Vanska/MO/BIS M3rd SACD is pricey!

[John Kim]

This is really bad. They are asking for a price of two discs whereas most releases nowadays that comprise of two CDs are sold for the price of one.

Who'd pay $41 for the set?

John

[John Kim]

I bet BIS wants us to buy a box set of the whole cycle (when it becomes available later) instead of this release.

John

[barryguerrero]

That's exactly what I was thinking.

[ChrisH]

Perhaps they are trying to drive customers away from discs, or treating the discs as a premium item.  This is what's been happening with 4K Blu-ray. Suddenly the prices have jumped $10+, coupled with low inventory. They want everyone streaming. At least if I buy a download from Presto, or eclassical, I own the files DRM free.

I'd think the profit margin is much higher on digital, than on a physical product. The CD quality download is $18.75 and $25.00 for hi-res. It'll be even cheaper than that on eclassical when it releases. Purchasing discs is something I only do when there is no digital available.

[Roland Flessner]

I've heard Vänskä's M5, M6, and M7, and based on those I don't think he has a real feel for Mahler. I hate to say that because BIS is just about the only label making studio recordings of American orchestras these days.

Labels probably derive more revenue from downloads than from physical CDs. Streaming, probably not, although Idagio pays by the second rather than by the track and claims to be fairer to musicians and labels.

[John Kim]

I have an aircheck of Vanska/MO M3rd. Its timings are almost identical to those listed on the official release, so I think I know how the SACD will sound. In short, it is a vast and profound reading spectacularly played and recorded, a far cry from Maazel who took whopping 1 hour 51 min. in his VPO performance!!

To his credit, Vanska lets the Minnesota brass roar and rumble, above all in the opening 'Pan Awakes, Summer Marches In.' The woodwinds are excellent too and very prominent throughout. The Finale clocking just under 24 min. is neither too short nor dragging and culminates very nicely in the final hymn like climax. I'll see if I can find a place where I can order it with some discount.

John

[Russ Smiley]

I see Amazon is releasing Vanska/Minnesota's "Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1-10" on 7 June for $90 for 11 Hybrid SACDs.
https://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphonies-Nos-Minnesota-Orchestra/dp/B0D2KQW1KW

[barryguerrero]

Good grief - buying the Vanksa M3 from Amazon is almost half the cost of buying the complete cycle, as Amazon is showing a preorder price of $43. I have a feeling that's going to get corrected. I noticed Presto Classical has repriced their hard disc release of it to $30.25 (U.S.).

https://www.amazon.com/Mahler-Symphony-No-Minnesota-Boychoir/dp/B0D2KRFRG4/ref=sr_1_36?crid=AVIQ8DSLPC6B&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2tXE09FnvL1LR1T7uLOcCPrknmgdXR917Uwjfe9Q3mKtyQsRVtqL3Axs0RTv_1K_EDOcAmJ22E5Uy9TJGSaimw.iO4fUPpdlTfipnIb8zhchHIL_rW5Ou1xBWJ71w2Qgb4&dib_tag=se&keywords=mahler+symphony+no.+3&qid=1714626924&s=music&sprefix=mahler+symphony+no.+3%2Cpopular%2C169&sr=1-36

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9622893--mahler-symphony-no-3-in-d-minor?_gl=1*1mnbypk*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLPahnvThM2PaYLdFiz4ebSfkaYtU6fdtSDi9s8mzMPbL5TMaNEG20aAuWPEALw_wcB

[waderice]

Well Barry, I just put in my order at Amazon for the complete Vanska symphonies, and including tax, cost came to $95.39 (I belong to Amazon Prime).  Have been waiting a long time for this and can hardly wait to get my set!

Wade

[Roland Flessner]

The frugal may be rewarded by patience. Once the box set has been out for a while, BIS will probably run discounts. They were selling the excellent Vänskä/Minnesota Beethoven symphony set for $30 not long after it was issued.

[John Kim]

I am not interested in getting the M1, M4, or M8th for that matter. I'll just get the Third and be done with it.

Maybe the Third is meant to be a platinum release. Maybe it comes with delux booklet, photos, etc^

John

[erikwilson7]

John, I'm interested in your thoughts on the Vanska M4 and M8. I thought those were some of the stronger releases in this cycle.

[John Kim]

Erik

I think Vanska's M4th is very fine. It's just that there are some moments that don't sound too engaging. As for the 8th I know it received excellent critical reviews and I agree with most of them as far as the musicality goes. But for my money and taste, I'd stay with Bernsetin/LSO, Neumann/CPO, and Bertini, Zinman. I just think Vanska rushed the final pages of Part II. and that, no matter how well the performance went up to the point, almost ruins my listening.

John

[John Kim]

To me, the M3, M7, M10 are standouts of the Vanska Mahler cycle, followed by M9, M6 (with a reservation on Finale), M8 and M4.

John

[barryguerrero]

I like Vanska M8, as I think it comes the closest to having a good seat at a great live concert. While the ending to Part II was on the quick side, I also felt that Vanska is among the few who have truly nailed the entire "Blicket auf" section of Part II. I like the M2 quite a bit, which seems to be a minority opinion. M4 is perfectly fine, although C. Sampson is not a favorite with me. The M5 is good, but I'm not crazy about the outer two movements of the M6 (the inner two are very good). It's also in Andante/Scherzo order, as you guys know. The M7 and M10 really hit the mark for me. Those I think are the two strongest hits in the cycle. The M9 is perfect fine as well - more than adequate. M1 is fine, but I would have preferred that Vanska hadn't had the opening double bass solo of the slow movement played by the tutti bass section (and just left it solo instead). However, that's not a deal breaker with me.