Historic 1st Recording of Hansel & Gretel Opera from 1944 URLP 212 Box As Issued

Historic 1st Recording of Hansel & Gretel Opera from 1944 URLP 212 Box As Issued

Description

Offered is a quite hard to find release of The First Complete Recording of the enchanting Hansel and Gretel Opera by Engelbert Humperdinck (the composer).

Based upon the well-known children's fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm written in the early 1800's, the Opera by Humperdinck was composed in the late 1800's.  Wikipedia has a page with information about the performance history of Hansel and Gretel Opera, which you may find interesting.

Because sound recording was in its infancy during the early performances - our offering here is the first complete recording.  While information about this recorded performance is somewhat sketchy, it is of the peformance of April 25, 1944, in Berlin (just a few weeks before the D-Day landing by Allied Troops). 

As the audience watched the Opera and listened to the angelic voices of the Berlin Mozart Boys' Choir, the Allies and Russian "siblings" busied themselves with the preparations for a different ending scene.  They would transform Berlin itself into an oven in which Der Fuehrer would meet his end.

How the recording survived the carnage that was about to occur in the months following April 25 must doubtless be a remarkable story - indeed a mystery that may never be known.  But survive it did - and reviewers of this recording say that both the performance and sound quality seem unaffected by the utter destruction that was about to unfold. 

Interestingly, the actual release of this Hansel and Gretel performance did not occur until some seven years later, in 1951. 

The production and release of this recording was one of the early projects of the newly created (1951) Urania Records located in East Germany.  Additionally, this Double LP Set is an early 33⅓ Vinyl production (soon to become the standard for records) as opposed to the predominantly 78 RPM Shellac (and brittle!) records that had characterzed virtually all music recordings before then. 

Our offering here is in superb, Investment Grade condition and is likely in the finest condition of any of the few that still exist.  It is complete as issued with the German-English Libretto and the informational insert produced by Urania Records. The fabulous front cover artwork is by Siegmund Forst  (please see our photo gallery):






Englebert Humperdinck / Erna Berger / Marie Luise Schilp / Hans Heinz Nissen / Berlin Mozart Boys Choir / Symphony Orchestra of Radio Berlin / Arthur Rother - Conductor - Hansel Und Gretel




Label :  Urania Records - URLP 212 / Historic 1st Recording

Format :  Vinyl / Mono  Double LP Box Set Album with Libretto and Insert

Country :  U.S.

Released :  1951

Genre :  Classical

Style :   Opera 






THE VINYL -  Both of these superb LPs are lightly played, with minimal spindlewear, and bright, undamaged, Black and Tan Urania Records Microgroove Labels (please see photos). The vinyl composition is of a heavier stock as was common for recording companies in this early vinyl era. 
 
Each of the four sides retains much of their original gloss, and have been carefully handled.  Both of the records have been stored inside of the Box, in the manila paper sleeves attached to the spine (please see photo gallery).  Those sleeves are of a heavy paper stock, so there is some cosmetic sleevewear on the records' surface that does not affect the playback quality.

Inside both sleeves we have placed audiophile plastic sleeves to maintain the gloss of the LPs.

The mono audio playback is impressive.


Record #1  (URLP 212-1 & URLP 212-4) :  EX+ :  present are a few light, short and shallow hairlines.

Record #2  (URLP 212-2 & URLP 212-3) :  NM :  there are no marks.





THE BOX SET COVER -   EX+ :  Please see photos / well-stored, the box is made from a heavier cardboard stock and is textured / there is a small amount of laminate peeling / bright colors / the corners and the seams, including the spine, are all intact / no writing, paper loss, dirt, or stains.

The extensive 34 page Libretto and the separate insert are complete and look to be as-issued.

Tracklist :

Please see the photos of the record labels for track titles.






Upon your request, we are happy to email the actual deadwax identifiers to you.
                                                
                                          







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We pack our records VERY CAREFULLY and will combine shipping for multiple purchases. For multiple purchases, please do not pay until you have received the combined item invoice. Additional records sent through USPS Media Mail are always free.

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If you are located in close proximity to California, Media Mail can be reasonably fast. If you want added certainty in quick shipping, please select the Priority Mail Option on your invoice while checking out.

International shipping charges have gone up greatly, and so we do not ship outside of the United States. However, if you have a U.S. address (family or friends)- we will ship to it through media mail for free.

                                    
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RECORD GRADING DESCRIPTION:

THIS RECORD IS SIGHT-GRADED ONLY UNDER A BRIGHT LIGHT, ACCORDING TO THESE DEFINITIONS:

SEALED: RECORD IS WRAPPED IN PLASTIC & UNOPENED.

NM-: RECORD HAS LITTLE OR NO INDICATION THAT IT HAS BEEN PLAYED.

EX: MINIMAL SIGNS OF USE (LIGHT SCRATCHING/PAPER SCUFFS), BUT IN ALL A RECORD THAT HAS BEEN WELL-CARED FOR.

VG+: LESS CARE THAN EX, LIGHT SCRATCHING OR SCUFFING IS MORE EXTENSIVE. STILL VERY PLAYABLE & WILL LIKELY PROVIDE A QUALITY SOUND.

VG & BELOW: WHILE PLAYABLE, THIS RECORD HAS BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK. OBVIOUS SIGNS OF WEAR & SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN A LOW GRADE.  A RECORD GRADED BELOW VG MAY HAVE A VALUE BASED UPON ITS RARITY OR UNIQUENESS.

WE  RECOMMEND THAT YOU CLEAN THIS RECORDING BEFORE PLAYING. RECORDS THAT ARE  DECADES OLD CAN ATTRACT & ACCUMULATE DAMAGING FOREIGN MATERIAL THAT REDUCES SOUND QUALITY. THIS IS NORMALLY EASILY CORRECTED WITH A GOOD CLEANING.

EBAY HAS DESCRIBED SOME OF THE MORE WELL-ACCEPTED CLEANING METHODS, & YOU CAN FIND THESE AT:

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Guide-to-Cleaning-Your-Vinyl-Records/10000000009408734/g.html

Returns: 

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