The title probably means nothing to younger members?

This is a(nother) beginner's question: When I'm looking at purchasing some music, some works have been recorded so many times, by so many different performers, I don't know where to start. Since I'm not at the stage of comparing various interpretations of a particular piece, how do I decide which performer to choose for any piece? Does it really matter when you are just getting to know a piece? Should I just go for the cheapest K-Tel version?

It's difficult to say really. I haven't heard K-tel CD for example (unless you count the Minipops in 1984!) but Naxos has some good recordings by respectable, usually Eastern European players.

Are there specific pieces you want to get or is it a collection of famous piano pieces? You can get many CDs with piano favourites (like Fur Elise, Debussy Arabesque no 1 and Clair de Lune, Brahms Waltz in A flat etc) performed by quite famous pianists. These don't cost the earth (much cheaper than buying say someone's complete Beethoven sonatas or something) and are lovely to have in your collection. They are also probably more accessible if you are new to listening to classical music.

Which works in particular are you looking at? Perhaps forumites might have suggestions of their favourite recordings?

KTel is a name i have'nt heard for while. Naxos is a very popular budget label, £6 per CD, but the quality of the sonics and performances are somewhat uneven. While Idil Biret is a fine pianist, the sound quality of many of her Chopin recordings for Naxos is'nt great, same for the Brahms. On the other hand, Bernd Glemsers recordings of Scriabin and Schumann are superb and the sonics are excellent...the same can be said of Noklebergs Grieg which are now considered exemplary. EMI also do some reasonably priced CD's featuring some familiar names, Baremboim, Gavrilov, Andsnes among them. Recently I bought Faures' complete piano music, played by Jean Phillipe Collard which for four discs was £14 and is now £9 in the HMV sale. But on the same shelf Kathryn Stotts' Hyperion complete Faure will set you back about £45 ! There is a considerable range in price for excactly the same repertoire, and for the more popular composers quite a lot on offer, but it's helpful to read reviews and try and listen to soundclips before handing over your money.

BBC Radio 3 airs a programme called 'CD Review/Building a Library' on Saturdays which might be one place to start. It tends to deal with new releases, but at least you get to hear some of the music and some (arguably) informed comment before splashing out any cash.

The website is here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tmtz


You can 'listen again' , and there are links to a 'recommendations' page and the playlists from the last couple of so years.

Thanks everyone.
I appreciate the question is probably a little too generic, but the comments are useful. I'll certainly check out the R3 link.