Szeryng: Lalo Symphony Espagnole (rec. 1959): RCA Victrola VICS-1064 (1S/5S)

$

55

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome LP from RCA Victrola (VICS-1064, US pressing, plum/silver label – ED1, 1S/5S stampers, stereo, original inner sleeve included) features Henryk Szeryng's dazzling account of Lalo's Symphonie Espagnole Op. 21, recorded on 28 February 1959 with Walter Hendl conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This is the French equivalent of the US RCA Living Stereo edition (LSC-2456).

Szeryng plays with breathtaking assurance and aplomb, imbuing the solo line with a fantasy and color that leave most of his rivals far behind. Hendl and the CSO match him bar for bar in inspiration and RCA's superlative engineering is of demonstration quality.

Wrote the critic T.H. in his September 1961 review for The Gramophone:

“I have heard a good many records of the Symphonie Espagnole in my day (for this journal seems to regard me as its resident reviewer of the work) and I hope nobody expects me to listen to all the other ten versions all through again before saying that I am sure this new one is the winner. Szeryng is at least the equal of the best of the other virtuosi who have recorded it, both in style and in effortless technique, and gives an enchanting, as well as breathtaking, performance. But what makes me so sure of this record's superiority is its superb sound. I played one side mono and the other stereo; both are excellent, with all the orchestral detail and real vividness of sound—but it is the stereo that is quite exceptionally brilliant.

“The best alternatives all give you something else for your money, all have at least good modern sound. Menuhin, in his best form, also gives us some Saint-Saens—the Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, and the Havanaise. Kogan plays superbly, though not with much affection for the Spanish idiom, and adds Tchaikovsky's Serenade Milancolique. Ricci is dazzling but all on top of a microphone—he also plays Ravel's Tzigane. Francescatti plays only four movements of the Lab o (the third is often omitted) and gets this on to one side, leaving him the other side for— my goodness !—the Walton concerto; so you can listen to Walton first and then relax with Lab. Rosand does even better as to quantity, playing all five movements on one side and the Third Concerto of Saint-Saens on the other; he is no mean fiddler, either, though he uses the zigeuner style too much for me. I must fairly end by repeating that this new recording is dazzling—but it is expensive.”

Incidentally, the striking cover art reproduces Francisco Goya’s “La Danza de Majos”. There are excellent liner notes (uncredited) on the reverse side of the jacket, printed in English only.

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, as well as faint ringwear to the rear panel, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings and the whole remains solid, bright, and attractive – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Although the surfaces are not CD silent, in general the playback is qutie fine. If you must have a flawless or near-MINT copy, then please do not buy this LP. 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!

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