Hi-Q LP-054: TCHAIKOVSKY - The Sleeping Beauty - KURTZ, MENUHIN - UK 2016 SEALED
C$
40
$
29
C$ 40
Sold For
Feb 26, 2021
Sold Date
Jun 7, 2018
Start Date
1
Number Of Bids
Canada
Country Of Seller
eBay
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Description
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Background -
Distinguished in performances of both the ballet and symphonic repertories, Efrem Kurtz lived for nearly an entire century. Leaving Russia in the aftermath of the revolution, he soon established himself as a quick study and conductor of sound musicianship. Trained in the works of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Kurtz was an equally persuasive interpreter of the major works of his own time. After acquiring United States citizenship during WWII, he served two American orchestras, noticeably improving the performing standards of both.Kurtz studied at the Conservatory in his native St. Petersburg prior to the revolution, working with such instructors as Alexander Glazunov, Nicolai Tcherepnin, and Jazeps Vitols. After the change of regime, he transferred his academic pursuits first to Riga, then to Berlin. His conducting debut was a last-minute affair; when Artur Nikisch became ill, Kurtz deputized for him in directing the orchestra in a performance for dancer Isadora Duncan. His mastery of the situation led to his being given three concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic.
During the ensuing two years, Kurtz was in demand throughout Germany, his engagements taking him to more than 40 cities. In 1924, he was hired as music director of the Stuttgart Philharmonic where he remained for nine seasons. In addition, he was given oversight over all musical broadcasting in southern Germany. When another famous dancer, Anna Pavlova, attended a Stuttgart concert in 1927, she was impressed enough to engage Kurtz for a short season in London and, later, for a South American tour. During the latter, Kurtz conducted symphonic concerts in both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. Kurtz continued to conduct for Pavlova until her death in 1931, accompanying her on an Australian tour as well.
In 1930 and 1931, Kurtz was invited to the Salzburg Festival to conduct concerts devoted to the music of Handel. For eight years, beginning in 1933, Kurtz served as music director for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, touring extensively with that company throughout Europe and the United States. A half-year was spent conducting symphonic concerts in Australia in 1939, Sydney and Melbourne sharing Kurtz between them. A series of guest performances with the New York Philharmonic that same year led to an invitation for further appearances in 1940.
In the 1940s, Kurtz began to work in motion pictures, conducting the scores to such feature films as Escape Me Never whose music was provided by William Walton, and the Orson Welles production of Macbeth with musical score by Jacques Ibert. During this same period, Kurtz also conducted the scores of several Ballets Russes productions being preserved on film.
In 1943, Kurtz became the music director of the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra, sharpening the performance capability of that ensemble and expanding its repertory. He held his directorship there until 1947. Kurtz next assumed the musical directorship of the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1948 and continued in that capacity until 1954, accomplishing much the same improvement as he had managed in Kansas City. From 1955 to 1957, Kurtz undertook a joint directorship with John Pritchard of the Liverpool Philharmonic, and from 1957 until his retirement, he accepted engagements on a freelance basis. Returning to Russia in 1966 for the first time since it had become the Soviet Union, he conducted successful concerts in both Leningrad and Moscow. Kurtz undertook several opera house projects, conducting, among other places, in Milan and Rome.
He was married to flutist Elaine Shaffer. - Erik Eriksson
Great Sounding Classical Title from EMI! - Reissue of EMI ASD 371
180g Audiophile Vinyl Cut from the Original EMI Stereo Analogue Master Tapes at Abbey Road Studios!
Efrem Kurtz, an imposing figure on the podium, who, with a graceful baton-less technique drew exceptionally lyrical playing out of the orchestras he conducted and was in great demand for his native Russian repertoire. He recorded highlights from all three Tchaikovsky ballets for EMI in the late 1950s and they are all available again on LP from HI-Q: Swan Lake is on HIQLP049 and The Nutcracker is on HIQLP051.
