Klemperer: Brahms Symphony No. 1 - Spanish HMV ASDL 764 (cream/silver - ED1)

$

27

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome and very rare LP – a unique pressing* – from La Voz de su Amo / Spanish HMV (ASDL 764, Spanish pressing, cream/silver label – ED1, stereo) features Otto Klemperer and the Philharmonia Orchestra’s legendary account of Brahms’s Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op. 68, made in the rich acoustics of Kingsway Hall, London, on 29 October 1956.

Even in Klemperer's vast discography, these recordings remain quite special, marked by a nobility and unforced majesty that is quite breath-taking, and showing the Philharmonia to be, quite possibly, the finest orchestra anywhere before the public at that time – stunning!

Spanish pressings of this period were absolutely the equal of their English, German, French, or American counterparts and this issue was pressed on medium-weight vinyl – very fine.

*This particular pressing is rather unique in that it is, to my knowledge, the only issue of this performance on the cream/silver label – in other countires (e.g., England, Italy, France, German, et al.) this performance was issued on the Columbia label, with the blue/silver or white/gold. In Spain, however, some Columbia artists – such as Klemperer – appeared on the HMV imprint, and thus one can here have Klemperer’s Brahms in a cream/silver issue.

Reviewing EMI’s CD re-issue of Klemperer’s complete Brahms cycle, the superb editor and author David Hurwitz wrote for ClassicsToday:

“Otto Klemperer's Brahms needs no introduction. It remains a classic reference edition, one of the very few complete cycles with absolutely no weak links. It's customary to call these performances "granitic", an adjective that certainly applies to the First Symphony but doesn't begin to describe the swift and thrilling finale of the Fourth, the grand but impulsive Third (with its first-movement repeat in place), or the warmly lyrical Second. In general Klemperer's unsentimental but always gripping approach to this music practically defines the word "idiomatic". The Alto Rhapsody with Christa Ludwig also is one of the great ones, while the shorter works share the same virtues as the symphonies. The sound shows its age a bit, but it has been well remastered in this latest transfer (which differs only marginally from previous issues). A Great Recording of the Century indeed!”

There are excellent liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Peter Latham, printed in English only.

CONDITION:

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

The condition of the  jacket is VERY GOOD. There is some wear at the spine and general discoloration, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, owners marking, bends, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, and highly attractive – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Though there is occasional light surface noise, in general the playback remains quite fine. However, those wanting a flawless or near-MINT copy are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as an excellent 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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