Cho-Liang Lin: "Bravura" (Violin Encores) - CBS Masterworks IM 39133 (DDD)

$

30

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This superb LP from CBS Masterworks (IM 39133, US pressing, blue/white – red sash label, DDD stereo, original inner sleeve and insert included) features the great violinist Cho-Liang Lin, violin and pianist Sandra Rivers in a captivating encores program entitled "Bravura".

Sandra Rivers was Lin's first regular accompanist, playing with him for 10 years. Incidentally, the reverse side of the jacket carries this tribute by Lin: "I dedicate this album to the memory of Robert Pikler, who taught me so much" – Lin studied with Pikler (1910-1984) in Australia. On the website bach-cantatas.com, one can find the following biographical sketch of Pikler, written by by Teddy Kaufman & Aryeh Oron:

"The Hungarian-born Australian conductor and violinist, violist and teacher, Robert Pikler, studied with Eugene Ormandy and with Jen? Hubay (himself a student of Joachim) in Budapest, and with Jacques Thibaud in Paris. Robert Pikler came to Australia in 1946, and became an influential figure in many aspects of the development of music in this country. Originally a violinist, he was asked by Sir Eugène Goossens to lead the viola section of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a position he held from 1952 to 1966. He was also involved in the formation of Musica Viva and in the early 1960's, when he was a senior lecturer at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he formed the original Sydney String Quartet. He also taught at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music. He was regarded by many as the leading string player in Australia and among those he trained were players of the calibre of John Harding, Bill Hennessy and Jimmy Lin. Later he was conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He officially retired in 1971, at only 62 years of age, when he could still meet his own standards of good music, as he said."

Recorded at the Lehmann College for the Performing Arts, New York City in 1984, this album is a delight from start to finish (producer: Steven Epstein / engineer: Bud Graham).

Included are the following works:

Manuel de Falla (arr. Paul Kochanski): 6 (of the 7) Canciones populares españolas (El Paño moruno, Asturiana, Jota, Nana, Cancion, Polo)

Fritz Kreisler: Liebesleid

Fritz Kreisler: Liebesfreud

Fritz Kreisler: Tambourin chinois Op. 3

Fritz Kreisler: Tempo di Menuetto in the style of Pugnani

Robert Schumann: Einfach, innig · No. 2 in A Major, from 3 Romances for Oboe (Violin, or Cello) and Piano Op. 94

Manuel de Falla (arr. Fritz Kreisler): Danza Española No. 1, from La Vida breve

Sergei Rachmaninov: Vocalise, No. 14 from Fourten Songs Op. 34

Henryk Wieniawski: Capriccio-Valse in E Major Op. 7

Pablo de Sarasate: Introduction and Tarantella Op. 43

Quite why Sony Classical ever dropped Lin from its roster is a mystery. Despite the current exigencies of the classical music industry, he was arguably the finest violinist in the Sony stable and it remains a great pity that he was not recorded in the Violin Concertos by Beethoven, Brahms Tchaikovsky, et al. Nevertheless, here is a lovely gem of a recital.

Incidentally, the striking cover photo of Lin was taken by David Kennedy, while the cover design was executed by Joel Zimmerman. There are superb liner notes (uncredited) on the reverse side of the jacket, printed in English, German, and French.

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 EXCELLENT. There is very slight bumping/wear at corners, but that is all. Otherwise, the album appears almost as new. There are no seamsplits, owners' markings, bends, or other defects, and the whole remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, a very fine 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), really this is a very fine copy and playback is truly superb. However, if you must have absolutely perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a very fine 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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