Backhaus "live" at Carnegie Hall, 1954 - London (2LP box), beautiful copy

$

100

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and rare 2LP box – a magnificent collector’s copy – from London (LL 1108/9 [no LXT issue exists], mono, never released in the UK, “long box” format) preserves Wilhelm Backhaus’ famous March 30, 1954 recital – recorded  ‘live’ at New York’s Carnegie Hall – marking the pianist’s return to the American concert stage after a 28-year absence. 

Backhaus’ program was devoted to Beethoven, and included the Piano Sonatas No. 8 in C minor Op. 13 ‘Pathetique’, No. 17 in D minor Op. 31/2 ‘Tempest’, No. 25 in G Major Op. 79, No. 26 in E-flat Major Op. 81a ‘Les Adieux’, and No. 32 in C minor Op. 111.  He offered 3 encores following his recital, also recorded by the Decca engineers and included in this set: Brahms’s Intermezzo in A minor Op. 119 No. 3, Schumann’s Warum? from Fantasiestücke Op. 12, Schubert’s Impromptu in A-flat Major D. 935 No. 2, and the Schubert/Liszt Soirées de Vienne No. 6 in A major, S427. 

Few recitals have captured the sense of occasion that Backhaus inspired here, and the great German pianist rose to it in magnificent fashion.  Wrote Olin Downes in the New York Times:

“The recital given by Wilhelm Backhaus last night in Carnegie Hall, after a twenty-eight year absence, must be ranked as one of the greatest evenings of the interpretation of Beethoven’s piano music heard here in as long a period.  The atmosphere of the occasion, the size of the audience that packed the auditorium and the absorbed attention to the music were extraordinary testimony to Mr. Backhaus’ quality as a musician today….We may consider ourselves privileged that last night we listened to Mr. Backhaus, sitting so simply, so absorbed, at his instrument, playing Beethoven.” 

The pianist Andor Foldes once remarked that Backhaus in concert was the same as Backhaus in the studio, a compliment to the solidity of his technique and concentration.  Quite why this historic set has not enjoyed wider currency since its first issue remains a mystery – although Japanese Decca had made it available to music lovers there, it was not until Philips Great Pianist of the Twentieth Century series, that the recital finally enjoyed worldwide distribution. 

In recent years, a number of Backhaus’ broadcast recitals have seen release on such labels as Tahra, Orfeo d’Or, and Ermitage, but none are quite so commanding as his 1954 Carnegie Hall appearances – performances that are the stuff of legend.

CONDITION:                                                          

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the box is near-MINT. Really, there are no flaws to speak of and the box appears virtually as new. There are no corner breaks, seamsplits, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the box remains perfectly solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, a truly lovely collector's copy.

The condition of the 2 LPs is EXCELLENT throughout. Though surfaces are not absolutely silent, really these are fine copies and playback is superb. Those requiring flawless or near-MINT copies are advised to look elsewhere. Overall, these are excellent collector's copies.

In fact, I believe these to be unplayed copies. However, even if true, after 60 years they do not play MINT like a late digital DG pressing might. A conservative grading is EXCELLENT.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

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