Recordings of Schnabel's Beethoven Sonatas
elraeburn
the releases of Schnabel's Beethoven Sonatas on Membran Interntional
and Regis. I am aware of several other releases and have read about
their relative merits; it is the two releases above for which I seek
information.
Many thanks,
-Eric
wagnerfan
news:1098e865-48fb-4ac8...@v15g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
The few things I have heard on REGIS have been very amateurishly
transferred. Wagner Fan
td
> "elraeburn" <elraeb...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
How can you trust a fan of Wagner?
TD
Matthew B. Tepper
letters to be typed in news:q8CdnQBk-uYopTjU...@giganews.com:
> "elraeburn" <elra...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1098e865-48fb-4ac8...@v15g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
>> I'd be gateful if anyone would advise me about the sound quality of the
>> releases of Schnabel's Beethoven Sonatas on Membran Interntional and
>> Regis. I am aware of several other releases and have read about their
>> relative merits; it is the two releases above for which I seek
>> information.
>
> The few things I have heard on REGIS have been very amateurishly
> transferred.
Yes, but these sets *could* still be superior to the EMI transfer. ;--)
--
Matthew B. Tepper: WWW, science fiction, classical music, ducks!
My personal home page -- http://home.earthlink.net/~oy/index.html
My main music page --- http://home.earthlink.net/~oy/berlioz.html
To write to me, do for my address what Androcles did for the lion
Opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of my employers
alla...@gmail.com
I haven't heard the Membran or the Regis sets myself, but the word on
them I've caught is not good.
Membran is supposedly heavily filtered. And this label may well be a
pirate. (Anyone confirm/deny that?)
Regis is legit, but my understanding is that they've reissued the
Nuova Era set, which had poor transfers.
Your best bet for inexpensive Schnabel/Beethoven is Naxos.
Allan
td
> td <tomdedea...@mac.com> - Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:42:56 -0800 (PST):
>
> > How can you trust a fan of Wagner?
>
Against Wagner, or his music or his "fan"?
TD
Vaz Rodrigo
Membran had taken the complete catalogue of Nuova Era.
td
I would agree.
But that said, I don't think that you can really call it
"inexpensive". The Naxos CDs are 3 for $22.00 at HMV in Toronto,
making this "set", or rather, collection of individual CDs, go beyond
the $50.00 mark. Then there is the tax on top of that.
The best solution would have been the Dante set when it was
remaindered at bro. There is still the EMI set, but that may still be
pricey and there are some who dislike the fact that the vinyl
pressings from which it is derived lack the sound of the needle
grinding the acetate walls with which some are familiar. The Pearl
individual CDs will give you that, of course, but you have to pay a
very hefty price for all that unlovely noise.
Get the cheapest set you can find, would be my advice. Schnabel sounds
pretty much like himself on all of them
TD
gperkins151
>
> Allan
We agree again, Allan!
BTW, the Schnabel Naxos CDs are all on sale at MDT for $5.37 each (ex
VAT.)
alla...@gmail.com
> We agree again, Allan!
>
> BTW, the Schnabel Naxos CDs are all on sale at MDT for $5.37 each (ex
> VAT.)
Glad you & I (& with qualifications, TD) agree. Yes, living in the
States, I usually order Naxos discs from MDT. Seems to be the best
bet. But what I wish Naxos would do is package all these Schnabel
discs into a handy (& cheap) box.
Allan
gperkins151
Sure, as long as all of the notes were included. Seems like the sets
often dump a lot of the liner notes unfortunately. This set would
certainly be more economical for people. I prefer them in jewel cases
though, for I consider this a very special set (performance and
mastering-wise) and would like to preserve the discs in the best
condition possible.
George
Rugby
> Get the cheapest set you can find, would be my advice. Schnabel sounds
> pretty much like himself on all of them
>
>
Guess I should just hang on to my original Angel lp GROC set, in its
very sturdy box, with a wonderful booklet of notes on each Sonata as
well as about Schnabel ?
Rugby
Matthew B. Tepper
be typed in news:b30a01d9-bde3-4d4f-8d7c-b5b6317d30c9
@z1g2000yqn.googlegroups.com:
> Guess I should just hang on to my original Angel lp GROC set, in its
> very sturdy box, with a wonderful booklet of notes on each Sonata as
> well as about Schnabel ?
