Hi-Q LP-051: TCHAIKOVSKY - The Nutcracker - Efrem KURTZ - UK 2016 SEALED
C$
40
$
28
C$ 40
Sold For
Jan 24, 2021
Sold Date
Jun 7, 2018
Start Date
1
Number Of Bids
Canada
Country Of Seller
eBay
Sold at
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
****Welcome to our listing, thanks very much for looking!
****See our own website! We have lots of out of print LPs and CDs! Find us on the web at -
hearthedifference.net
****Shipping cost is only an estimate - it depends on the actual weight and size of the package as well as the service required. We do not profit from shipping costs, so if we overcharge, we will refund the difference back to you. It's always best to wait for our invoice before paying for your item. We will combine shipping for multiple items purchased.
****Please see our other listings - new items added daily.
****To access our eBay store click on the little red door at the top right section of any of our eBay listings or, click on -http://stores.ebay.com/Hear-The-Difference
Background -
Distinguished in performances of both the ballet and symphonic repertories, Efrem Kurtz lived for nearly an entire century. Leaving Russia in the aftermath of the revolution, he soon established himself as a quick study and conductor of sound musicianship. Trained in the works of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Kurtz was an equally persuasive interpreter of the major works of his own time. After acquiring United States citizenship during WWII, he served two American orchestras, noticeably improving the performing standards of both.Kurtz studied at the Conservatory in his native St. Petersburg prior to the revolution, working with such instructors as Alexander Glazunov, Nicolai Tcherepnin, and Jazeps Vitols. After the change of regime, he transferred his academic pursuits first to Riga, then to Berlin. His conducting debut was a last-minute affair; when Artur Nikisch became ill, Kurtz deputized for him in directing the orchestra in a performance for dancer Isadora Duncan. His mastery of the situation led to his being given three concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic.
During the ensuing two years, Kurtz was in demand throughout Germany, his engagements taking him to more than 40 cities. In 1924, he was hired as music director of the Stuttgart Philharmonic where he remained for nine seasons. In addition, he was given oversight over all musical broadcasting in southern Germany. When another famous dancer, Anna Pavlova, attended a Stuttgart concert in 1927, she was impressed enough to engage Kurtz for a short season in London and, later, for a South American tour. During the latter, Kurtz conducted symphonic concerts in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Kurtz continued to conduct for Pavlova until her death in 1931, accompanying her on an Australian tour as well.
In 1930 and 1931, Kurtz was invited to the Salzburg Festival to conduct concerts devoted to the music of Handel. For eight years, beginning in 1933, Kurtz served as music director for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, touring extensively with that company throughout Europe and the United States. A half-year was spent conducting symphonic concerts in Australia in 1939, Sydney and Melbourne sharing Kurtz between them. A series of guest performances with the New York Philharmonic that same year led to an invitation for further appearances in 1940.
In the 1940s, Kurtz began to work in motion pictures, conducting the scores to such feature films as Escape Me Never whose music was provided by William Walton, and the Orson Welles production of Macbeth with musical score by Jacques Ibert. During this same period, Kurtz also conducted the scores of several Ballets Russes productions being preserved on film.
In 1943, Kurtz became the music director of the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra, sharpening the performance capability of that ensemble and expanding its repertory. He held his directorship there until 1947. Kurtz next assumed the musical directorship of the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1948 and continued in that capacity until 1954, accomplishing much the same improvement as he had managed in Kansas City. From 1955 to 1957, Kurtz undertook a joint directorship with John Pritchard of the Liverpool Philharmonic, and from 1957 until his retirement, he accepted engagements on a freelance basis. Returning to Russia in 1966 for the first time since it had become the Soviet Union, he conducted successful concerts in both Leningrad and Moscow. Kurtz undertook several opera house projects, conducting, among other places, in Milan and Rome.
He was married to flutist Elaine Shaffer. - Erik Eriksson
Great Sounding Classical Title from EMI! - Reissue of EMI ASD 289
180g Audiophile Vinyl Cut from the Original EMI Stereo Analogue Master Tapes at Abbey Road Studios!
A tall imposing figure, so tall, in fact, that he often dispensed with a podium, Efrem Kurtz was a distinguished Russian conductor, who had studied with Glazunov and Tcherepnin and was a pupil of Arthur Nikisch. Kurtz had a broad symphonic and operatic repertory and conducted the premieres of works by Copland, Barber, Walton, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Khachaturian. But he was most highly regarded for his interpretations of Russian music.
Kurtz was a familiar name to the record collector of the 1950s and embarked upon a series of Tchaikovsky ballet recordings with the Philharmonia Orchestra for EMI in 1958. HI-Q has already released Swan Lake and the release The Sleeping Beauty is in preparation. Of this Nutcracker highlights Gramaphone wrote: "This is probably as good a selection as could reasonably be expected."
In the original review in The Gramophone of November 1958, R.F. remarked: "The orchestral quality is superb, and the dynamic contrasts tremendous. If you can hear the opening pizzicato notes of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, the end of the Valse des Fleurs will have your neighbours banging on the wall in desperation."
