For fans of Harnoncourt's cycle, Berkshire is selling the 10-cd Teldec
box that has the symphonies, the violin concerto (Kremer) and romances,
overtures, Creatures of Prometheus (complete), and the Missa Solemnis, all
for the great price of $40.  What a deal!  Attractively packaged, although
I would have liked for detailed notes (but the notes are interesting).

Switching to Toscanini, I finally bought the RCA cycle on CD--I had the
complete set on LP and a few CDs of the cycle, and I have been meaning
for years to get the full cycle on CD.  Last month, RCA released a new
box which appears to me, in some instances, to be a dramatic improvement
on the prior sound quality.  Even more than restorative work, apparently
the folks at RCA dug into their vaults and found previously undiscovered
first-generation masters.  I bought my set for about $28 through Yahoo's
music shopping site, speaking of great buys, and the box is 7 CDs and
includes Missa Solemnis.  I have what I would call "qualified admiration"
for Toscanini's cycle, and I find myself listening to this new release with
very fresh ears in light of the frequently substantial improvement in sound
quality.  While, for my ideal Beethoven symphony cycle, I would like to see
more humor and gentleness than Toscanini provided in that set, the better
sound quality, I think, will mitigate some of the common reaction
concerning the harshness of the cycle.

Finally (attention bargain shoppers), I just ordered the inexpensive 9 CD
box that EMI released late last year of the Klemperer symphony cycle with
the complete piano concertos with Barenboim.  Very reasonable price for a
great symphony cycle (about 50-55 bucks), with a decent concerto cycle
thrown in (and it even includes a number of overtures).  I had the
symphonies on LP, but had never gotten the concerto cycle, so I'm very
much looking forward to the set.

I'd be interested in thoughts on the new Abbado and Barenboim cycles.  I've
been putting them off because I am trying to figure out whether I want to
buy a DVD-Audio player (both sets come in a DVD-Audio version), and I've
seen very good and very bad reviews of both sets.  Any reactions?

So many recordings, so little time. Can bankruptcy be far away?

Drew Capuder