I used to have that! It was one of the most beautifully-packaged LP sets I
can recall. Close runners-up include the Karajan 1977 (?) Beethoven
symphonies with the autographed limitation sheet, and Solti's
"Rosenkavalier."
Matthew B. Tepper
letters to be typed in news:49a578ae$0$28136$5fc...@news.tiscali.nl:
> td <tomde...@mac.com> - Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:42:56 -0800 (PST):
>
>> How can you trust a fan of Wagner?
>
> By not being prejudiced?
>
> EM
Interesting article in the current issue of The Jewish Journal:
http://www.jewishjournal.com/cover_story/article/why_wagners_music_deserves
_a_second_chance_20090218/
or http://preview.tinyurl.com/wagnersecondchance
Yes, the author is the grandson of at least one composer. (Two, actually;
the other was Erich Zeisl.)
td
Not sure about an Angel "box". The only "box" I know of with the GROC
label was produced in France. The domestic products were all separate
LPs, I seem to recall. But the did come out also on Seraphim boxes.
Maybe three or four? Can't recall. Or was that the later transfer from
the 1970s?
Incidentally, the French grey box came with an enormous booklet
produced by one of the best writers on Beethoven. The individual Angel
LPs came with separate booklets stuffed into each sleeve.
TD
td
I just remembered this box in my mind. Was it sort of a maroon colour?
I never bought that, only the separates, and then the French EMI box.
TD
Thomas Liebert
Yes, it is a maroon box (slipcase) with a thick booklet containing the
original notes by Eric Blom and an article by Irving Kolodin. Angel
GRM-4005.
RCA Victor also issued a box in 1956 which included the complete piano
scores in an edition edited by Schnabel. I believe it also included the
notes by Eric Blom.
--Thomas
td
> td wrote:
> > On Feb 25, 2:55 pm, Rugby <steveha...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>On Feb 25, 12:21 pm, td <tomdedea...@mac.com> wrote:
>
> >>>Get the cheapest set you can find, would be my advice. Schnabel sounds
> >>>pretty much like himself on all of them
>
> >>Guess I should just hang on to my original Angel lp GROC set, in its
> >>very sturdy box, with a wonderful booklet of notes on each Sonata as
> >>well as about Schnabel ?
>
> > I just remembered this box in my mind. Was it sort of a maroon colour?
> > I never bought that, only the separates, and then the French EMI box.
>
> > TD
>
> Yes, it is a maroon box (slipcase) with a thick booklet containing the
> original notes by Eric Blom and an article by Irving Kolodin. Angel
> GRM-4005.
5 saw that many times, but as I had the individuals, no need for it.
> RCA Victor also issued a box in 1956 which included the complete piano
> scores in an edition edited by Schnabel. I believe it also included the
> notes by Eric Blom.
I do believe it was earlier than that, Thomas. 1956? Angel was already
in full force in the USA.
TD
wagnerfan
news:49a5e73c$0$28139$5fc...@news.tiscali.nl...
> "Matthew B. Tepper" <oy兀earthlink.net> - Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:43:19
> -0600:
>
>> Interesting article in the current issue of The Jewish Journal:
>
>> http://www.jewishjournal.com/cover_story/article/why_wagners_music_deserves
>> _a_second_chance_20090218/
>
>
> "German culture is a part of Jewish culture and vice versa. Wagner's
> influence can no more be extricated from Jewish music history than
> Mendelssohn's, Mahler's or Schoenberg's could be from German music
> history. The two - German and Jewish - go hand in hand, for better or
> worse.(...)
> Whatever one thinks of Wagner the person, his accomplishment in "The
> Ring" ranks among the greatest artistic achievements in Western
> civilization."
>
> Will it be read in Israel, I wonder.
>
> EM
Of course it will. Wagners music has nothing to do with blonde Aryans
shoving Jews into the gas chambers - not one thing,.Wagner Fan
Thomas Liebert
I still have the November 1956 issue of High Fidelity in which this
limited-edition box is advertised (in time for Christmas). Price: $80.
The ad says the the box is leather bound.
The individual lps were also issued individually by RCA Victor over a
period of several years, beginning prior to 1956.
Angel was started after the relationship between the Columbia labels was
terminated in 1953, but the relationship between RCA and HMV continued
until around 1958. Initially, all Angel records were EMI Columbias.