“...the disc confirms the suspicion that Efrem Kurtz is probably the finest conductor of ballet music in the world, certainly the supreme exponent of Tchaikovsky’s ballets...A winner of a record.” - Gramophone, September 1960
In the review of the stereo LP in The Gramophone of November 1960, W.S.M. confirmed his initial thoughts: “It is an extremely enjoyable cross-cut of Sleeping Beauty, performed magnificently under a conductor who understands Tchaikovsky’s ballet music completely. Yehudi Menuhin contributes only one solo, but that [is] a most distinguished one. The stereo is perhaps rather warmer and vivid than the very acceptable mono...”
Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original stereo analogue master tapes with the Neumann VMS82 lathe fed an analogue pre-cut signal from a specially adapted Studer A80 tape deck with additional ‘advance’ playback head, making the cut a totally analogue process.
Pressed on 180g vinyl to audiophile standards using the original EMI presses by The Vinyl Factory in Hayes, England.
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Hi-Q Records "Supercuts" LP item - FACTORY SEALED
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Records Made in the UK / England / Great Britain
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Pressing is in STEREO - recordings are from 1958 - originally issued on the EMI label
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Limited Edition
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Record Speed: 33 rpm
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Record Made issued in: 2016
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Record Catalog Number: HIQLP054
Featured on this item:
Tchaikovsky / Efrem Kurtz
Title / Music on this Audiophile LP -
The Sleeping Beauty - Suite from the Ballet
Track Listings -
Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)The Sleeping Beauty - Suite from the Ballet
Side 1: Band 1 - Introduction
Prologue
(2) Scene Dansante - Entrance Of The Fairies
(3) Pas De Six - The Fairies Present Their Gifts: Intrada; Variation IV; Variation V
Act 1:
Band 2: (6) Valse
Band 3: (8) Pas D'Action - Rose Adagio
Aurora's Variation
Side 2: Act III:
Band 1: (22) Polonaise
Band 2: (23) Pas De Trois - Florestan And His Sisters: Intrada; Variation 1; Variation II; Coda
Band 3: (25) Pas De Deux - Blue Birds: Intrada; Variation 1; Variation II; Coda
Band 4: (26) Pas De Caractere - Red Riding Hood And The Wolf
Band 5: (28) Pas De Deux - Princess Aurora And Prince Florimund: Intrada; Adagio; Variation II; Coda (The 3 Ivans) Band 6: (30) Finale Et Apotheose
The numbers in brackets are those in the original score.
Performed By / Credits on this LP include -
Philharmonia Orchestra
Efrem Kurtz, conductor Yehudi Menuhin, violin solo
Other Information -
• Hi-Q Records Supercuts 180g Vinyl
• Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original EMI stereo analogue master tapes
• Superior Audiophile Pressing
• Features original album artwork
• Made in England Recorded 1958, Kingsway Hall, London. Recording Producer: R. Kinloch Anderson. Balance Engineer: Neville Boyling
CONDITION Details:
LP Jacket:-
The jacket is in MINT condition - no seam splits or corner dings - FACTORY SEALED!
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The jacket has NO splits of any kind - it is completely solid and intact, and shows only some very minimal shelf wear.
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It has NO drill holes or saw marks of any kind.
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There is NO writing on the front or back of the jacket.
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The cover has clean and sharp colors - see picture with this listing for more detail.
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The LP is assumed to be in MINT condition - FACTORY SEALED!
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This is the mint copy you want for your collection - any super picky audiophile would be happy with this one!
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As for any record, even brand new, sealed ones, we always recommend a proper record cleaning before playing!
A Short Note About LP GRADING -
- Mint = Only used for sealed items.
- Near Mint = Virtually flawless in every way.
- Near Mint Minus = Item has some minor imperfections, some audible.
- Excellent = Item obviously played and enjoyed with some noise.
- Very Good Plus = Many more imperfections which are noticeable and obtrusive.
price rating
