Ormandy: Wagner Parsifal (orchestral synthesis - rec. 1955) - Columbia ML 5080

$

20

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This fascinating LP from Columbia Masterworks (ML 5080, US pressing, gray 6eye label, mono - no stereo edition exists, original inner sleeve included) entitled “Wagner: Parsifal” features a magnificent orchestral synthesis of the composer’s final opera, brought off with stirring power, poetry, and drama by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Not readily associated with Wagner, Ormandy proves as masterly an interpreter of his music as he was with all the repertoire he conducted – the great spans of melody have an architectural strength and unfailing vision. There have been other Wagner purely orchestral syntheses over the years by the likes of Stokowski, Maazel, et al., but his remains one of the most convincing ever commited to disc, and the Philadelphia boast a gorgeous sheen of sound almost unmatched on record.

Sumptuously recorded at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia on 24 April 1955, the sequences included are as follows:

Prelude

Transformation Scene

Close Scene – Act I

Klingsor’s Magic Garden

Good Friday Spell

Closing Scene – Act III

Incidentally, there are superlative liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Charles Burr, printed in English only. The striking cover art is uncredited.

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 minor bumping at corners, as well as mild discoloration and aging. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, or other defects and the album remains solid, bright, and highly attractive in appearance – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Though the surfaces are not perfectly silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) this is a fine copy and playback is superb. If you must have perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a NM 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!

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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.