After the RCA/HMV relationship was terminated, HMV recordings were
initially issued on the EMI-Capitol label (with some exceptions). After
a few years, the EMI-Capitol label was terminated and all EMI classical
recordings (whether HMV or Columbia) were issued on Angel.
--Thomas
td
> "EM" <emmemmmemnmme...@gnail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:49a5e73c$0$28139$5fc...@news.tiscali.nl...
>
>
>
> > "Matthew B. Tepper" <oyþ@earthlink.net> - Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:43:19
> > -0600:
>
> >> Interesting article in the current issue of The Jewish Journal:
>
> >> _a_second_chance_20090218/
>
> > Indeed.
>
> > "German culture is a part of Jewish culture and vice versa. Wagner's
> > influence can no more be extricated from Jewish music history than
> > Mendelssohn's, Mahler's or Schoenberg's could be from German music
> > history. The two - German and Jewish - go hand in hand, for better or
> > worse.(...)
> > Whatever one thinks of Wagner the person, his accomplishment in "The
> > Ring" ranks among the greatest artistic achievements in Western
> > civilization."
>
> > Will it be read in Israel, I wonder.
>
> > EM
>
> Of course it will. Wagners music has nothing to do with blonde Aryans
> shoving Jews into the gas chambers - not one thing,.
Welcome to the wonderful world of holocaust deniers.
TD
td
Interesting.
Because I recall purchasing one of my very first LPs in about 1955. It
was a Gilels LP on the Angel label. Also an early monaural Malcuzynski
Chopin Sonata LP. Both are now EMI product, of course, but as they
were on the Angel label - not HMV - it would have been difficult to
know what the "label" was they originated on in Europe.
You keep your High Fidelity magazines from 1956? Bravo! I have learned
to discard all magazines after a year. No room. But I do have all the
annuals, minus the advertisements, of course. I must check my Schwann
artist catalogues to see when that set entered the catalogue.
TD
mpe...@comcast.net
I have the Membran set and am pleased with the transfers, though I
have no idea
if it's the label's own work or not. It's sounds approximately midway
between 1980s EMI
and Pearl - so comparatively open on top without excessive surface
noise. I haven't heard
the Naxos to compare.
Marc Perman
Thomas Liebert
No, I haven't kept all my High Fidelity Magazines since 1956. I disposed
of most of them years ago. I kept this Nov 1956 issue because it was the
first issue I ever had. It was given to me by a friend of my father. I
began subscribing in Dec 1957, and remained a subscriber until the end.
--Thomas
wagnerfan
news:R76dnbqvJd4FmDvU...@giganews.com...
As did I but I have a complete bound collection of High Fidelity from the
first issue through the end - a treasure trove of great reading. Wagner fan
Sol L. Siegel
wrote:
>...But [they] did come out also on Seraphim boxes.
>Maybe three or four? Can't recall. Or was that the later transfer from
>the 1970s?
Four boxes, plus a fifth for the variations and bagatelles (no Op.
119, of course). They came out around 1970. I still have the entire
set; I kept it for Blom's notes and have never got around to unloading
it.
- Sol L. Siegel, Philadelphia, PA USA
Rugby
s, it is a maroon box (slipcase) with a thick booklet containing the
> original notes by Eric Blom and an article by Irving Kolodin. Angel
> GRM-4005.
Blom's notes address each movement of each Sonata,with brief examples
from the actual scores. Ah, when liner notes were liner notes.
"In the broadest sense,the career of Artur Schnabel conforms to the
proposition of any worthwhile career,whether in the arts or sciences :
namely, it contributes to the sum of knowledge in existence when the
career began, and it proceeds,through a continuity of effort, to a
logical outcome...It was , then , the recordings which forged the
chain linking Schnabel to the largest portion of his public....Through
them are coveyed the ideals to which Schnabel devoted his life,the
views on which he staked success or failure." Irving Kolodin, also
from the liner notes.
And, to recall, the last time he did the Beethoven cycle was 1936, and
only 3 cycles before then.
Regards, Rugby
Allen
events that I associate with that release (but which aren't relevant to
rmcr) would confirm that date. Incidentally, MOT's transfers on Naxos
blew that Seraphim release totally out of the water. I gave the LP set
to my local classical for an annual sale they used to have, but I miss
the notes that were included.
