Hollywood Qt: Schoenberg Transfigured Night + Ravel - Capitol CTL 7096 (UK)

$

66

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This excellent LP from Capitol (CTL 7096, English EMI pressing, green/silver microgroove label, flipback glossy sleeve, mono – no stereo edition exists) entitled “Romantic Chamber Music of Ravel · Debussy · Schoenberg” features three remarkable performances from the Capitol catalog, two with the justly celebrated Hollywood String Quartet.

The exact contents are as follows:

Ravel: Introduction & Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet

> with the Hollywood String Quartet, harpist Ann Mason Stockton, flutist Arthur Gleghorn, and clarinetist Mitchell Lurie

(rec. in October 1951)

Debussy: Danses sacree et profane

> with harpist Ann Mason Stockton and the Concert Arts Strings conducted by Felix Slatkin

(rec. in October 1951)

Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht Op. 4 (original version for String Sextet)

> with the Hollywood String Quartet and violist Alvin Dinkin and cellist Kurt Reher

(rec. in August 1950)

At this time the Hollywood was composed of violinists Felix Slatkin and Paul Shure, violist Paul Robyn, and cellist Eleanor Aller.

Of the Testament CD re-issue of the Hollywood’s Transfigured Night, the eminent critic Robert Layton wrote in his review for Apirl 1994 issue of The Gramophone: “Although the Schubert was reissued on LP in "The Legendary Hollywood Quartet" HMV set (9/81— n1a), the Schoenberg has not appeared since it was first issued in 1950. It was the first ever version of Verklärte Nachi in its original sextet form and I am tempted to say that it remains unsurpassed. When it was first reviewed in these columns, LS wrote of it as being "beautifully played here, with the most careful attention to details of dynamics and phrasing, with unfailing finesse, with consistently sympathetic tone, and, most important, with a firm sense of the basic structure". If I have any criticism at all, it is that the atmosphere is a little slow to establish itselfat the very beginning of the piece.

“The Hollywood Quartet made music for the sheer love of it and as a relaxation from their duties in the film-studio orchestras, for which they were conspicuously overqualified. They have incomparable ensemble and blend; and their impeccable technical address and consummate tonal refinement silence criticism. There is no false glamour or overprojection of the kind so often encountered in high-powered professional quartets. In the 1950s the authors of The Record Guide (Collins: 1951) spoke of the Schubert as "one of the best [LPs] in the discography of chamber music"; and so it remains. In terms of natural eloquence and selflessness of utterance, it fully deserves its classic status. The tranquillity of the slow movement has never been conveyed with greater nobility or more perfect control. I have treasured my Capitol LPs of both performances here as desert-island discs for four decades and am delighted to report that the transfers could not be better. There are perceptive notes, too, and Schoenberg's original sleeve-notes for the LP are reproduced. As older collectors will know, this is altogether exceptional musicmaking. RL ID Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht, Op. 41.”

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 EXCELLENT. There is slight bumping/wear at corners, as well as a small bit of writing to the rear panel and slight curling along the open edge of the jacket. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings, and the whole remains very solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Although surfaces are not CD silent, in general the playback is superb. In fact, the Ravel and Debussy I would rate as near-MINT; the sound is truly vivid. The slightly inferior quality surfaces heard in the Schoenberg may stem more from the original masters than from any wear to the LP. Nonetheless, If you must have a flawless or near-MINT copy, then you are advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.