[Dork Knight]

I just stumbled upon the following;

Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set)
Play.com (UK) : Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set) : CD - Free Delivery

Beethoven: Complete Works (85CD)
Play.com (UK) : Ludwig Van Beethoven - Beethoven: Complete Works (85CD) : CD - Free Delivery

Bach: Complete Works Edition (160CD)
Play.com (UK) : Johann Sebastian Bach - Complete Works Edition (160CD) : CD - Free Delivery

I've never really got into this area, so what an opportunity to give one of these a go - But which one (any suggestions)?

It's possible that many of the recordings wont be that great, but still, a number are bound to be.

I also noticed these box sets on Amazon (US);

Amazon.com: Mozart Edition: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set): Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,Bruce Abel,Christian Tchelebiev,Christof Fischesser,Ezio Maria Tisi,Gottfried Hornik,Hermann-Christian Polster,Klaus Mertens,Manfred Bittner,Peter Schneyder

Amazon.com: Beethoven: Complete Works [Box Set]: Music: Alan Titus,Alessandro Sved,Frederik Baldus,Gunther Leib,Hermann Prey,Jan Opalach,John Noble,Siegfried Lorenz,Vladimir de Kanel,Wolfgang Holzmair,Dieter Reinhold,Gerald Finley,Gunther Beyer,Herma

Amazon.com: Bach Edition: Complete Works (155 CD Box Set): Music: Johann Sebastian Bach,Andrew Manze,Stephen Cleobury,La Stravaganza Köln,Pieter - Jan Belder,Emmy Verhey,Jaap Ter Linden,The Choir of King's College Cambridge,The Brandenberg Consort,th

 

[Kees]

I have had the Bach set on loan for a while. The recordings are actually not bad at all. They are older recordings and therefore cheap, but by no means bad performances. Not the absolute top, but decent-to-very good.
I think it can't be beat for the price.

 

[paulllaser]

I have all three of these collections and agree that while not being necessarily the top recorded performances, they are not bad and some are very good indeed. They are downright bargains. All well worth the price to have complete recorded collections of the ultra masters of classical music.

 

[Dork Knight]

Well that's good to know, thank you.

I'll place an order later today for a set.

 

[Doc Sarvis]

I have all three and love them all. The Bach and Mozart have a lot of period-style recordings. Whether that's good or bad depends on your point of view of course.

 

[zumaro]

Not sure which the play.com Bach set is - it might be Brilliant Classics as well, since the original Bach edition was rereleased with many better performances. The Amazon Brilliant Classics set is often very good, and never less than serviceable, with many top period instrument performers. I would go for that one, despite the cantatas being its weakest link - those performances are still OK but often rough.