Allen
MELMOTH
25/02/2009, dans nos oreilles grandes ouvertes mais un peu salestout de
même, et dans le message
<1098e865-48fb-4ac8...@v15g2000yqn.googlegroups.com>,
les doux mélismes suivants :
> I'd be gateful if anyone would advise me about the sound quality of
> the releases of Schnabel's Beethoven Sonatas on Membran Interntional
> and Regis. I am aware of several other releases and have read about
> their relative merits; it is the two releases above for which I seek
> information.
For Me, the best is Naxos/Marc Obert-Thorn remastering...
--
Car avec beaucoup de science, il y a beaucoup de chagrin ; et celui qui
accroît sa science, accroît sa douleur.
[Ecclésiaste, 1-18]
MELMOTH - souffrant
td
> td <tomdedea...@mac.com> - Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:47:43 -0800 (PST):
>
> > Welcome to the wonderful world of holocaust deniers.
>
I am afraid you are already in it. Enjoy.
TD
Dontait...@aol.com
> td wrote:
[editing]
> >>RCA Victor also issued a box in 1956 which included the complete piano
> >>scores in an edition edited by Schnabel. I believe it also included the
> >>notes by Eric Blom.
>
> > I do believe it was earlier than that, Thomas. 1956? Angel was already
> > in full force in the USA.
>
> > TD
>
> I still have the November 1956 issue of High Fidelity in which this
> limited-edition box is advertised (in time for Christmas). Price: $80.
> The ad says the the box is leather bound.
>
> The individual lps were also issued individually by RCA Victor over a
> period of several years, beginning prior to 1956.
As a "Victor" collector who has made something of a study of this
sort of thing, may I contribute?
There was indeed an RCA Victor LP set of all 32 Beethoven sonatas
with Schnabel. LM-9500. It was issued, as Thomas wrote, in November
1956, and was a limited edition, as he said.
I own one. Even by 1950s packaging standards, it's a remarkable
album. 13-1/2 inches high and 4 inches wide. It's made of heavy boards
about 1/4 inch thick, hinged at the left front. When opened there is a
tray containing thirteen LPs with all of the sonatas. When that is
lifted out, there are two paperback volumes of all 32 sonatas in
Schnabel's edition in a precisely fitted area. Given the books, it
probably weighs six or seven pounds. (Incidentally, I don't think it's
covered in genuine leather, despite RCA's advertising. A tiny corner
of my set is a bit torn, and it looks a lot like paper.)
The enclosed leaflet is curiously thin and brief. Six LP-size pages.
There is an essay "Beethoven and Schnabel" by Dr. Joseph Braunstein
and an essay about Schnabel by the (then-)ubiquitous Irving Kolodin.
Plus a reproduction of a handwritten tribute to the project from
Therese Behr Schnabel. Eric Blom's notes are not included.
As Thomas wrote, there were also RCA Victor single LP issues of the
Schnabel cycle. The first two were LCT-1109/1110 in early 1953.
LCT-1154/1155 followed around 1954 or '55. The rest didn't follow
until after the late 1956 limited edition set, however. LM-2151
through -2158 completed the cycle as singles in 1957.Some were deleted
in 1958, the rest in January 1960.
The complete severance of the HMV/RCA Victor relationship after
about 1957 seems somewhat complicated....
Don Tait
td
> 6 or 7 lbs is a Bagatelle compared to the shellac set..
> "Tom B" posted a couple of pictures last August, after he'd acquired
> LM-9500http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=777814
>
> Despite reading some previous posts on RMCR still not suret where
> 'these' transfers were 'from'...
> Shellacs ?...vinyl's from metalwork ? (not RCA's copies , of course?).
> From my limited experience of RCA Victor dubbings (ie Gold Label
> 'Collector' series - early/mid '50s) they heavily filtered to the point of unlistenabilty..
My memories are not so negative about this set.
Can't say WHO did them or WHERE they were done. Perhaps EMI prepared
this release as well, and then issued their own version on Great
Recordings of the Century.
Thing is, that series was really started in France, not the UK, and I
cannot imagine RCA in New York dealing with Pathe Marconi in Paris.
Shrouded in the mists of time, all this. And anyone who was
responsible for either set is now long gone, I would think. Perhaps
Bryan Crimp would know the story. I must ask him some time.
TD
Dontait...@aol.com
> 6 or 7 lbs is a Bagatelle compared to the shellac set..
> "Tom B" posted a couple of pictures last August, after he'd acquired
> LM-9500http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=vinyl&n=777814
>
> Despite reading some previous posts on RMCR still not suret where
> 'these' transfers were 'from'...
