Trio Santoliquido + Giuranna: Brahms Op. 26 - DG SLPM 138 015 (Red Stereo)

$

49

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and exceedingly rare gatefold LP – in a “Red Stereo” jacket – from Deutsche Grammophon (SLPM 138 015, German pressing, AH tulip label, stereo) features the great Trio Santoliquido, joined by the splendid violist Bruno Giuranna, in a resplendent and deeply poetic account of Brahms’s Piano Quartet No. 2 in A Major Op. 26, recorded in the warm acoustics of the Beethoven-Saal, Hannover on 6 August 1958. The Trio Santoliquido were comprised of violinist Arrigo Pelliccia, cellist Massimo Amfitheatroff, and pianist Ornella Santoliquido.

Wrote the superb critic Lionel Salter in his review for the July 1959 issue of The Gramophone: “Reviewing the most recent previous recording of this work, A.P. commented that both it and its predecessor, though highly professional, missed the quality of "love" or absorption in the music. Such a charge could not be made against the accomplished Santoliquido Ensemble, whose warmth of tone and affectionate phrasing match its mature musicianship and feeling for style (as was also the case in its recording of Brahms's Op. 25. Yet, for all the Italian clarity of light that bathes the music here, its caress is never maudlin: in the Poco adagio the nicest balance is held betaieen expressiveness and restraint. The Scherzo is an enchantment: the players seem instinctively to merge their artistic identities, and purely technically the way they control and shape a long crescendo phrase is a matter for delight. With this team it is superfluous to say that intonation, balance, dynamics and phrasing are impeccable: a few more performances of this artistic insight and it will find itself among the classics of gramophone history, ready to be reissued a quarter of a centiiry or so from now in whatever new guise recording will by -then have taken. Is the piano a trifle distant on side 1? Maybe, but no one who appreciatcs playing, of this standard will give the question more than a passing, thought.”

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the gatefold jacket is VERY GOOD. There is bumping at corners, edgewear, and a discreet 1 ½” seamsplit to the spine, but that is all. There are no owners’ markings, bends, or other defects and the album remains solid, bright, and very striking in appearance – overall, this rates as a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Although there is some occasional light surface noise, in general the playback is quite fine. However, those wanting a flawless or near-MINT copy are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.