[mpsipos]

There are a ton of "big" box sets released in the past few years and still being released today that are exceptional bargains. They allow you to get master performances of some great music for as low as $2 per CD, some less than $1. These are great buys for those looking to grow their classical collection or just starting out. With the holiday season coming up, I thought I would assemble a list of some good ones. I might add approximate prices soon, but they probably wouldn't be updated very often. If I were you I would check both Amazon and ArkivMusic to see if one is considerably cheaper than the other before buying.
 
RCA's "Big" Box Sets
 
RCA Victor's Living Stereo Collection [60 CD] - Amazon
The version released in 2010 is going for $180 on Amazon ($3 / disc) and more elsewhere. Now its being re-released on December 4, 2012 for $109 on Amazon ($1.82 / disc)! UPDATE: SOLD OUT AT AMAZON BEFORE NOON THE DAY IT WAS RELEASED.
Here's some info on the Living Stereo remasters http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/RCALivingStereo.jsp
 
Arturo Toscanini: The Complete RCA Collection [84 CD + DVD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
 
Decca's "Big" Box Sets
 
Mercury's Living Presence: The Collector's Edition [50 CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at Decca's website: http://www.deccaclassics.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4783566
UPDATE: SOLD OUT AT AMAZON, PRICE JUMP AT ARKIVMUSIC
 
The Decca Sound [50CD] - ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at Decca's website: http://www.deccaclassics.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4782826
 
Philips Original Jackets Collection: Obsessed With Sound [55 CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at Decca's website: http://www.deccaclassics.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4784614
 
Deutsche Grammophon's "Big" Box Sets
 
111 Years of Deutsche Grammophon [55 CD] (CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE) - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at DGG's website: http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single/?PRODUCT_NR=4778167
 
Mozart 111 Masterworks [55CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at DGG's website: http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4790059
 
Archiv Produktion's All-Baroque Box: From Monteverdi to Bach [50 CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at DGG's website: http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/gpp/index/4790441-baroque-box
 
Glenn Gould: The Complete Bach Collection [38 CD + 6 DVD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
 
Karajan - 1960s [82 CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at DGG's website: http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4790055
 
Magnificat: 500 Years of Choral Masterworks [50 CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at DGG's website: http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4783640
 
Sony Classical's "Big" Box Sets
 
Murray Perahia - The First 40 Years [67 CD + 5 DVD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
 
Leonard Bernstein: The Symphony Edition [60 CD] - Amazon
 
Brilliant's "Really Big" Box Sets
 
Beethoven Edition: Complete Works [85 CD] - ArkivMusic
 
Richard Strauss Edition [35 CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at Brilliant's website: http://www.brilliantclassics.com/release.aspx?id=FM00402263
 
Shostakovich Edition [51 CD] - ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at Brilliant's website: http://www.brilliantclassics.com/release.aspx?id=FM00424463
 
Tchaikovsky Edition [60 CD] - ArkivMusic
Complete disc & track listing, as well as product info at Brilliant's website: http://www.brilliantclassics.com/release.aspx?id=FM00394943
 
Bach: Complete Edition [157 CD + 2 DVD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
 
Mozart Edition: Complete Works [170CD + DVD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
 
Haydn Edition [150CD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
 
Other Really Big Box Sets
 
The Complete Bach Edition from Teldec/Warner Classics [153 CD + DVD] - Amazon; ArkivMusic
Product info and individual disc information at Warner Classics website: http://www.warnerclassics.com/release,TheCompleteBachEdition_6056.htm
 
Wilhelm Furtwängler: The Legacy from Membran [107 CD] - Amazon

 

[bigshot]

I heard that the Toscanini box will be discounted later today at Amazon.com and currently third party sellers have the Brilliant Classics Beethoven box for cheap. Amazon.de currently has a Brilliant Classics sale with a dirt cheap price on the Bach box. The RCA Living Stereo box is a bit cheaper than the US price at Amazon.es.

You should add Membran's spectacular historical recordings box Meister Conzerte and the various complete Wagner opera and the Verdi La Scala collections to your list.

There's also a Chandos 30th anniversary box, Vivarte Collection, Perfect Classical box and Secret Labyrinth

Heifetz, Horowitz, Rubinstein boxes. Two Karajan at EMI boxes, the Membran Karajan before the 60s box, harmonia Mundi anniversayr box, Baroque box

There's a box that takes music up to Beethoven, but I can't remember the title. I think it's Harmonia Mundi.

 

[devereld]

RCA Living Stereo box 1 re-released and I finally got a copy after reading this thread ages ago!
 
Excellent selection and nice memories associated with many of these discs. Had to resurrect my old CD player in order to enjoy it though - my MacBook gave up its CD player.
 
Thanks!

 

[bigshot]

Great score! That is one of the best of the bargain boxes. Too bad volume 2 didn't come close to matching it.

 

[Derbyshire]

The Perahia set is available at an astonishing price ($60 or thereabouts) on Amazon just now.  The packaging is especially handsome, although not altogether CD-shelf friendly.

 

[oryan_dunn]

For someone starting out, what is a good recommendation?  I'm thinking about the two Mercury Living Presence sets.

 

[shetech]

Deutsche Grammophon is releasing a limited run of Carlos Kleiber's recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic on vinyl at the end of September. They're also releasing a CD box set, but if you're into vinyl, this is something to watch for and add to your collection.

 

[Mambosenior]

Vienna Philharmonic (Kleiber)

 

[shetech]

I have Berlin on the brain lately because of their Digital Concert Hall series. Actually, the set I'm thinking of includes recordings from Dresden, Bayern, Leipzig and several others.

 

[bigshot]

  For someone starting out, what is a good recommendation?  I'm thinking about the two Mercury Living Presence sets.

 
I have just about every one of the boxes. I would recommend the first Living Stereo box above all else, then the Bernstein box, and Gunter Wand.

 

[oryan_dunn]

I have just about every one of the boxes. I would recommend the first Living Stereo box above all else, then the Bernstein box, and Gunter Wand.

Thanks. Do you know, are the RCAs the remastered versions?

 

[N D Plume]

  Having just finished the first Living Stereo, I certainly agree it's an exemplary set.
  As for other options, there is the upcoming second Bernstein box, focusing on concertos and other non-symphonic orchestra works; it's available from amazon UK for about 90$. The track listing says 80 cds, but at the moment amazon lists it as 60. Either way, it's a steal

 

[N D Plume]

   And also, if you're into (or at least interested in) the core composers, don't overlook the complete sets of Bach, Beethoven, etc. from the Brilliant label. Obviously, they are not quite stellar from start to finish, but they are respectable. A solid foundation, in my opinion.

 

[bigshot]

Thanks. Do you know, are the RCAs the remastered versions?

 
They sound exactly like the SACDs.