> Shellacs ?...vinyl's from metalwork ? (not RCA's copies , of course?).
> From my limited experience of RCA Victor dubbings (ie Gold Label
> 'Collector' series - early/mid '50s) they heavily filtered to the
> point of unlistenabilty..
Not at all about "listenability" for the Victor 1950s transfers. I
own and know them all. They are not heavily filtered, and in fact in
some cases have greater presence and tonal color than the GROC LPs
that followed.
Please list the LCT and other RCA Victor transfers you have found
unlistenable.
Don Tait
wagnerfan
news:64ed862a-fc85-4730...@q9g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
> Listing all the dreadful RCA Victor dubbings I've got (courtesy of HMV
> - particularly Toscanini) is rather a challenge..but..restricting
> myself to the Gold Label series that I specifically mentioned - then I
> wonder where all the "presence and tonal color" went in my (mint) set
> of LCT 6001 (Busch/Marriage of Figaro) - early copy (Blue/White
> innersleeve - 45/LP booklet).
> Damped down & lacking in any treble detail - vocal sibilants - there
> are none..
> Anthony Griffith was doing rather better for HMV (Zauberflote/Tosca)
> just a year or three later...but, admittedly, haven't listened to the
> Rachmaninov PC's on 3x HMV CSLP's - from RCA dubs..but, as a 6yo, was
> well acquainted with one of the Caruso's in that series - and it
> sounded pretty smothered, sonically...have some of the LCT 'Golden Age
> of Singers' - but not listened to them..
> YMMV, of course!
The best CD transfer of the 34 Glyndebourne Nozze is the one from Pristine
Audio - really wonderful. Wagner fan
Thomas Liebert
Thank you so much, Don, for providing a description of this album; and
thanks also to Frank for providing a link to photographs of the album.
The RCA Victor ad in the Nov 1956 issue of High Fidelity also shows
another limited edition album called "Homage to Mozart". This album
contains only three LPs, but is priced at $50! The ad doesn't really say
what exactly is in the album. Do you happen to have that album, Don? If
so, could you give us a description of what it contains?
Thanks again!
--Thomas
t
Noteworthily, the 13 discs had automatic siding. Thus side 26 is on
back of side 1. The Hammerklavier spans three different discs.
gperkins151
> I have it too.
> Noteworthily, the 13 discs had automatic siding. Thus side 26 is on
> back of side 1. The Hammerklavier spans three different discs.
>
>
> > There was indeed an RCA Victor LP set of all 32 Beethoven sonatas
> > with Schnabel. LM-9500. It was issued, as Thomas wrote, in November
> > 1956, and was a limited edition, as he said.
>
> > I own one. Even by 1950s packaging standards, it's a remarkable
> > album. 13-1/2 inches high and 4 inches wide. It's made of heavy boards
> > about 1/4 inch thick, hinged at the left front. When opened there is a
> > tray containing thirteen LPs with all of the sonatas. When that is
> > lifted out, there are two paperback volumes of all 32 sonatas in
> > Schnabel's edition in a precisely fitted area. Given the books, it
> > probably weighs six or seven pounds. (Incidentally, I don't think it's
> > covered in genuine leather, despite RCA's advertising. A tiny corner
> > of my set is a bit torn, and it looks a lot like paper.)
.
Thomas Liebert
I see that a seller on ebay has a "near-mint condition" copy of "Homage
to Mozart" for sale (LM-6130, 3 LPs, $475). He provides a complete
description of the contents. The recordings were selected by Irving
Kolodin and date from 1907 to 1948. In some cases, only one or two
movements from a complete work are included.
FWIW, the album sold for $50 in 1956, which is equivalent to $400 in 2009.
--Thomas
Dontait...@aol.com
> Listing all the dreadful RCA Victor dubbings I've got (courtesy of HMV
> - particularly Toscanini) is rather a challenge..but..restricting
> myself to the Gold Label series that I specifically mentioned - then I
> wonder where all the "presence and tonal color" went in my (mint) set
> of LCT 6001 (Busch/Marriage of Figaro) - early copy (Blue/White
> innersleeve - 45/LP booklet).
> Damped down & lacking in any treble detail - vocal sibilants - there
> are none..
