François: Chopin 19 Nocturnes: Columbia/EMI CCHS 1087/8 (2LP box set), ED1, NM-

$

400

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This outstanding and now quite rare 2LP box set – a beautiful collector's copy – from French Columbia / EMI (CCHS 1087-1088, French pressing, blue/silver label stereo, booklet and original inner sleeves included) features Samson François in his beautifully sculpted and deeply poetic cycle of Chopin's Nocturnes Nos. 1 through 19 recorded at the Salle Wagram, Paris, in May and June 1966 – I believe this to be the first French issue.

A true keyboard maverick, Francois' playing boasts a flair and visionary quality that leaves many of his contemporaries sounding bland by comparison. He was a risk taker, and while all of his gambits did not succeed, these Chopin Nocturnes are marvelously characterized, imbued with blazing conviction, high drama, and stirring poetry – stunning!

At the wonderful music retailer ArkivMusic, one can find the following review:

“The nocturnes, recorded twelve years later, in 1966, possess the same burnished colour that characterises a Rembrandt background, despite the more analytical clarity cast by stereo sound. Once again it is Arrau, who, by voluntarily darkening his range of colours, seems to come nearest to this sultry vision of the nocturnes, while another leading interpreter of the cycle, the Polish pianist Stefan Askenase, was to fix his gaze obstinately in the direction of moonlight and the bel canto aesthetic.”

The set comes with a superb full-size, 12-page booklet featuring rare photographs of Francois at home with his son, an appreciation of the pianist by Bernard Gavoty, and extensive notes on the music by Maurice Fleuret (all texts are in French only).

CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

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

The condition of the box is near-MINT. There is minor shelf wear, but really that is all. There are no corner breaks, seam splits, bends, owners' markings or other defects, and the remains whole perfectly solid, bright, and very striking in appearance – a fine collector's copy.

The condition of the full-size, 6-page booklet is near-MINT. Again, there are no flaws to speak of, the pages are crisp and bright, the binding perfect.

The condition of the 2 LPs is NM-. Although the surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) these are fine copies and playback is superb. However, If you must have flawless surfaces, then please do not buy this set – these rate as NM collector's copies.

PLEASE NOTE:
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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REFUNDS:
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Please see my other classical LP and CD auctions, and feel free to write with any questions, I'll be glad to help.