1937 MAGIC FLUTE compl MOZART Lemnitz Huesch Berger Roswaenge Beecham 78

$

130

WEEK 2 of two weeks of great auctions ending May 11.

I will send you a bill after close of auctions May 11. Due to the high volume of records, pls allow 2 - 3 days for packing and invoicing

IF you are a non-US buyer or if buy multiple records, pls do not use EBAY check out.
Send me an invoice request (click on MORE ACTIONS to the right of the item), I can probably get you better shipping rate.

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I am currently selling a series of great Richard Wagner and classic European 78 rpm orchestral recordings on all the great European labels:

This recording is a MUST HAVE for any opera collector

A FESTIVAL OF GERMAN SINGERS:

1937/1938 complete MOZART's Zauberfloete with the Berlin Philharmonic, recorded in the Old Berlin Philharmonie Concert hall (destroyed in WW II)

Stellar German Singers: Incomparable Erna Berger as a delicate Queen of the Nicght, Tiana Lemnitz as a soulful Tamina, Superstar Helge Roswaenge as Tamino, and the great Tenor Gerhard Huesch as Papageno.

All that under the able baton of Sir Thomas Beecham.

MOZART:  The Magic Flute
Helge Roswaenge (Tamino); Tiana Lemnitz (Pamina); Gerhard Hüsch (Papageno); Irma Beilka (Papagena & First Boy); Erna Berger (Queen of the Night); Wilhelm Strienz (Sarastro); Walter Grossman (Speaker & Second Armed Man); Heinrich Tessmer (Monostatos & First Armed Man); Hilde Scheppan (First Lady); Elfriede Marhess (Second Lady); Rut Berglund (Third Lady & Third Boy); Carla Spletter (Second Boy); Ernst Fabbry (Priest).  Favres Solisten Vereinigung/Berlin Philharmonic Orch/ Sir Thomas Beecham, cond.

This was the first complete recording of this Mozart favorite (minus the spoken dialogs, which are printed in the booklet in German and English)

For sale is the complete performance on 19x 12" original issue 78 rpm disks. Comes 2 thick Victor Lyre style albums.

Volume 1 AM 541 (slide coupling) Volume 2 M542 (Manual Coupling)

Condition Records:

better than EXCELLENT , prisitine. Possibly unplayed. rarest scuffs.

The LAST SIDE - 37 has an incipient crack will cause mild click for the first 4 mm (r clicks)

Plays almost superquiet, Archive quality copy.

5 clicks on 4, 8 clicks on 8

Albums like new but  top of spine of 1 has tear

Here is a review from the web:

In the Prewar-Two era of shellac discs, the choice of complete Mozart operas was limited to three Glyndebourne Festival productions—Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, and The Marriage of Figaro—sung in Italian, stylishly conducted by Fritz Busch, recorded by HMV, and released stateside by RCA Victor. Casts were polished ensembles but sometimes short on star-power, although some senior Britcrix still cite them as nonpareil. The exception to Glyndebourne's dominance was The Magic Flute, a Walter Legge production recorded in the Beethovensaal of Berlin's old Philharmonie between November 8, 1937, and March 8, 1938—nine days altogether. No less an eminence than Sir Thomas Beecham conducted the Berlin Philharmonic, and his cast featured pretty much the cream of German singers not forced by the Nazis to leave. (What it omitted was virtually all of the spoken dialog that used to bewilder, annoy, and often bore non-German-speaking audiences in the opera house before surtitles were invented.)

The music proved to be a wonder, a treasure, while the lack of dialog was a Godsend unbeknownst at the time. Flutes came and went, in whole or in part, once I started criticking, but Beecham/Berlin I didn't want to forget, nor was I able.

The acoustics of the Beethovensaal now sound fractionally less reverberant than I remember from live concerts during the same winter that Beecham recorded his Flute, and the singing is slightly more uneven than my first impression more than 50 years ago of an opera I didn't know. Tiana Lemnitz  sounds a little matronly for Pamina at the start, although she was only 40 at the time (especially in the duet "Bei M”nnern" with Gerhard Hüsch as Papageno). By "Ach, ich fühl's" in Act 2, however, she has become radiantly young. Hüsch was a superlative lieder singer . But as much joy as Papageno gave me, it turns out to have been Mozart's gift rather than the singer's.

