Koeckert Quartet: Beethoven 3 "Razumovsky" SQs - DG LPM 18365/67 (3LP box set)

$

186

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome and extraordinarily rare 3LP box set from Deutsche Grammophon (LPM 18365/67, German pressing, AH tulip label, mono) features the splendid Koeckert String Quartet their brilliant traversal of Beethoven's 3 "Razumovsky" String Quartets Op. 59.

Worth noting is that this set was among a series of "Gift Box Editions" produced by the yellow label during the mid- to-late 1950s. While certain of these are fairly common – e.g., Markevitch's La Damnation de Faust Op. 24 or Bohm's Missa Solemnis Op. 123, other are quite elusive, such as Foldes' boxed Bartok piano cycle and this Koeckert box. 

(A copy of the "Gift Box Editions" catalog is included).

All boasted very attractive and sturdy cloth boxes with large, heavy booklets printed on art paper. This is the first, and will no doubt be the last, copy of the Koeckert set I have ever seen.

The exact contents are as follows:

String Quartet No. 7 in F Major Op. 59 No. 1

String Quartet No. 8 in E minor Op. 59 No. 2

String Quartet No. 9 in C Major Op. 59 No. 3

All three works were recorded in the warm acoustics of the Beethoven-Saal, Hannover, on 25 October (Nos. 7 and 9) and 6 November (No. 8) 1956.

At this time the eponymous Quartet that bore leader Rudolf Koeckert's name included Willi Buchner (2nd violin), Oskar Riedl (viola), and Josef Merz (cello).

Included in a beautiful full-size 24-page booklet, lavishly illustrated and with insightful and extensive notes, including essays by Erik Werba ("Beethoven and his Patrons – Their Role in the Composer's Life") and Klaus Wagner ("Triple Entity in Music – An Introduction to Beethoven's Rasoumovsky Quartets") – all texts in German, English, and French. 

Incidentally, the striking cover art gracing the box shows a detail from a treated reproduction of Eduard Gurk's painting "Palais Rasoumofsky".

CONDITION:

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

The condition of the box is EXCELLENT. There is some fading to the spine, as well as light wear and discoloration along the edges. However, there are no seam splits, corner breaks, owners' markings, or other defects, and the whole remains perfectly solid, bright, and highly attractive – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the full-size glossy booklet is EXCELLENT. The front cover has a slightly grimy feel, but really that is the only flaw. There are no markings, tears, or other defects.

The condition of the 3 LPs is EX to NM-. Although the surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM- vs. MINT) these are fine copies and playback is quite fine. There are a few scattered soft tics, but nothing repetitive. However, if you must have flawless surfaces, then please do not buy this set – these rate as EX to 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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