Beecham/RPO: Delius (Summer Evening, Hassan, etc.): LHMV-1050, beautiful copy

$

30

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful LP – a truly superb collector’s copy – from His Master's Voice (LHMV-1050, US RCA Victor pressing, red/silver Shaded Dog label, mono) features the incomparable Sir Thomas Beecham, leading the Royal Philharmonic, in a magical all-Delius program – really, over a half century later he remains Delius' finest interpreter bar none.

With the RPO on inspired form and EMI providing warm and sumptuous sound – all sessions were held at EMI Abbey Road Studio No. 1, London, during the years 1952 to 1956 – these performances are gramophone classics in every sense of the word.

Included are the following works:

Dance Rhapsody No. 1

Summer Night on the River (No. 2 of Two Pieces for Small Orchestra)

Summer Evening (edited and arranged by Beecham)

Hassan: Intermezzo and Serenade

When Twilight Fancies

            > with Elsie Suddaby, lyric soprano

A Song Before Sunrise

On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring (No. 1 of Two Pieces for Small Orchestra)

Wrote critic Michael Jameson of EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" CD release of these performances for ClassicsToday.com:

"Perhaps Thomas Beecham wasn't a "great" conductor in the cosmic scheme of things, but he could bring certain composers' music to life in a way that few have equalled, and in Delius at least, his performances seldom have been eclipsed. That's why you should hear this disc: the regular Delius favorites are all here, and the recordings have an aura of mastery that makes you feel that little could go wrong with Beecham on the podium. The rhapsody Brigg Fair, the most substantial piece here, unfolds so expressively and ardently that you're immediately captivated by the mellifluous playing Beecham draws from his orchestra. That's not to suggest that his mid-1950s Royal Philharmonic was the equal of the BBC Symphony under Andrew Davis on its 1992 Teldec recording--rather that in this work, as in most by Delius, Beecham usually could conjure something from the ether that others only glimpse dimly in their own recordings.

"The rest of the program, including the exultant daybreak scene from the Florida Suite (in Beecham's revision) comprises smaller pieces, such as the atmospheric First Cuckoo and Summer Night on the River, and the bewitching Irmelin prelude. Every performance has identical qualities of natural, unforced expressivity, reflecting Beecham's symbiotic understanding of this composer. EMI's transfers invest these mid-'50s masters with adequate clarity and depth, and even if you'd normally side-step English romanticism, you shouldn't miss this reissue."

Incidentally, the eloquent and insightful liner notes on the reverse are by Eric Fenby.

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 near-MINT. There is mild discoloration and aging, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings, and the album remains very solid, bright, and glossy, quite striking in appearance – overall, an outstanding collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Although surfaces are not absolutely 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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