Martinon/CSO: Miraculous Mandarin + Nobilissima Visione - RCA LSC-3004 (1S/1S)

$

47

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This gorgeous and outstanding LP from RCA Victor Red Seal (LSC-3004, 1S/1S, Dynagroove, white dog label, US pressing, stereo, original inner sleeve) features Jean Martinon's stunning Bartók / Hindemith album, recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on absolutely brilliant form captured in demonstration quality sound.

Included are Bartók's The Miraculous Mandarin (rec. 26 April 1967) and HIndemith's Nobilissima Visione (rec. 25 October 1967) – both taped at Chicago's Medinah Temple by veteran producer Howard Scott and engineer Paul Goodman.

On its CD release in RCA 'High Performance' series, ClassicsToday.com wrote:

"The Chicago Symphony's recordings of Bartók conducted by fellow-Hungarian Fritz Reiner are justly famous, but the 1967 recording of Bartók's 'Miraculous Mandarin' Suite on this disc reveals that Reiner's successor as music director in Chicago, Jean Martinon, was equally able to inspire the orchestra in this repertoire. This ballet suite is one of the most viscerally exciting scores that Bartók wrote, and it is given a thrilling reading here, with tempos taken at a breakneck pace, especially in the chase sequence near the end. The orchestration is brilliantly captured too, with every squealing woodwind and snarling brass line standing out in high relief. Among other 20th-century ballet scores, Hindemith's 'Noblissima visione' could hardly offer a greater contrast, aiming for a "noble vision" (as the title suggests), restrained and often austere compared to the lurid and sensuous 'Mandarin.' Portraying the mystic marriage of St. Francis of Assisi, the score occupies a similar sound world as Hindemith's better-known 'Mathis der Maler,' which dates from just a few years earlier."

Incidentally, there are superb liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Halsey Stevens, printed in English only. The striking cover photo is uncredited.

One of Martinon's – and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's – very finest recordings.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket, still largely in the original shrinkwrap, is near-MINT. There are no real 'flaws' to speak of – some minor bumping at corners, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings or other defects, and the jacket remains bright and solid, the artwork beautifully and vividly intact – 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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