Fournier/Szell: R Strauss Don Quixote Op. 35 - Columbia SAXF 992, beautiful copy

$

180

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This exceedingly rare LP – a beautiful collector’s copy – from French Columbia (SAXF 992, French pressing, blue/silver label, stereo, “baguette”-style jacket, dowel spine) features one of the great Strauss recordings of the last century, pairing legendary conductor George Szell and that aristocrat of the cello, Pierre Fournier, in a bewitching account of Richard Strauss' Don Quixote Op. 35 – recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra on brilliant form at Severance Hall, Cleveland on 28 and 29 October 1960. This is arguably its finest possible pressing.

Joining Fournier are Cleveland Orchestra Concertmaster Rafael Druian on violin and Principal violist Abraham Skernick.

Two other studio Fournier Don Quixote's bookend the present recording – a 1953 performance with Clemens Krauss and the Vienna Philharmonic for Decca and a 1965 reading with Herbert von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic for DG. Fine as those are, this middle account remains the high-water mark of Fournier's achievement, with a wit, fantasy, and in the great coda, a wistfulness that is quite moving. Szell and the magnificent Clevelanders provide wonderfully detailed support. Principals Abraham Skernick (viola) and Rafael Druian (violin) are the characterful aides-de-camp.

The recording is amazingly vivid, capturing the rich, warm timbre of Fournier's tone to perfection.

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Of Sony’s “Masterworks Heritage” CD re-issue of this performance, the eminent critic Edward Greenfield wrote for The Gramophone:

“Just how masterly Szell was as a Straussian is demonstrated in all three of these items, recorded in 1960 and 1961. By then Szell had built the Cleveland Orchestra into what was regularly described very fairly — as the finest in America. These performances with a slight reservation over the hectic opening of Don Juan bear out not just what tautness and precision of ensemble the orchestra were achieving, but the thrusting emotional intensity. Szell as a person was one of the most daunting of conductors, chilling anyone around him; he certainly had musical fires within him, a point I never doubted in the conversations I had with him in his last years. I am glad that the One of the century's great cellists, Pierre Fournier, in Don Quixote accompanied by George Szell Photo 11 m 1' booklet-note includes memories from the horn player, Myron Bloom, bearing out what feelings there were behind the chilly facade.

“The other artist here celebrated is of course the cellist, Pierre Fournier, who made this version of Don Quixote several years before recording it with Karajan in Berlin for DG. The contrasts are fascinating, for against my expectation Fournier is freer in his rubato with Szell, who prefers more flowing speeds than Karajan, making this a noble portrait, the more intense for not being so expansive. The opening of Don Juan, as I said, is hectic in its pursuit of brilliance, but very quickly Szell finds the same combination of opulence and urgency that marks the rest of the disc. A most welcome historic reissue, very well transferred, with sound both warm and detailed.”

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The striking album cover reproduces Honoré Daumier's (1808-1879) 'Don Quichotte', which hangs in the Bayerischen Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Munich. There are insightful notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Gustave Samazeulih, provided in French only.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:

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 miniscule corner wear and very light discoloration to the rear panel, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects – indeed, it would be hard to improve upon this copy – overall, a lovely collector’s copy.

The condition of the dowell sleeve is VERY GOOD+. There is a 1” split to the lower edge of the paper sleeve, but that is all – otherwise, it is in fine condition.  

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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