Kogan: Mendelssohn Op. 64/Mozart K. 216 Violin Concerti - EMI Aust. SOELP.10071

$

65

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome and quite rare LP from EMI Australia (SOELP.10071, Australian pressing, green/silver label, stereo) features Leonid Kogan's marvelous renditions of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor Op. 64 and Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major K. 216, both recorded in the superb acoustics of the Salle Wagram, Paris in November 1959 with conductor Constantin Silverstri leading l'Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire.

Wrote Dan Davis in his review of the Testament CD release of the Mozart: "Leonid Kogan was one of several Soviet artists who burst upon the Western classical music scene in the mid-1950s, astonishing all with their incredible technique and superior musicianship. At the time--and ever since--Kogan played second fiddle to David Oistrakh, in much the same position occupied by Emil Gilels in relation to Sviatoslav Richter among pianists. At 26, Kogan won the 1951 Ysaye Competition (Oistrakh was on the jury) and then was unceremoniously ordered back to the Soviet Union instead of enjoying a triumphant European tour. He didn't make his London and Paris debuts until 1955…Best is the Mozart G major Concerto, where Kogan and the French orchestra are joined in 1959 by Constantin Silvestri. His presence is immediately apparent in the detailed orchestral accompaniment and a vigorously defined orchestral context: just listen to the excitement he generates in the opening measures of the work. Kogan responds with his usual gorgeous playing, the aristocratic demeanor intact but now unveiling a bit more tonal muscle to go with the sweet sound of the instrument. It's generally akin to Oistrakh's own Berlin recording that allies stylishness and virtuosity, the major difference being the older violinist's juicier tone (though Kogan's is hardly lean). "

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 VERY GOOD. The principal flaw concerns a former catalog sticker to the front panel. There is also slight bumping at corners, faint ringwear, and mild discoloration. However, there are no bends, seamsplits, or owners' markings and the album remains solid, bright, and glossy, the fine laminate finish well intact – a good collector's copy. 

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT++. The surfaces are not absolutely CD silent, but reall this is a very fine copy. There is a small promo sticker to the label on one side of the disc, but obviously this does not affect play – a superb collector's copy.