Recorded March 1958, Kingsway Hall, London. Recording Producer: Peter Andry. Balance Engineer: Neville Boyling
Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original stereo analogue master tapes with the Neumann VMS82 lathe fed an analogue pre-cut signal from a specially adapted Studer A80 tape deck with additional ‘advance’ playback head, making the cut a totally analogue process.
Pressed on 180g vinyl to audiophile standards using the original EMI presses by The Vinyl Factory in Hayes, England.
The 1958 classic Nutcracker excerpts assume a new audiophile guise in this issue from Hi-Q Records.
The Nutcracker – Suite From The Ballet is performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra and conducted by the well-known Russian conductor Efrem Kurtz. Kurtz had already been a familiar name with the Philharmonia to the record collector of the 1950s, and he embarked upon a series of Tchaikovsky ballet recordings with the Philharmonia Orchestra for EMI in 1958. A tall, imposing figure – he often dispensed with a podium – Efrem Kurtz had studied with Glazunov and Tcherepnin and was a pupil of Arthur Nikisch. Kurtz had a broad symphonic and operatic repertory and conducted the premieres of works by Copland, Barber, Walton, Hindemith, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Khachaturian. He remained most highly regarded for his interpretations of Russian music.
Of this Nutcracker in the original review in The Gramophone of November 1958, R. F. remarked: “The orchestral quality is superb, and the dynamic contrasts tremendous. If you can hear the opening pizzicato notes of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, the end of the Valse des Fleurs will have your neighbors banging on the wall in desperation.” Restored from the original Master Tapes from the Abbey Road Studios, this title brings the listener higher fidelity and improved audio quality by enhancing the process of mastering and manufacturing.
Admittedly, the sound imaging on this reissue proves startling. The Philharmonia Orchestra of London, as we know, claimed many first-rank musicians, and their collaboration here waxes seamless. The brass parts of the Valse de fleurs could become required listening for prospective trumpet and horn players. The Philharmonia strings intone the “magical” section of this marvelous Christmas allegory into a truly enchanted tapestry. The inspired Pas de Deux – based on a simple, descending scale pattern – achieves a suave grandeur, scored for strings, harp, and selected winds – including a stratospheric piccolo – and later brass and tympani. After the dance of three little Marzipan Shepherdesses on reed pipes, the famed Sugar Plum Fairy has her delicate incarnation on the celesta. The Tarantella spins out a cyclonic dervish-dance. Kurtz then cuts to the final, ballroom dance set in the real world, and Clara can exult in a reality that includes Prince Charming. —Gary Lemco
-
Hi-Q Records "Supercuts" LP item - FACTORY SEALED
-
Records Made in the UK / England / Great Britain
-
Pressing is in STEREO - recordings are from 1958 - originally issued on the EMI label
-
Limited Edition
-
Record Speed: 33 rpm
-
Record Made issued in: 2016
-
Record Catalog Number: HIQLP051
Featured on this item:
Tchaikovsky / Efrem Kurtz
Title / Music on this Audiophile LP -
The Nutcracker - Suite from the Ballet
Track Listings -
Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)The Nutcracker Op. 71
Side One: 1. Overture
2. No. 2 - Marche • No. 3 - Petit Galop Des Enfants Et Entrée De Parents • No. 8 - Scène • No. 9 - Valse Des Flocons De Neige
3. No. 12 - Divertissement; Le Chocolat; Le Café
Side Two:
1. No. 12 - Divertissement: Le Thé; Trépak; Danse Des Mirlitons
2. No. 13 - Valse Des Fleurs
3. No. 14a - Pas De Deux
4. No. 14b - Pour Le Danseur • No. 14c Pour La Danseuse • No. 14d - Coda • No. 15 - Valse Finale
Performed By / Credits on this LP include -
Philharmonia Orchestra
Efrem Kurtz, conductor
Other Information -
• Hi-Q Records Supercuts 180g Vinyl
• Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original EMI stereo analogue master tapes
• Superior Audiophile Pressing
• Features original album artwork
• Made in England Recorded March 1958, Kingsway Hall, London. Recording Producer: Peter Andry. Balance Engineer: Neville Boyling
CONDITION Details:
LP Jacket:-
The jacket is in MINT condition - no seam splits or corner dings - FACTORY SEALED!
-
The jacket has NO splits of any kind - it is completely solid and intact, and shows only some very minimal shelf wear.
-
It has NO drill holes or saw marks of any kind.
-
There is NO writing on the front or back of the jacket.
-
The cover has clean and sharp colors - see picture with this listing for more detail.
-
The LP is assumed to be in MINT condition - FACTORY SEALED!
-
This is the mint copy you want for your collection - any super picky audiophile would be happy with this one!
-
As for any record, even brand new, sealed ones, we always recommend a proper record cleaning before playing!
A Short Note About LP GRADING -
- Mint = Only used for sealed items.
- Near Mint = Virtually flawless in every way.
- Near Mint Minus = Item has some minor imperfections, some audible.
- Excellent = Item obviously played and enjoyed with some noise.
- Very Good Plus = Many more imperfections which are noticeable and obtrusive.
price rating
![[XF00410] Paul Lewis](https://www.popsike.net/php/thumbnail.php?url=https://www.popsike.pics/pix/20160923/162214165440.jpg)
