Classical Good CD Guide 2000

by Omnibus Press

Contains reviews of recordings made by the world's great musicians found on compact discs. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1902274067
• ISBN13: 9781902274065
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Gramophone Publications
• Weight: 2.93 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.0" x 5.8" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Not complete but still useful

Even before it was revised, the Gramophone Guides to classical CDs never made any pretense to being complete in any sense of the word. Yes, all the composers whose works were to be found on CDs were included, but not every recording of every one of their works. The editors allowed themselves a good deal of leeway in exercising their personal choices. Now the has dropped a few features found in the older editions and has lessened its value as a reference tool--but to be fair, it must be judged on what is has retained. Its chief rival is, of course, the "Penguin Guide to Compact Discs," which in its last edition has dropped the section on compilations and concert recordings (except for piano recitals) but which still tries to cram in reviews of every version of a work that is still available on the major labels. Therefore, out of necessity, it has to say less about each than does the Gramophone listings. And if, as at least one reader has pointed out, the bias seems to Anglophiliac, one can take that into account in making up one's own mind about which CD to purchase. And I do appreciate the section that reviews collections, no longer to be found, as I said, in the Penguin guides. What I do is get both of them whenever they come out and keep even the old ones to double check on reissues and on what I can find in used CD bins. So I will deduct a star for what is not there; but I still want to recommend the Gramophone as very useful when used in conjunction with the other guides.