> Anthony Griffith was doing rather better for HMV (Zauberflote/Tosca)
> just a year or three later...but, admittedly, haven't listened to the
> Rachmaninov PC's on 3x HMV CSLP's - from RCA dubs..but, as a 6yo, was
> well acquainted with one of the Caruso's in that series - and it
> sounded pretty smothered, sonically...have some of the LCT 'Golden Age
> of Singers' - but not listened to them..
> YMMV, of course!
I was referring specifically to Victor's "Treasury of Immortal
Performances" series of LP reissues ("LCT-"). There were only a very
few Toscanini recordings in that series, one of which (LCT-1013,
Beethoven 7 with the NYPSO) was indeed a very bad transfer. The later
Camden release (circa 1957) was much better.
I'm aware of some 1950s HMV UK releases of titles that appeared on
the LCT- series in the USA and own one or two (how handsome they
are!), but the series here was extensive, involving almost sixty
single LPs and almost two dozen two-, three-, and in cases more record
sets. I own them all.
Anyway, I acknowledge your point. Hasty generalization is always
bad, and that's what I did. The transfers in the series were/are
variable. Yes, the Busch Figaro on LCT-6001 wasn't a good transfer.
The Busch Don Giovanni on LCT-6102 also has problems, especially the
distortion at the end of side one. The Beecham Faust (-6100) and
Messiah (-6401) and Desormiere Pelleas et Melisande (-6103) are also
inferior to later transfers. The Rachmaninoff transfers tended to
sound thin and clattery, too -- perhaps because when most of the
recordings were made in the late 1930s Victor was using a very bass-
shy equalization curve, and the people who made the LP transfers in
the 1950s failed to compensate for it.
With that said, I must stand by the essence of my comments. The LCT-
series was variable, but more of its releases were superb transfers
than were failures. A few that come to mind are LCT-1026 (Dvorak
Concerto/Casals), -1028 (Boccherini Concerto, Bruch Kul Nidre/Casals),
-1033 (Die Walkeure Act I/Lehmann, Melchior, List, Walter), -1048 (Die
Schoene Muellerin/Aksel Schiotz), -1105 (Wagner/Traubel, Melchior),
-1134 (Copland/Koussevitzky, Boston Sym.), -1146 (Berlioz/Primrose,
Koussevitzky/BSO), -6011 (Gregorian Chant/Monks Choir of Saint-Pierre
de Solemes Abbey), -6015 (Mahler: Symphony 9, Haydn: Symphony 96/
Walter VPO, 1930s). The Gregorian chant set has astonishing sound for
something recorded in the late 1920s and is a faithful transfer of the
78s, resonance and overtones intact (I own and know the 78s). The
Mahler is a considerably superior transfer to that in World Record
Club SH.193/194 from the 1970s, which sounds electronically processed;
the Victor sounds like the 78s. And I still believe that LCT-6700,
which contains the Beethoven concertos in the Schnabel/Sergent
versions plus Schnabel's recording of Beethoven's Eroica Variations,
sounds superb. There are no muffled highs on any of them.
This isn't meant to be an argument, and I hope you will not take it
as that. I'd like it to be a conversation about something we both find
interesting. My best.
Don Tait
Dontait...@aol.com
> Thomas Liebert wrote:
> > Dontaitchic...@aol.com
> > Thank you so much, Don, for providing a description of this album [RCA Victor LM-9500, Schnabel/Beethoven]; and
> > thanks also to Frank for providing a link to photographs of the album.
>
> > The RCA Victor ad in the Nov 1956 issue of High Fidelity also shows
> > another limited edition album called "Homage to Mozart". This album
> > contains only three LPs, but is priced at $50! The ad doesn't really say
> > what exactly is in the album. Do you happen to have that album, Don? If
> > so, could you give us a description of what it contains?
>
> > Thanks again!
>
> > --Thomas
>
> I see that a seller on ebay has a "near-mint condition" copy of "Homage
> to Mozart" for sale (LM-6130, 3 LPs, $475). He provides a complete
> description of the contents. The recordings were selected by Irving
> Kolodin and date from 1907 to 1948. In some cases, only one or two
> movements from a complete work are included.
>
> FWIW, the album sold for $50 in 1956, which is equivalent to $400 in 2009.
>
> --Thomas
Hi Thomas,
Thanks for posting this. Yes, I do own a copy of the RCA Victor
Mozart album (LM-6130). I assume from your post that the eBay seller
includes a complete listing of the set's contents, so I won't bother
here.
