Menuhin: Mendelssohn & Bruch Violin Concertos - HMV ASD 334 (white/gold - ED1)

$

33

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This superb LP from His Master’s Voice (ASD 334, English EMI pressing, cream/gold label – ED1, stereo, original inner sleeve included) features Yehudi Menuhin's sublime renditions of Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op. 26* and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64, both recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra, the former with conductor Walter Susskind on 12 September 1956, and the latter with conductor Efrem Kurtz on 30 April 1958.

Menuhin left multiple versions of both works, but these recordings – made in the Kingsway Hall* and EMI’s Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, during the 'Golden Age of Stereo' with what was then arguably the world's finest orchestra – remain quite special even in a discography as vast and distinguished as Menuhin's (both recordings were balanced by Neville Boyling).

Of an EMI CD re-issue of these performances the veteran critic Ivan March wrote in his review for the November 1991 issue of The Gramophone:

“Both project vividly. Menuhin is in first-class form and Kurtz sparkles to match his soloist in the finale of the latter work. On CD the recording, always very brightly lit on LP, seems excessively brilliant and I found the forwardly balanced solo line tiring on the ear.”

Incidentally, the striking cover photo of Menuhin was taken by Norman Parkinson. There are insightful liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by W.A. Chislett, provided 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 front laminated flipback jacket is VERY GOOD+. There is minor wear at corners, as well as some scuffing to the rear lower flipback portion of the jacket. However, there are no seamsplits, owners' markings or other defects, and the whole remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Though the surfaces are not perfectly silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) this is a fine copy and playback is superb. If you must have perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a NM 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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REFUNDS:
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