There have been Queens of the Night since who've equaled the exactitude of Erna Berger's girlish sound, but none on discs in 1937-38.  As Tamino, the Danish tenor Helge Roswaenge was the single non-German principal in Beecham's cast, although his vocal quality and production were quintessentially DeutschGottlob Frick and Kurt Moll have been more imposing Sarastros vocally than Wilhelm Strienz back in 1937-38 (after the magisterial Alexander Kipnis had been forced to emigrate from Berlin), but Strienz's two registers remain loftily impressive.

I loved Heinrich Tessmer's Monostatos back in '48, and find him even more beguiling here—definitive, indeed. The Papagena, the Speaker, the chorus, even the women pretending to be boys are world-class, irrespective of era. And if Beecham took his lumps for nearly a decade back home for having "collaborated," he set a standard on discs for others to aim at. If the solemnities of Sarastro's realm found him most comfortable, the storied Beecham sense of humor managed to get a smile or few in Act 1 from Furtw”ngler's orchestra.

For me there has never been a more integrated performance of Die Zauberfl–te on discs, musically or vocally. To have it again is like coming home.

For sale is the complete Act 1 of the Magic Flute on 9 12" Victor 78 rpm disks. Comes with the original album.

I can make xeroxes of the original booklet for the buyer on request

Condition Records: Records are in better than EXCELLENT condition. Side 6 has a short light scratch. Comes in original Album, wich is in good shape. Spine has been mended with tape.

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 Quick NOTE ON GRADING AND SHIPPING:

As you can see from my feedback, I try hard to earn your POSITIVE FEEDBACK and FIVE STAR RATINGS.

If for any reason your transaction was NOT SATISFACTORY, pls contact me and I will work something out with you. YOU WILL NEVER HAVE A REASON TO GIVE ME A NEGATIVE RATING or a LOW STAR RATING.

Quick note on grading:

The Grade (Excellent to Fair, I don't give Mint) refers to the WEAR of the record. Any other defects, like cracks, chips and scratches, are stated separately

When I listen to a record, I may also make a SUBJECTIVE judgment of the pressing quality for hiss and surface noise.
"SUPERQUIET" is basically noiseless, like a vinyl pressing.
"VERY QUIET" is an exceptionally quiet record for a given pressing.
"Quiet" is a record that is a great example without undue noise for a given pressing.

These judgments are SUBJECTIVE and will depend one the styli, phonograph etc. you use on your own equipment.

Pls check my other auctions for more great records and phonograph items:

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Multiple item shipping: I am happy to combine items for shipment in one parcel.

If you win multiple items, pls send me an INVOICE REQUEST to calculate the correct postage. Ebay check out will not give you the multiple item discount!

Records will be packed safely between corrugated cardboard in a sturdy box with plenty of padding for safe shipment.

Shipment is usually Media Mail, unless another service is requested. Shipping is at your risk.

If you are in the San Francisco area, I encourage pick-up in person.

US Domestic Shipping:

Here is a guideline for US Media Mail Shipping:

Prices below are for regular 78 rpm records. Up to about 5 records, I will ship Edison Discs for the same rates. Albums from Album Sets count as 1 record. Above that and for international shipments, it will be actual weight plus a small packing charge (1-3$ depending on size of shipment)

1 record: 4.50$

2 records: 5.50$

5 records: 7.50$

10 records: 9.50$

MANY MORE RECORDS: Don't worry. I safely ship 40 - 50 pounds of records double boxed in moving boxes, and even then Media Mail will probably not exceed 30$.

Please send me a message if you would like to lower your shipping rates!

International Buyers:

All'attenzione degli acquirenti italiani:

ATTENTION TO ITALIAN BUYERS:

Due to rare problems with delivery in ITALY, I will NOT GUARANTEE delivery of parcels sent by US Postal Service First Class and Priority Mail. If you prefer secure delivery, I will be happy to quote you either Registered Mail or shipment by FEDEX

I am very happy to ship records worldwide.

The US POSTAL SERVICE has increased international shipping rates in 2013.

A single record ships for around 25$ worldwide, depending on the weight.
There are some great options available for shipping multiple records at excellent rates.

Pls contact me if you plan to buy multiple records, and I will be happy to give you an estimate for best rates on USPS or Fedex. Pls let me know your country, home town and postal code for an estimate

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As always, I would appreciate any suggestions and corrections from you, pls contact me with any question.

Thank you very much, and good luck bidding !!!