TEST PRESSING Georg Solti Beethoven Symphony 9 Decca Speakers Corner 2-LP Mint

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ULTRA RARE AUDIOPHILE 2-LP TEST PRESSING: Beethoven Symphony No. 9 "Choral" – Sir Georg Solti / Chicago Symphony (Speakers Corner / Decca 6BB 121/2)

Condition: Vinyl is MINT (M) / Sleeve is NEAR MINT (NM)

Up for sale is an incredibly rare, definitive holy grail for classical music collectors: the official 2-LP Test Pressing of the highly acclaimed Speakers Corner Records reissue of Sir Georg Solti’s legendary 1972 "Solti-Decca Silver Jubilee Recording" of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. [1, 2]

Speakers Corner test pressings are produced in extremely limited quantities (typically only 5 to 20 copies worldwide) for strict quality control before commercial production. Pressed at the legendary Pallas plant in Germany, this copy represents the absolute earliest, cleanest sonic pull from the master lacquers, offering the quietest vinyl surfaces possible. [1, 2, 3]

💿 Album & Production Details

• Artist: Sir Georg Solti (Conductor), Pilar Lorengar (Soprano), Yvonne Minton (Mezzo-soprano), Stuart Burrows (Tenor), Martti Talvela (Bass), Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus [1]

• Title: Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral" [1, 2]

• Label: Speakers Corner Records / Decca [1]

• Catalog Number: 6BB 121/2 (2-LP Set) [1]

• Format: 2 x 180g Heavyweight Vinyl / Test Pressing [1, 2]

• Country of Manufacture: Germany (Pallas Pressing)

• Recording Info: Historical recording made in May 1972 at the Krannert Center, Illinois. Engineered by the legendary Gordon Parry and Kenneth Wilkinson. [1, 2]

✨ Audiophile Significance

• The Silver Jubilee Masterpiece: Universally heralded by critics as one of the most powerful, definitive recordings of Beethoven's 9th ever captured on analog tape. [1, 2]

• Ultimate Sound Quality: Sourced from the original master tapes, delivering an astonishingly wide soundstage, massive orchestral dynamics, and incredible choral depth.

• Pallas Craftsmanship: Known for producing the highest-quality, ultra-silent vinyl surfaces in the world.

📊 Detailed Condition Grading (Goldmine Standard)

• Vinyl Condition: MINT (M). Both LPs are in pristine, unplayed condition. Factory-brilliant surfaces with absolutely no marks, hairlines, or scuffs. Flawless audio performance.

• Sleeve Condition: NEAR MINT (NM). The jacket is in beautiful, crisp, and clean condition with sharp corners and a perfectly intact spine. It has been handled with absolute archival care.

📦 Shipping & Handling

Worldwide shipping is available. The records will be professionally packed in a heavy-duty cardboard record mailer, with the vinyl removed from the sleeve during transit to prevent seam splits. Tracked and insured shipping is mandatory for this high-value collector's item.