CLASSIC REC's/LIVING STEREO LSC-2285 WALTON Facade Ltd Edition #2-0854 SEALED

$

34

WALTON Facade
LECOCQ Mamzelle Angot
Anatole Fistoulari Conducts The Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden
New & Sealed Audiophile Vinyl Record

Record Label: Classic Records/RCA Victor LSC 2285

The legendary RCA "Shaded Dog" Living Stereo RCA LSC 2285. Given the Classic Records Audiophile treatment, this is a stunning and hard to find classic.

Limited Edition #1-1062

Highly collectable release from audiophile label, Classic Records. This title was mastered by Classic Records at Half Speed from the original source master tapes. An all-analog, tube amplification process was used at every step. Classic Records used a proprietary vinyl that guaranteed virtually no surface noise and sonically superior dynamics.

Classic Records pride themselves for releasing each album with the original artwork, LP labels and any other materials which were included with original pressings.

Record is new and still sealed in it's original plastic sleeve. Perforation is completely intact. Corners are sharp, colors vibrant and spine is straight. There are no flaws or blemishes. 100% mint.

Side 1
  Façade
1. Fanfare
2. Scotch Rhapsody
3. Valse
4. Tango-Pasodoble
5. Swiss Yodelling Song
6. Country Dance
7. Polka
8. Noche Espagnole
9. Popular Song
10. Old Sir Faulk
11. Tarantella Sevillana

Side 2
  Mamzelle Angot
  Overture
1.  Act I : No.3-Mazurka; No.5-Tempo di Marcia
2.  Act II : No.8-Tempo di Gavotte; No.11
3.  Act III : No.13-Finale

Review: RCA Living Stereo classical LP LSC 2285 features Anatole Fistoulari conducting the Royal Opera House Orchetra, Covent Garden, in a performance of Walton's "Facade" and Lecocq's "Suite from the Ballet Mamzelle Angot."

Both of these orchestral works were arrangements for London's Royal Ballet - Facade, by Walton, from his original "Entertainment for spoken voice and chamber group" and Lecocq's Mamzelle Angot operetta arranged by reliable English pedagogue, Gordon Jacobs. Both pieces are just what the doctor ordered and are served sparkling and frothy, with style and grace. The ebullient scores offer a glimpse of what comedic ballet evenings at the Garden are like.

The Royal Opera Orchestra knows their way around these scores, this amply demonstrated by the group's secure ensemble and superb soloists. Conductor Anatole Fistoulari allows the music to unfold naturally and gives the vaudevillian-inspired scores their head. Here you will find music making of the utmost happiness.

I have played Walton's original version of Facade many times and admit my preference for it. The mix of whimsy and the odd metre of Edith Sitwell's verses, combined with brilliant writing for six players, are somewhat lost in his large orchestral arrangement. The music sounds charming enough, but without Sitwell's spoken word, the heart of the work is missing (try the EMI recording of Marriner/St Martins with Fenella Fielding and Michael Flanders for a superb version of Walton's original thoughts).

However, the recording is a British Decca beauty. Upper woodwinds are glorious and mid to lower strings sound rich. The violins can sound a little wiry at times; this could be attributed to any number of things, and is not bothersome in any way. Conversely, we are treated to exceedingly low and accurate bass. Audiophiles will delight in the sound of airy flutes, plangent oboes and dynamic brass. If not looking for music to plumb the depths of your soul, basing your choice purely on entertainment value, LSC-2285 is just the ticket. ~ Audiophilia

Living Stereo: In the decade following 1953, RCA Victor made a substantial body of recordings which have come to be identified with their early stereo release label, Living Stereo. As the adoption of Stereo audio became more widespread, Living Stereo offered a wide range of music and performances in high quality sound. A majority of these records, particularly classical music, offer music, performances and audio quality which are considered definitive. Living Stereo influenced many of the recordings that followed with their recording and marketing philosophies.