Furtwangler/Bayreuth FO: Beethoven Ninth - FALP 381/382 (2-LP box set, ED1)

$

75

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome 2-LP box set from La Voix de son Maitre (FALP 381/382, French pressing, red/silver semi-circle labels – ED1, booklet and original inner sleeves included) features Wilhelm Furtwangler's legendary ‘live’ 29 July 1951 account of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125, given with the Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra and soloists Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Elisabeth Hongen (alto), Otto Edelmann (tenor), and Hans Hopf (bass), a famous performance needing no introduction.

This exalted and iconic performance was issued by permission of Wieland and Wolfgang Wagner and Frau Elisabeth Furtwängler. With the chorus trained by Wilhelm Pitz, Furtangler's Bayreuth Ninth's remains among the very greatest ever captured on record.

Of EMI’s CD re-issue of this performance in their “Great Recordings of the Century” series, BBC Music Magazine wrote:

“The performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony given to mark the reopening of the Bayreuth Festival in 1951, with Wilhelm Furtwängler as high priest, has some memorable flaws (that agonisingly out-of-tune horn solo in the slow movement!), but this is Furtwängler’s most rhapsodic and idealistic traversal of the choral finale on record, and the whole proves an incomparably vivid concoction of energy and breadth, tradition and vision.”

Incidentally, the striking cover art was executed by Jean Levy. Included is the booklet, so often missing from these issues, with extensive notes by Gustave Samazeulih and the text to Schiller’s Ode (also 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 box is EXCELLENT. There is shelfwear and aging, but that is all. There are no corner breaks, seamsplits, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the box remains perfectly solid and highly attractive – an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the two individual jackets is EX. There are no seamsplits, owners’ markings, or other defects.

The condition of the booklet is EX and it shows only some aging and discoloration.

The condition of the 2 LPs is EXCELLENT throughout. Though surfaces are not silent, really these are fine copies and playback is quite superb. However, if you must have flawless or NM copies, these please do not buy this set – overall, these are excellent collector's copies.

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!

PAYMENT:
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SHIPPING:
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FEEDBACK:
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REFUNDS:
Returns are honored, and any buyer you makes a return will be refunded in full. Please contact me before making a return.

Please see my other classical LP and CD auctions, and feel free to write with any questions, I'll be glad to help.