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Classical CD-guide in print or on web?

How do Audiogoners decide which recording to buy of a a classical music piece? I know there is the Good Classical CD Guide from British Grammophone magazine, but astheir customer service is awful, I haven't reveived it yet after ordering it three times. Are there other resources, maybe on the web, which compare recordings, and tell you which ones are the best?
hassel
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Gramophone's reviews are all available online through its website at:
http://www.gramofile.co.uk/index.asp

You do have to register to gain access, but otherwise there is no cost.
tweekerman
473 posts
 
Classics Today.com offers very good reviews. Though not enough to really be of great help. In other words they have left out a bunch of great recordings that are my "definitive". So I would not purchase based solely on their recommendation. I would consider all the top choices before I buy. I use tower's one minute Audio Play, saves me a BUNCH!! of money. Its alot of time invested, but at the moment I'm only working part time. I may have to play the selection over several times, but works for me. On some of my favorite compositions, I have 1 to 4 recordings, enjoy them all.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
The Basic Record Library book offered by Performance Today, the NPR radio program is a nice starter.

Also check out this website...

http://www.iclassics.com/iclassics/homepage.jsp
odi_et_amo
1 posts
 
The Penguin Guide is my favorite: Also "Fanfare" magazine.
tweekerman
473 posts
 
Hassel, may I suggest that you hold off on purchase until you become aware, reviews, listening to 1 minute clips on Tower's site, and reading the chat sites here and over at Gramophone.com. I've got lots of disc's I find "not up to the music".
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