of issues from smaller companies brings together great sound and specialist repertoire. Who could have believed that we would be enjoying Martinu's concertos, symphonies and chamber music on SACD? Marvellous. But it's probably too late, or the market is too small, for large outlets to survive as they did latterly. So, for some shopping excitement, probably head for HMV - or further afield. My very favourite record store is at Kulturkaufhaus Dussmann in Berlin. It's huge and plush - another basement oasis - if rather pricey, but, apart from the mind-boggling amount of stock, you might just find yourself standing next to some famous musician, as I did in April 2009, when I bumped into the great bass René Pape and had an interesting chat about his recent cancellations and future commitments. He did cancel Heinrich der Vogler in 'Lohengrin' at the Staatsoper but was very fine in a stunning Verdi 'Requiem' with Harteros (see recent Pappano version) and La Scala forces under Barenboim at the Philharmonie.
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Post by Chris August 10, 2010 (22 of 29)
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Hedgehog said:"I'm afraid you will find nothing at Foyle's."
Luckily I can prove you wrong there.
I picked up Bychkov's Elektra for 22 Pounds, Davis'Sibelius 1 and 4 for 7.99 and
RCO Live Dvorak's Requiem for 11 Pounds!
They had quite a few SACDs and several on special offer!
But what are those compared to Mahler 3.4-5 LIVE in the ROYAL ALBERT HALL?
Tonight Mahler 7!
I am having a good time in good old London.
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Chris said:
Hedgehog said:"I'm afraid you will find nothing at Foyle's."
Luckily I can prove you wrong there.
I picked up Bychkov's Elektra for 22 Pounds, Davis'Sibelius 1 and 4 for 7.99 and
RCO Live Dvorak's Requiem for 11 Pounds!
They had quite a few SACDs and several on special offer!
But what are those compared to Mahler 3.4-5 LIVE in the ROYAL ALBERT HALL?
Tonight Mahler 7!
I am having a good time in good old London.
As a Londoner (albeit in exile elsewhere in SE England), it pleases me to hear that you're enjoying your visit. Good on you!
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Post by Hedgehog August 10, 2010 (24 of 29)
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Dear Chris,
Congratulations on your successes at Foyles. I stand corrected, and I shall clearly have to give it another try next time I'm up. Actually, you could have got the Elektra online for £17.99 and the Sibelius for £7.99 (Amazon), but at £11.00 the Dvorak is a super-bargain. I really am rather jealous, first because it's on my short list, but especially on account of the achievement of actually finding it in a shop at that brilliant price! I would have been seriously pleased with that. By the way, did you get to HMV, and, if you did, what did you think of it?
You are, of course, absolutely right about there being nothing whatsoever to beat a live concert, and I do hope you continue to have a really great time in London. Where else but at the Proms could you possibly have such an intensive Mahler binge as the one you are enjoying right now? Go for it!
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Post by Chris August 12, 2010 (25 of 29)
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Hedgehog said:By the way, did you get to HMV, and, if you did, what did you think of it?
Not yet, I have been too busy with other things,yesterday I spent almost all day at the "Centre of the Earth",although I read in the Telegraph the very same day, that the Muslims are busy arguing that Greenwich is NOT the real Centre but instead Mecca. But yes I will go there too. No, not Mecca HMV. But what I liked about Foyles was that they also have an excellent music book section next to their Classical CD department.
This afternoon some rehearsals and then Prom night again.
ps Mahler 7 was good ,but a bit too polite for my taste. The night music wasn't spooky enough IMO.
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!S
What about the HMV shop in oxford street near bond street tube station? Does it still exist? last time I was there was in 90 alot have happend since.
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Runkeldunk said:
!S
What about the HMV shop in oxford street near bond street tube station? Does it still exist? last time I was there was in 90 alot have happend since.
Yes, it is but you're probably better off going to the main store near Oxford Circus, a bigger selection and more pleasant ambience. Mind you, I never buy anything anymore from HMV even though I look in occasionally, it's the same old box sets every year, all pile 'em high and sell 'em cheap, and I don't find the staff very knowledgeable. For over 20 years I've been going to Gramex over on Lower Marsh in Waterloo - I have spent an unthinkable amount of money there! Actually, there used to be someone - Neil Taylor - who had a market stall also on Lower Marsh for some years at lunchtimes. He had a small but really good stock, lots of new releases (no, don't ask where they came from...), but sadly he died suddenly earlier this year. He can't have been 50 yet and I miss seeing him on Fridays - the palpable sense of excitement wondering what new goodies he was going to bring in his bag. Like so many of us, I now make most of my purchases online - Amazon, HMV and sometimes HMV Japan if I feel I can afford it! And I have to say that this website has pointed me to lots of acquisitions over the last couple of years!
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Post by Chris August 19, 2010 (28 of 29)
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Hedgehog said:
Dear Chris,
By the way, did you get to HMV, and, if you did, what did you think of it?
Hello there Hedgehog, Yes I have been there now,and what can I say ?
It is big,has loads of classical CDs, but very few SACDs and most of what they sell seems to be repackaged "re-cycled" CD multipack CD sets, dirt cheap!
I saw only a handful of SACDs there and made my way rather quickly just around the block to some real music shops, Harold Moores for LPs,and Schotts for scores!
Moores had both new releases and some second hand SACDs too.
But I bought only one SACD there ,the Pentatone Jurowski Tchaikovsky Hamlet, for 7 Pounds.
But if someone here tells me how to add photos here,I will post a photo of a tempting "REAL GEM" for sale there now!
Buying it too,would certainly add some overweight to my already heavy suitcase.
I also made it to some more exiting Proms in the last couple of days, Julia Fisher in Schostakowich's 1st Violin Concerto,absolutely superb!
Her immaculate tone even carried very well in the long last movement cadence in the vast Albert Hall.
More Gergiev LSO, Firebird a bit rough edged and square IMO.Scriabin 's 1st rather dull symphony but well played.Rave review in the Guardian.
Much more interesting IMO was Dallapicolla's Partita and the exiting World Premiere, of Huw Watkins Violin Concerto.
More Proms yes indeed,But HMV? No I don't think I'll go there again unless there is an irrestistable sale of SACDs on.
Happy listening Chris
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Post by Hedgehog August 19, 2010 (29 of 29)
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Chris said:
Hello there Hedgehog, Yes I have been there now,and what can I say ?
Happy listening Chris
Dear Chris,
Many thanks for your report back. Sorry if you were disappointed by HMV, but I did warn you about the SACDs - you do have to sniff about, but they are there among the offers. Sadly, I'm still a confessed sucker for pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap sets of stuff that's been on my long list, such as the complete Argerich solo piano collection, or Haitink's Shostakovich symphonies that I recently got for idiot prices. Just can't help it - even at my age! Old habits die hard. Anyway, I'm glad you nipped through to Great Marlborough Street to enjoy Harold Moores, and I would certainly have had the Jurowski Tchaikovsky SACD at 7 quid - a snip. Schotts really is a treasure trove for scores - they have very rare stuff, such as the Martinu symphonies.
I noted the fine reviews for Fisher and Ibragimova, but they were rather mixed for the Gergiev. I do hope you still find time for some more Proms - you surely are making the most of it. So, what on earth is this 'REAL GEM' that would make your suitcase burst?
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