Thanks for the link! Lots of great stuff there. Please note that I didn't price-shop around so maybe some of these "deals" aren't actually as good as they seem to me. Nevertheless, I think some interesting ones to look at are...
1.
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet.
My father has this one and I've been listening to this collection since it came out when I was in high school. It's a wonderful group of recordings and I highly recommend it, especially at under $30.
2.
Shostakovich: The String Quartets [BOX SET]
I love the Shostakovich string quartets, and so far my favorite cycle is the set of old Soviet recordings by the Borodin Quartet, originally recorded on Melodiya (reissued by EMI UK, the version I have). The Emerson Quartet did my favorite version of the Bartok string quartets so this is certainly worth checking out for the price.
One of the reviews also suggested checking out the Shostakovich String Quartet's
cycle which costs $20+shipping at the
Berkshire Record Outlet. They're located right by me so I'll try to pick up that version on Tuesday afternoon. When I have a listen I'll hopefully have time for some quick impressions at some point.
3.
Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin[Box Set].
The best rendition of Chopin that I've heard. I know some swear by Horowitz and maybe it's just that I grew up with the Rubinstein recordings, but I don't think anyone comes close to these. At $33 it seems like a no-brainer.
4.
Beethoven: String Quartets.
This set of Takacs Quartet recordings looks interesting. Like I said before, I think they're excellent performers. I don't think I'll be picking this one up either, though, just because I don't need it.
5.
Bela Bartok: The 6 String Quartets - Emerson String Quartet.
The Emerson rendition of the Bartok quartets is my favorite, as I think I mentioned above. If the Takacs Quartet has finished recording all of them that's another one to get as well, but I have this one and I love it. I've also heard the Juilliard Quartet's version which I found terrible - cold, lifeless, and ultimately worthless beside the Emerson reading.
6.
Arnold Schoenberg: Serenade/Five Pieces For Orchestra.
Hearing the BSO perform the Five Pieces when I was in 8th or 9th grade opened my eyes (ears?) to the more "modern" 20th-century composers. I have this CD and I think it's quite good, but I haven't compared it to others.
7.
Dvorák: Complete String Quartets (Box Set).
Looks interesting, especially at $3.30 per CD! I'm picking this one up.
8.
Rendezvous of Angels - Concert Collection [20 CD Set] [BOX SET].
I don't own this and won't buy it, but at less than $30 for 20CDs spanning several periods and types of music, it looks like a good buy for someone just getting into classical music.
9.
Debussy, Ravel: Streichquartette.
By the Emerson String Quartet. Excellent recordings and I really like the readings as well. Please note that I am not extremely familiar with other recordings of these works, but at the very least this can serve as a wonderful introduction to these two French composers, if not to chamber music. Would also make a nice gift for someone who's interested in beginning to listen to classical music.
In the end, I actually purchased the following:
1. Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos - Felix Mendelssohn
$7.97
2. Franck - Sonata for violin and piano · Debussy - Sonatas · Ravel - Introduction and Allegro / Chung · Lupu · Ellis · Melos Ensemble - Cesar Franck
$7.97
3. Taneyev: Chamber Music - Sergey Taneyev
$12.97
4. Dvorák: Complete String Quartets (Box Set) - Antonin Dvorak
$32.97
