The Ormandy Era · Historic Performances - Franklin MINT (deluxe 5 LP box set)
$
28
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Description
ITEM DESCRIPTION:
This remarkable and now rare limited-edition deluxe 5LP box set from The Franklin Mint (Volume V, US pressing, silver label on red vinyl, mono) entitled “The Ormandy Era · Historic Performances” features a tribute to the Philadelphia Orchestra’s longtime Music Director, gathering together a wealth of great recordings from his early partnership with RCA Victor.
Most of the Franklin Mint issues consists of a single or double LP album. This was among the few in their classical series to involve a large box set. The pressings are truly superb.
PLEASE NOTE:
This set is very heavy. Besides the 5 LPs, all pressed on medium-weight vinyl, there is the inbound booklet (on sturdy art paper) and, most of all, the heavy clamshell box. Packaged for shipment, this set will weigh over 2 kG. this is a “free shipping” listing, I cannot add and shipping charges on to the price of the LP. Please keep this in mind when making a “best offer”. Outside of the US, buyers pay actual shipping! Thank you.
The production values of this set are hard to beat. The 5 lovely LPs – pressed on red vinyl – are each in their own inner sleeve, are all housed in a heavy cloth clamshell box with a full-size, 8-page booklet (on heavy art paper) containing extensive notes by Paul Hume, as well as numerous archival photos. (All texts in English only).
Moreover, the transfers were made by RCA Victor from their own masters and sound superb here. The contents are a treasure trove, both musically and historically – see below.
Note: All performances were set down at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia. The exact contents are as follows:
Disc 1
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor Op. 74 “Pathetique”
(rec. on 13 December 1936 and 9 January 1937)
Disc 2
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30
> with Serge Rachmaninoff, piano
(rec. 4 December 1939)
Disc 3
Brahms: Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra in A minor Op. 102 “Double”
> with Jascha Heifetz, violin and Emanuel Feuermann, cello
(rec. 21 December 1939)
Barber: Essay for Orchestra No. 1 Op. 12
(rec. 20 October 1940)
Brahms: Alto Rhapsody Op. 53
> with Marian Anderson, alto
(rec. 8 January 1939)
Disc 4
Beethoven: “Ah Perfido” Op. 65
> with Kirsten Flagstad, soprano
(rec. 17 October 1937)
Beethoven: “Abscheulicher! wo eilst du hin?”, from Fidelio Op. 72
> with Kirsten Flagstad, soprano
(rec. 17 October 1937)
Weber: “Ozean, du Ungeheuer”, from Oberon
> with Kirsten Flagstad, soprano
(rec. 17 October 1937)
Wagner: Excerpts
“In fernem Land”, from Lohengrin
“Mein lieber Schwan”, from Lohengrin*
“Am Stillen Herd” and Prize Song, from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
“Schmerzen” (No. 4) and “Träume” (No. 5), from Wessendonck Lieder
> with Lauritz Melchoir, tenor
(rec. 17 April 1938* and 30 April 1939)
Disc 5
Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major Op. 61
(rec. 12 October 1937)
Also included with this copy is the original introductory letter to this series written by The Franklin Mint Record Society Vice President Stanley Walker.
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 box is Very Good. There is slight bumping at corners and discoloration on the front. Otherwise, the box appears virtually as new. There are no, corner breaks, bends, owners' markings, or other defects, and the box remains perfectly solid, bright, and highly attractive.
The condition of the original inner sleeves is VERY GOOD. These show wear and tear, as well as discoloration, but are free of seamsplits, markings, or other faults.
The condition of the bound-in, 8-page booklet is NM – superb .
The condition of the 5 LPs is near-MINT throughout. Although surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT), really these are very fine copies and playback is truly superb across all 10 sides. I believe this is an unplayed copy, but I cannot guarantee that. Thus, if you must have absolutely perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this set. Overall, these rate as truly fine collector's copies.
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