1921 FIRST ACOUSTI Beethoven 9th Symphony Record 78rpm

$

153

I am currently selling a series of great classic European 78 rpm orchestral recordings on all the great European labels:

FIRST Complete ACOUSTIC recording (1921) of Beethovens 9th Symphony by Deutsche Grammophon on 7 12" records in the original album sleeves.

This is a true landmark record - the first time that any record company tackled to record an orchestra, chorus and four soloists with the acoustic process.

Other than the 1913 Arthur Nikisch Beethoven 5th, this is to my knowledge the earliest recording of any Beethoven Symphony.

Acoustic Sets of complete Symphonic works are very rare, since few of them were sold. To find one all records in great condition is a rare find.

This 1921 recording drew on the forces of the Berlin Music Scene:

Stalwart Bruno Seidler Winkler, the Berlin State Opera Chorus, and the New Symphony Orchestra.

(Notes not included in auction)

The tempo is brisk, only 14 sides, making it one of the fastest recordings, but thanks to Seidler-Winkler's skills, is does not sound rushed, but urgent and clear. As far as I can tell, no major substitutions have been made, this is indeed a regular orchestra, not a bunch of tubas and clarinets.

Ok, correction: On loud tutti passages, tubas double the double basses, but in piano passages it is all double bass.

The opening aria of the double bass in movement 4 is simply ravishing, probably the only and best acoustic recording of a double bass solo.

Other great touches: The tubas give the angry first movement a quality of Wagner's Fire Music. Movement two is played with the puckish brio of Mendelssohn's Summer Night dream. Especially liked the 3rd side of Movement 3, where a very talented solo violin is pulled forward, and it becomes a touching romanza for violin and orchestra.

One strange touch: On the last side, at "Alle Menschen werden Brueder", I hear a couple of notes of glockenspiel. Should that be there?

The placing of chorus, instruments and soloists makes this a memorable performance, and gives great credit to the DG engineers.

All sleeves with numbering and movements on each sleeve have been torn out of the original album, and are somewhat torn at the left edge
Condition Records: First 6 records are in Excellent to E- shape. Of the few other examples I have seen, this set has the smoothest surface, low surface noise, no graininess. Some light scratches, few, if any audible.

But the following defects should be noted:

Side 1/2 light scratches, and a light needle run at beginning. Surface Excellent, but total is Very Good Plus Plus
Side 7 (3rd mov, II) - 3 shallow digs
Side 8 (3rd mov, III) one short scratch
Side 11/12 (4th mov, III,IV) 2 tight short radial hairline cracks 1.5 cm, audible, but does not affect playing and tracking.
Side 13/14 (4th mov V, VI) Good Plus condition: Undamaged, but dull surface. some wear, and a few audible scratches.

The good news is: I played the whole set on a modern turntable, the shellac is pleasantly quiet, and despite the damage, the records play through without skipping, and will not damage your stylus. My click filter removed most of the imperfections.

BTW: A friend of mine in Berlin may have the original luxury album in purple velours cover with Beethoven's raised death mask, as  well as certain replacement records. I will provide his e-mail to auction winner.

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