Thank you so much for all this. Ever since I "imprinted" on Karl Böhm's performance of the 8th - an old DG CLASSIKON CD I bought somewhere when I had little to no idea about who Schubert was - I knew that, one day, I *had* to get it all.
Having all the completions is why I bought and kept the original Marriner set. I agree with you on the completions, but I still enjoy hearing the Newbould completions...especially the 7th. And I think the performances are really quite good.
Anybody else remember the old New Yorker cartoon: couple splitting up their stuff in pending divorce, at the record shelves: "Oh no! You don't get 20 years of my life AND the Fischer-Dieskaus!"
The Schubert completions/realizations was my reason for buying the Marriner set as well. I don't know when I last listened to the "standard" works in the box. There are so many better alternatives. I've never been convinced by the Rosamunde b minor entr'acte as a finale to the 8th. The 8th is better left unfinished. But the Grand Duo symphony! It's become one of my favorites.
Dave, you mentioned that you used to collect Schubert string quartets. Do you know the complete string quartets by Diogenes quartet? If so, what do you think. I have had trouble getting into the early ones (in contrast to Mozart and Mendelssohn)?
