No, I won’t be buying this box set of 90 CDs. The price is $789.98. And, although it comes with a 312-page hardcover book detailing Yo-Yo Ma’s career and there’s a dandy photograph of Yo-Yo Ma by Annie Leibovitz, I’m not shelling out that kind of dough for a career retrospective. SONY must think that people are going to buy this set, but in the teeth of a recession, this project seems misguided. It’s hard to imagine who the target market for such a pricey item might be. Perhaps, a few years from now when this set is selling for a heavily discounted price, I might consider it.
I agree, that’s too much to spend on such a package. Ma is a fine artist, but his recordings have been scattered over a wide range of years, composers, even touching on other genres with unusual collaborations. I’m not sure I’d want everything, even if it was inexpensive, which this certainly is not!
First off, Rick, I doubt if I’d want to listen to 90 CDs of Yo-Yo Ma. I doubt if there are 90 CDs worth of great cello music no matter who’s playing it. So, this is basically a vanity project.
I agree, 90 CDs of cello music is a real stretch. I imagine there’s a lot of duplication on the set.
You’re right, Rick. With 90 CDs of Yo-Yo Ma material, there has to be plenty of redundancy.
They must realize it’s a boutique project and are willing to live with the profits.
My guess is that SONY is submitting to the vanity of the artist, Patti. I know Yo-Yo Ma is one of the most popular classical music artists in the world, but how many of his fans are going to spend almost $800 for this boxed set?
There is the thought that this costs Sony very little, really. The initial recording expenses are long ago paid, the pressing and packaging are almost nothing. Whatever agreement they have with Ma for additional; royalties would be about it.
You might be right, Rick, about the manufacturing costs. Plus, I doubt if they made a lot of these box sets.