Topics

I am doing some research for a client for string quintets (either two-viola or two-cello quintets - either is fine) that are in need of a first recording or perhaps a new modern recording.

All suggestions gratefully received.

I have recently been made aware of a major CD store in Helsinki which is moving premises. As a result, they are selling-off a huge amount of excellent CDs, many of them by unsung composers, for as little as 3 Euros each. I have already succumbed and bought 12 of these, but I thought I should make my fellow contributors aware of this fantastic opportunity. Shipping costs outside Europe will obviously be higher than within Europe, but the cost of some of these CDs might offset this nicely.

Here is a link to the relevant page: http://www.fuga.fi/clearance.html.

Happy browsing!

I hope this will count as a viable topic for the 'New Recordings' section. I have just received my latest issue of the BBC Music Magazine with a cover CD of Mahler's 7th Symphony conducted by Gianandrea Noseda - a conductor I have a lot of time for. As always with these (and many other) CDs, it is wrapped in this seemingly impenetrable shrink wrap and NO TEAR STRIP to get its removal underway.

I know that I need to get a life, but this drives me to distraction. Is this just me, or does it annoy others as well? Most new CDs are thus wrapped. I have never quite worked out what the shrink wrap is for - CDs don't 'go off' if not vacuum wrapped or refrigerated as far as I know. And the shrink wrap is no guarantee of newness as machines to apply this appalling stuff are easy to come by.

Apart from buy a special gizmo to remove this stuff (why should I??), do other contributors have any tips to help me retain my sanity?