Milstein: Glazunov & Dvorak Violin Concerti (r. 1957) - German Capitol STK 80328

$

34

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and rare LP from German Capitol (STK 80328, German Electrola pressing, rainbow label / Capitol logo at 9:00, stereo, glossy laminated jacket) features Nathan Milstein's dazzling accounts of Dvorak's Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 53 and Glazunov's Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 82, both recorded in sumptuous sound at Sylvia Mosque, Pittsburgh on 16/17 April 1957 with William Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra on brilliant form – 55 years on, these remain landmarks in the discography. 

Milstein's feverish pizzicato playing in the finale of the Glazunov is as riveting as the magical way he spins out the beautiful second subject of Dvorak's Op. 53. Steinberg and his crack Pittsburgh players follow Milstein over hill and dale with marvelously characterized accompaniment.

Wrote the superb critic and writer David Hurwitz for ClassicsToday:

"Nathan Milstein was without question one of the handful of truly great 20th century violinists, right up there with Heifetz, Oistrakh, Szigeti, Kreisler--you name it. Though not as flamboyant as some of his colleagues, his exceptional musicianship encompassed virtuosity of the highest order, always placed in the service of the music. These two splendid performances show what Milstein could do with material often considered less than first rate. Dvorák's lovely concerto has been making a comeback in concert and on disc, but for years it was neglected largely because of the harsh things that Brahms and Joachim had to say about its refusal to follow strict classical form. As if that matters. The piece employs a generous number of wonderful tunes, and Dvorák's decision to throw the work's musical weight into the finale makes it one of his most satisfying formal experiments. Milstein plays the concerto beautifully, with his typically aristocratic poise and a lightness of rhythm and purity of intonation (in the finale especially) that makes the music seem to float across the bar lines. As for the Glazunov: Milstein played the concerto under the composer himself, and had as firm a grip on it as anyone."

There are several extant Milstein performances of these concertos, both 'live' and in the studio, but each of the present accounts, made during the 'Golden Age of Stereo', arguably represents the highwater mark of the great Russian virtuoso's achievement. His beautiful refulgent tone is heard to marvelous effect, without being over spotlit. Moreover, Steinberg and the PSO's accompaniment is perfection, matching the soloist's inspiration bar for far.

Capitol's sound is superb, well capturing Milstein's distinctive sound, the violin not spolit nor too closely balanced, consistent throughout.

Milstein's sovereign technical command and probing musicianship prove constantly illuminating, revealing the intricacies and splendor of these remarkable works from within.

The reverse side of the jacket carries liner notes in both German (more extensive) and English (more brief) – neither author is credited. The striking cover photo of Milstein is similarly uncredited.

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 jacket is VERY GOOD+. There is bumping/wear at corners, and a few small instances of creasing, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, owners' markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy and highly attractive – overall, this rates as a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Though there is occasional light surface noise, in general the playback remains quite fine. However, those wanting a flawless or near-MINT copy are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. 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!

PAYMENT:
Payment by PayPal is greatly preferred. Payment should be made within 5 days.

SHIPPING:
Shipping is free to anywhere in the world; this is true regardless of the number of LPs you buy, be it 1 or a 100. All LPs will be sent via standard airmail (7-10 days delivery). Note: There is no tracking number provided with standard airmail. Should you wish to have your item(s) sent via certified airmail (i.e., with a tracking number), please contact me.

FEEDBACK:
I will promptly leave feedback for all buyers. Please do not leave negative, or even neutral, feedback without first giving me an opportunity to resolve any dissatisfaction you might have with an item or transaction. I do understand that, on occasion, a buyer might believe the item description to be inaccurate or that a buyer may be disappointed in some other way regarding the sale. I promise I will do my very best to resolve any unhappiness you've experienced in your buying experience with me to your complete satisfaction. Thank you.

REFUNDS:
Returns are honored, and any buyer you makes a return will be refunded in full. Please contact me before making a return.

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