Since I've posted photos of CD labels that accessed Vienna Master recordings it is only appropriate to include a couple representative Vienna Masters themselves.
I remember years ago buying the singles for 79 cents and the doubles for 99 cents at Best Buy. My first Vienna Master purchase (Bizet Carmen Suites and Symphony) was six dollars in a record store-- an incredible value for a classical CD at the time. Fortunately that was also the most I ever paid for a Vienna Master CD. Naxos soon offered better value.
Finally, Pilz created a companion line, Classic Digital, that recycled many Vienna Master titles; but at least added a few new recordings and more striking covers.
(I apologize for hogging the thread. Cheap classical CDs-- and earlier cheap classical L.P.s-- are a peculiar fascination.)
Addendum: While sorting through my collection this evening I found a clutch of Kannon Classics CDs, another series started by Pilz. When I opened the jewel cases I found "naked" Vienna Master CDs. Repackaging at its most blatant.
The defunct Onyx Classix (Netherlands)-- not to be confused with the UK based Onyx Classics -- was apparently another Vienna Master clone.
I admit I wasn't really familiar with the label until yesterday when I bought the 10-CD Mozart set (below) at a library book sale. Copyright 1990, lots of Lizzio and Scholz, and licensed from Aurophon (See above).
Interesting about this Vienna Master Series, they feature art on the cover and in the scant insert. This one is art by Zielasco and they give information about it and the artist on the inside. Then there are two pages on Scarlatti in two languages. Only on the bottom front and back is the performer mentioned. It's like 'Oh yeah, this chick plays the piano also."
I go to junk stores and the occasional yard sale. These CDs can be had for a $1 or under. They were widely distributed here, Indiana loves cheap culture. I might start picking up a few.
Please feel encouraged to do so. Despite their reputation in more "elevated" circles, they won't rot your brain-- and as indicated above, any recording credited to Anton Nanut or Dubravka Tomsic is automatically worth a listen.
Some of the Pilz recordings had been doing the rounds for years. I've already commented on Alfred Scholtz and his dodgy labelling over in the biggest charlatans in classical music thread. One thing is for sure.... Many of these recordings are attributed wrongly to artists who never made them or who simply never existed.
Some of my "takeaways" from this immensely informative (and enjoyable) thread are as follows:
I'm going to keep a look-out for anything from Dubravka Tomsic. Thank you Larkenfield and Josquin13 for the URLs or embedded videos of the various Tomsic CDs. I feel duty-bound to pick up her Scarlotti Sonatas (PILZ 106) since it had such unanimous endorsement on this thread. Evidently, it would set me back $10…probably $9 bucks more than it sold for new! Hilarious comment from Oldhoosierdude about the nondescript notation of her name on the CD: "Only on the bottom front and back is the performer mentioned. It's like 'Oh yeah, this chick plays the piano also.'"
On PILZ overall, geralmar, don't apologize for "hogging" the thread. You're not hogging it. On the contrary, your information about the other labels is very helpful...if for nothing else, it will focus and inform my aimless trawling through thrift store used CD bins!
For anyone interested, eBay has a listing today of 61 pilz cds for $30 US including shipping. Too many cds for me but quite a bargain that won't last long.
Do you know of a list of Vienna Masters that are correctly labelled, that are pseudonymous, and have been identified as mislabeled earlier performances (stolen performances)? I'm interested in the correctly labelled ones and am okay with the pseudonymous orchestras and conductors (I give them credit for a job generally well done), but don't want any performances that were stolen.
I have the Dvorak 9th, Philharmonia Slavonica, cond. Henry Adolph (both pseudonymous). I found it years ago at Good Will, not knowing anything of the label. It's a solid basic performance.
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