Casals: 'live' Dvorak Cto (r. 1960) - Vox GBY E 15.050
$
130
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Description
ITEM DESCRIPTION:
This exceedingly rare LP from Vox (GBY E 15.050, French pressing, blue/silver microgroove pressing, mono – no stereo edition exists) features the great Pablo Casals in a 'live' performance of Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor Op. 104, taped in concert on 14 June 1960 with Alexander Schneider leading the Casals Festival Orchestra, an edition considerably more elusive than its Everest counterpart, and also a much better pressing.
Casals classic account of Dvorak’s glorious Cello Concerto in B minor Op. 104, recorded by HMV’s Fred Gaisberg in the Deutsches Haus, Prague, with George Szell and the Czech Philharmonic, has remained a staple of the catalog since its first appearance on ‘78’s in 1938. Considerably less known is this second surviving performance captured 22 years later at the University of Puerto Rico Theatre during the 1960 Festival Casals.
One can hear the enthusiastic applause that erupts in the end and, on occasion, Casals himself (intakes of breath, etc.). Nonetheless it should be noted that this was not an 'audience' recording, and those who have not heard it need not fear that the sound quality is amateurish in any way – it is not, and sounds simply like a professionally recorded 'live' concert.
This performance's subsequent release on an Everest LP (SDBR 3083) precipitated swift legal action on the part of Casals and his wife Marta, and the record was quickly withdrawn. Since its near immediate suppression, this performance has enjoyed very limited circulation, most recently (in fact, nearly 20 years ago) on an equally rare Italian AS Disc CD (AS 361).
This little-known Vox issue is not even listed on Ars Antiqua founder Dave Canfield's superb classicalreference.com website. I have had two copies of the Everest issue and, in my humble opinion, it was always rather a lousy pressing, the production values not worthy of Casals. This French Vox issue is much superior, both in presentation and sound.
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 near-MINT. Reallly, the flaws are quite minimal - there is slight bumping at corners and faint discoloration, as well as a minor bit of writing and a small price sticker to the rear panel, but that is all. There are no bends, seamsplits, or owners' markings and the jacket remains solid, bright, and glossy – overall, a fine collector's copy.
The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Visually, there is a small scuff to the label on Side 2 and some hairline, non-sounding marks to the vinyl. In terms of sound the surfaces are not CD silent, but in general the playback is superb. There are what sound like a few very soft tics near the close of the last movement, but I believe this derives from the master, as I had another copy of the same Vox LP, and the slight momentary ‘noises’ occurred in exactly the same spots. Nevertheless, if you need a MINT copy or a near-MINT copy, then you are advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this is an excellent collector's copy.
PLEASE NOTE: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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REFUNDS:
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