Stern: Mendelssohn/Tchaikovsky Concerti - Fontana 876 004 CY (Full Stereo)

$

40

redgarnett store

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome LP from Fontana (876 004 CY, Dutch pressing, plum/silver "Full Stereo" label) features Isaac Stern's high-octane and impassioned accounts of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 35 and Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64, both recorded with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia on 23 March 1958.

Wrote T.H. in his January 1960 review for The Gramophone:

"Stern is very much at home in the Tchaikovsky and gives a romantic, dashing performance full of beautiful and dazzling playing, ending with a finale that starts off at something most violinists would call a prestissimo and ending at a speed that can only be called fantastic.

"The orchestra accompanies very well (apart from some sluggish under-strings at the start) and the sound maintains its good quality right to the end. In fact, I enjoyed all this greatly.

"An earlier recording of the Mendelssohn by Stern was reviewed by A.P. rather unfavourably when it appeared in 1953 and I imagine he would think much the same of this new issue. There is still a lack of tenderness in parts of the first movement, while Stern's playing of the central andante is really prosaic: and the finale is treated as a chance for violin virtuosity without conveying the delicacy of the music. Yet while all that is true, the performance as a whole is not anything like as unsuccessful as those remarks make it sound. There is no doubt that Stern is far more at home in the Tchaikovsky but the Mendelssohn is good enough to make this an acceptable coupling of two popular concertos for its standards of playing and recording are high."

Incidentally, the striking cover design was executed by M. Germann. There are excellent liner notes (uncredited) on the reverse side of the jacket, 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 slight bumping/wear at corners, as well as a small tear and mild discoloration to the rear panel. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings, or other defects and the album remains solid, bright, and very handsome in appearance – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP is EXCELLENT to near-MINT. Although surfaces are not CD silent, in general the playback is quite fine. There is perhaps just slightly more surface noise in the Tchaikovsky than in the Mendelssohn, but nothing obtrusive. Those requiring flawless surfaces are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this is an excellent collector's copy.