Rostropovich: "Arpeggione" + Bridge - King KIJC 9123, Super Analog 180g (sealed)

$

95

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This stunning audiophile LP – a still-sealed copy* – from King Records (KIJC 9123, Japanese pressing, heavy vinyl, orange/silver FFSS label, stereo, with OBI, insert included) features Mstislav Rostropovich's classic accounts of Franz Schubert's 'Arpeggione' Sonata in A minor D. 821 and Frank Bridge's Sonata for Cello and Piano H. 125, both recorded with composer Benjamin Britten at the piano at The Maltings, Snape, Aldeburgh England in July 1968 – chamber music-making at its absolute finest.

These Japanese “Super Analogue Disc” pressing from King Records are quite remarkable – both the jacket and LP are quite thick and highly attractive – outstanding issues in every way.

*Note: This particular copy carries a gold “The Super Analogue Disc” sticker of authenticity sealing the polysleeve on the reverse side – presumably this is as issued – an unplayed copy.

Wrote critic Hilary Finch in her review for the April 1995 issue of The Gramophone:

"The Maltings, Snape, July 1968: Britten was greeting two of his dearest musical friends and mentors; Rostropovich was making two important discoveries. This reissue is a major historic document reminding some listeners of, and revealing to others for the first time, the special nature of the musical relationship between composer, cellist and the music which they were performing.

"Schubert's Arpeggione Sonata was new to Rostropovich. In the broad, exploratory charting of its territory, both Britten and Rostropovich enjoy many a moment of—if not drooling—then licking their lips over its more delectable turns of melody and harmonic contours. And why not? They make us stand and stare at much we might have missed: every time its opening melody recurs, it seems reinvented, and Britten's delight in peeping out when least expected from the ''cradle'' Rostropovich said that he had created for him, throws many an idea into bright new relief. Britten as Lieder accompanist comes to the fore, of course, in the slow movement. Here Rostropovich does make a meal of it, and it will be something of a relief to most listeners, I suspect, to move into the dearer air of the finale. Even here, though, the bite as well as the bark of the furiant episodes is something else.

"Rostropovich's is certainly the dominant voice at the start of the Frank Bridge Sonata, though both cello and piano go on to flex the work's Bergian muscles to the full in a recording which eavesdrops on every movement of the finger, every breath in the body."

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 near-MINT. Really there are no flaws to speak of and the album appears virtually as new. The original polysleeve has a few nicks to it, but the jacket is fine – there are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings, and the album remains solid, bright, and highly attractive in appearance – overall, an outstanding collector's copy.

The condition of the LP is MINT. This is a still-sealed, unplayed copy – the ideal 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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