Bernstein/BSO: Schumann Symphony No. 2 (rec. "live" 1946) - Melodram 206

$

24

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome and very rare LP from Melodram (206, Italian pressing, mono) features Leonard Bernstein and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a powerful and poetic account of Schumann’s Symphony No. 2 in C Major Op. 61, recorded “live” on 23 March 1946. I believe this recording, and others like it on the AS Disc label, were suppressed shortly after issue, and it remains very elusive and little-known.

With George Szell, Bernstein was arguably the preeminent Schumann conductor, not forgetting equally masterful interpreters of this composer’s symphonies such as Karajan, Sawallisch, Kubelik, et al. The young Bernstein proves just as charismatic as he would be in later years, drawing playing of great instensity from the BSO.

PLEASE NOTE:

One must keep in mind that this performance was transferred from acetates, and thus calls for some tolerance – in my opinion, it is perfectly enjoyable, comparable to a good AM broadcast. The surface noise one hears stems from the original transfer and not from any wear to the LP itself.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ ABOVE:

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

The condition of the jacket is EXCELLENT. There is slight bumping at corners, as well as minor shelfwear, but that is all. Otherwise, the album appears almost as new – overall, a fine collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT and the playback is superb, keeping in mind the caveat described about (there is surface noise, but this stems from the original acetates, not from the LP). Overall, this too rates as a fine collector’s copy.

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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