Schubert Quest

We're in California for a while, continues...

I decided I want the Andras Schiff recordings of the Franz Schubert piano sonatas. Since I don't buy cd's anymore I was hoping the recordings would be available as downloads. Nope. Very odd. So much of his back-catalog is on iTunes and Amazon that I really expected the Schubert to be there.

I did buy what they have, which is the Impromptus and Moments Musicaux. Gorgeous.

But it makes me want his recordings of the Schubert sonatas even more. But wait: they are out of print! It is shocking and criminal that these treasures are out of print. What is wrong with Decca Records? Oh right, the major labels are on a suicide mission and have just about succeeded.

The individual cd's of the recordings are available used, etc. on various web sites. But since I don't like the clutter of cd's I was hoping to get the complete boxed set. It isn't available anywhere, not even used, not even on eBay. WTF?!

So on eBay I put in a daily search notification and "Want It Now." On Amazon I clicked "Buy It Used" although I have never had any luck with that alleged feature. I Twittered and Facebooked. One kind friend of mine pointed me to the individual cd version at Amazon, thank you. But I really would like the shelf-space-saving box set.

I am totally appalled that Decca Records would let these fabulous recordings go out of print. In this amazing new era of technology and downloads there is no reason for any recording to be out of print ever. I'll hold out for a couple weeks and probably end up buying the individual used cd's which is fine but shouldn't have to happen.

Ah, Andras Schiff. He and Mitsuko Uchida (I already have her recordings of the Schubert sonatas which are fabulous) are my two favorite pianists ever.

Update: I got a very nice email response from Decca Records today saying that they would pass along my comments to their catalog reissues department and that the individual discs are available from www.arkivmusic.com, including special order, custom CD-R's. I would prefer downloads but I am very impressed.