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CHEAP Classical CDs
Cheap classical cds are an interest of mine and have been ever since I got Mozart and Bach comp CDs in the checkout line at Giant years ago.
Then it was on to Laserlight, Musique d'Or, Naxos, Arte Nova and Pilz.
They vary quite a bit in quality, both performance-wise and in manufacture.
Here's my take on the labels:
Naxos: good performances. I have their Sibelius, Grieg cds. Excellent packaging, notes, sturdy cases + discs.
Here's a great tribute to them.
http://www.crisismagazine.com/october2002/music.htm
Pilz: Good performances, I listen to my Pilz Brandenburg Concertos constantly. Poor packaging,but good discs.
Laserlight: Once King of Bargain Classical, now increasingly in Jazz (their Artie Shaw disc is great!) Too many to mention here but Holst's Planets, Wagner 'Magic Fire Music' orchestral excerpts are exceptional. Good in all
categories.
Musique d'Or: Seen these only once a few years ago. Nice sound, packaged in cardboard. OK but nothing special.
Arte Nova: the new Kings. Copious notes, sturdy discs and packaging. I have owned Shostakovich, Prokofieff, and Rimsky-Korsakoff for some time and now have the new Barenreiter Edition recordings by David Zinman.
This last set is quite a coup for a bargain label- essentially making it the first label to record Beethoven as he intended to be played. A great set.
Madacy: Good Strauss Waltzes. Also, I include this out of respect for a great CD of Scott Joplin on piano. Not strictly classical, of course, but nice nonetheless.
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