As you implied, the set is something of a rip-off. A bit silly, too.
As I recall, there are one or maybe two movements of a Mozart violin
concerto with Jacques Thibaud (I believe the concerto has since been
proved to be spurious, but no one knew it in 1955 -- and Thibaud et
cetera recorded it complete around 1927), one or two movements of a
horn concerto with Aubrey Brain and Boult (they recorded that
complete, too) and so on. All in all, it's yet another Irving Kolodin
deal. In the meantime, the album is itself a masterpiece. Heavy
endpages (no cardboard) and page after page of gorgeously reproduced
photos having to do with Mozart and his environs.
$50.00 in 1956 would be $400.00 today?? Jeepers! Thanks.
Don Tait
Ward Hardman
Was this the album for which High Fidelity magazine stated that John
McCormack's "Il Mio Tesoro" was worth the full cost of the set?
(According to my memory from over a half-century ago. ;-)
--Ward Hardman
"The older I get, the more I admire and crave competence,
just simple competence, in any field from adultery to zoology."
- H.L. Mencken
Dontait...@aol.com
> Just as you only have a few HMV ''Immortal Performances' - so my
> 'stash' is limited for US Gold Labels (presumably pre-mid 50s) ..
> 4xsingles.. LCT 1003/1006/1007/1037.
> Noticeable, just checking a few tracks from 1003 + other sides, is the
> very considerable bass 'rumble' played as stereo (much reduced as
> mono) - which suggests a fault in the cutting equipment...or some
> excessive bass eq (at least via RIAA).
Forgive me, but: playing any old mono recording back in stereo will
give rumble and other sonic problems. Recordings should be played
back, and listened to, under conditions that most closely resemble
those under which they were made. RCA Victor LPs (and 45s and 78s)
need to be listened to with the curves in use when the records
themselves were made. It wasn't standardized throughout the industry
until RIAA in 1955. And, always, in mono.
A tardy reply otherwise. Sorry, and thanks for this.
Alan Poulton, in one of his "Label Discography of Long-Playing
Records," for one of the HMV books (The Oakwood Press, 1975) lists
HMV's "Golden Treasury of Immortal Performances" (RCA Victor's name
for the LCT series). The HMV prefix for that series was "CSLP."
Poulton lists HMV CSLP 500 through 520, with three titles blank. Every
listed title is clearly something taken from an RCA Victor LP reissue.
So I have never felt the need to pursue and collect the HMV LPs.
I agree that the HMV CSLP series is gorgeous. What beautiful records
and sleeves. I love them....
Don Tait
Next!!! --
> It happens that I'd a cache of early/mint 'French' 78s in an auction
> lot last month; so (unless it's a different date/'take') can directly
> compare 1037's Scotti/Farrar 'Bacarolle' with the single-sided
> HMV...though I've heard Bori (in my �wonderful 'La Paloma') sounding
> more vivid on 78..
> Though variable, transfers weren't muffled - but the dubbing-cartridge
> 'characteristics' might suggest an 'old model' ...
> Presumably RCA were dubbing from metals of the EMI issues...but it did
> occur to me that the 'reason' for COLH's being transferred in France
> was that the Pathe shellacs would've been much quieter - �the Walkure
> Act 1 was dubbed in Berlin - so maybe Hayes' metal's were destroyed -
> but surely not before tapes were made - though, about 20years back,
> they were destroying their Italian 'popular' metals..on the basis that
> if anyone was interested there wouldstill be shellacs available!
> Anyway - 'all before my time' !!
> All best - and will give those LCT vocals a listen - had them 10years
> - ex USAF 'Naafi' stock..
Fascinating. Please keep talking, OK? I have to go now. More to
come.
Don T.
Thomas Liebert
I don't know - I never saw that review. However, a few years later, RCA
issued a 5 LP set "Ten Great Singers" (LM-6705) at less than full price.
I immediately purchased it, primarily because it contained John
McCormack's "Il Mio Tesoro". I was very pleased with this album which
contained a really nice selection of recordings by Caruso, McCormack,
Ponselle, Gigli, Galli-Curci, Rethberg, Tibbett, Pinza, Pons, and
Flagstad. It included a very nice booklet with photographs of the
artists and, for each selection, recording date, matrix number, and
catalog number of the first 78 RPM release. IMHO, LM-6705 was the better
buy.
--Thomas