Casals "live" at the Sorbonne (Bach; Faure, with Andre Levy): Philips L 77.408 L

$

65

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This lovely gatefold LP from French Philips (L 77.408 L, Trésors Classiques series, French pressing, gray label, mono – no stereo edition exists) entitled "Hommage a Pablo Casals" preserves remarkable 'live' performances, as well as a brief rehearsal excerpt, from a concert given at the Grand Amphithéâtre de la Sorbonne, Paris on 10 October 1956 in honor of the great Catalan cellist, conductor, and composer.

Among the most intriguing aspects of this memorable concert is the arrangement of Faure's Elegie for Cello and Piano Op. 24 – it is here heard for 10 cellists and orchestra, the participating soloists including such famous names as Andre Levy. In addition, one has the opportunity to hear Casals "live" in the Sarabande from the Suite for Solo Cello in C minor BWV 1011, as well as in rehearsal and as conductor – amazing all.

The exact contents are as follows:

Gabriel Fauré: Elegie for Cello and Orchestra Op. 24 (Rehearsal)

> Pablo Casals, conductor, rehearsing l'Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux and 10 Cellists:

            Paul Bazelaire

Maurice Marechal

Gaspard Cassado
Rudolf von Tobel

Etienne Pasquier

Andre Levy
Gaston Marchesini

Guy Fallot

Charles Bartsch

Jean Vaugeois

Gabriel Fauré: Elegie for Cello and Orchestra Op. 24 (Performance)

> Pablo Casals conducting l'Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux and the 10 above-named cellists

Pablo Casals:

Los Reyes Magos ("The Three Kings")

            Sardana

> Pablo Casals conducting a student orchestra of 112 cellists

Johann Sebastien Bach: Sarabande, from the Suite for Solo Cello No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011

> Pablo Casals, solo cellist

Wrote the super critic Gary Lemco of the Archipel CD release of the Faure for Audiophile Edition:

"We have a glimpse into the working methods of the great Catalan cellist, conductor and composer Pablo Casals (1876-1973), rehearsing and performing the Faure Elegie as a vast concerted string ensemble from Paris, at the Grand Amphitheatre de la Sorbonne, October 1956.

"Casals leads his extended (twenty-four minutes) rehearsal in clear articulate French, with palpable changes in tempo, timbre, and phrasing. The eight minute realization exerts a healthy though somber energy, fluid and polished. Casals’ own two composition owe everything to Bach’s chorales, but their enjoy their own sense of graceful, contrapuntal homage to the Infinite, the Sardana’s exuding a more sensuous, frothy surface. The Sardana offers huge sighs, a melodic thrust that more than once recalls a Max Steiner evocation of the Sierre Madre. The audience cheers in huge waves. The Bach Sarabande, introspective and devotional, has that inevitable counterpoint of Casals’ own, guttural singing voice and intake of breath."

The left interior panel of the gatefold jacket contains superb liner notes by Henry Jacques, printed in French only. The right interior panel showcases full-color reproductions of other titles in the Tresors Classiques series.

CONDITION:

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

The condition of the heavy gatefold jacket is near-MINT. There is faint discoloration, but really that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, and highly attractive – overall, 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) this is a fine copy and playback is superb. If you must have perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a NM 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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