Oistrakh/Ormandy: Sibelius Violin Concerto + The Swan - Columbia MS 6157

$

39

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsmoe LP from Columbia Masterworks (MS 6157, US pressing, gray/black 6eye label, stereo) features David Oistrakh, Eugene Ormandy, and the great Philadelphia Orchestra's extraordinary rendition of Sibelius' Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 47, recorded at the Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia on 21 December 1959 – one of the great violin concerto records from the 'Golden Age of Stereo'..

Filling out the disc are Ormandy and the fabulous Philadelphians' equally captivating accounts of Sibelius' The Valse Triste, Op. 44 and Swan of Tuonela, Op. 22 No. 2, both taped at the same venue on 25 January 1959 and 31 January 1960, respectively.

Wrote T.H. in his April 1961 review for The Gramophone:

"My strongest impression of Oistrakh's performance is of his playing of the concerto's first movement, an interpretation that reveals the music at its greatest, that - shows it to be greater, indeed, than one had ever suspected.. This is interpretation of the highest order, of the kind that could only come, from a supremely, fine artist," while in 1982, when CBS Records re-issued the Sibelius with Oistrakh's Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (also with Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra – incidentally, taped 3 days after the Sibelius), critic Ivan March wrote: "David Oistrakh plays these two concertos with the total skill and musicianship which seem as rewarding today as they did 20 years ago. His partners, as it were, are on the numerous side; in the Sibelius, in particular, the Philadelphia strings are both very strong and very impressive. They give the orchestral texture sound in general tremendous tension, given half a chance (and Sibelius sees to that often); but they would in the concert hall make life very difficult for the soloist. Not so on record, where the soloist can be given help; here he needs it in a degree which not everybody will like (TH did not, reviewing the record on its first appearance). The overall sound is somewhat more natural (though not self-evidently therefore better: cannot 'natural' sound have its defects, too?) in the Tchaikovsky. Both concertos need taming a bit, top and bottom alike needing de-boosting to get (again!) a 'natural' sound. But better performances you may never hear; and in spite of their length, and of the generous quantity of sound (in doubleforle) recorded, each concerto is apparently comfortably contained on its own side."

Incidentally, the striking cover photo was taken by Jay Maisel. There are superb liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Morris Hastings, printed in English only.

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. The only real flaw concerns some discoloration and mild ringwear to the rear panel and a small bump to the upper-right corner, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, owners' markings, bends, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, and highly attractive in appearance – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Although surfaces are not completely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT), this is a fine copy and playback is superb. However, if you must have perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP – this is a lovely 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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