TEST PRESSING Rafael Kubelik Smetana Ma Vlast Decca SXL 2064/5 Speakers Corner
$
68
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Description
ULTRA RARE AUDIOPHILE 2-LP TEST PRESSING: Smetana: Má Vlast – Rafael Kubelík / Vienna Philharmonic (Speakers Corner / Decca SXL 2064/5)
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 Rafael Kubelík’s legendary performance of Bedřich Smetana's symphonic poem cycle Má Vlast (My Country). Conducted with unparalleled passion and precision alongside the Wiener Philharmoniker, this is widely considered one of the finest, most definitive interpretations ever recorded.
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 on 180g heavy vinyl at the world-renowned Pallas plant in Germany, this copy represents the absolute earliest, cleanest sonic pull from the master lacquers.
💿 Album & Production Details
- Artist: Rafael Kubelík (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (Wiener Philharmoniker)
- Title: Bedřich Smetana: Má Vlast (My Country) – Complete Symphonic Poem Cycle
- Label: Speakers Corner Records / Decca
- Catalog Number: SXL 2064/5 (2-LP Set)
- Format: 2 x 180g Heavyweight Vinyl / Test Pressing
- Country of Manufacture: Germany (Pallas Pressing)
- Recording Info: Historical audiophile recording from April 1958 at the Sofiensaal, Vienna. Engineered by the legendary Gordon Parry and produced by Eric Smith.
✨ Audiophile Significance
- Golden Era Classic: A magnificent example of early stereo recording techniques at the famous Sofiensaal, capturing the gentle, transparent textures as well as the powerful, smooth orchestral tuttis.
- Ultimate Sound Quality: Sourced from the original analogue master tapes, delivering an astonishingly wide soundstage, incredible instrument separation, and massive dynamic realism.
- Pallas Craftsmanship: Produced at Germany's premier pressing plant, ensuring ultra-silent surfaces for an uninterrupted listening experience.
📊 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.
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