Accardo: Paganini works for Vn & Orch Vol 1 - EMI (DDD)

$

85

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and rare LP – a superb collector’s copy – from EMI (27 0062 1, German Electrola pressing / DMM · Direct Metal Mastering, large dog semi-circle label, DDD stereo) features Volume I in Salvatore Accardo’s magnificent survey of Nicolo Paganini’s lesser-known works for violin and orchestra, recorded at EMI Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London on 8/9 December 1983 with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe conducted by Franco Tamponi (producer: John Mordler / engineer: John Kurlander). This is exalted music making by any measure and all those who treasure the art of the violin will find much to cherish here.

Included are the following works by Paganini, with timings shown in parenthesis:

1) Variazioni su “Il Carnevale di Venezia” (12:02)

2) Larghetto con passione (3:56)

3) Moto perpetuo (4:09)

4) Variazioni di bravura sul Sol sopra di “Mose di Rossini” (9:44)

5) Sonata per la gran viola (12:58)

Wrote the critic M.M. in his review for the February 1985 issue of The Gramophone: “The virtuoso solo pieces of Paganini, once regarded with awe by every player (and all still are by most!) are today no doubt ranked as small change by the leading echelon of travelling virtuosos. And so Accardo makes them sound: every technical problem, however extreme, solved with the impression given that it is really no problem at all. Some spiccato passages remain in the memory as flawless demonstrations (and, uncharacteristically, so does one relatively 'simple' pizzicato variation which did indeed unexpectedly sound troublesome!).

“But also remains in the memory an impression that the playing was less relaxed in lyrical moments than it might have been. Perhaps the impression was helped along here and there by tonal factors. For two pieces Accardo tunes his violin a semitone sharp; for one (the Mose Variations) he tunes the G string—the only one used—a minor third higher. Paganini himself was fond of this dodge; but his gut strings would have responded in sound less icy than today's metal or metalcovered ones. (In the Mose Variations the effect, though, is much less pronounced than you would think: perhaps a special choice of string for the unusual operation was made.) In the case of the 'gran viola', an experimental five-stringed instrument, there is of course no standard by which to judge the sound, save to report that much use is made by Paganini of the highest register (where few violas are really at their best). The musical quality of the sonata for this instrument, variations again prominent, hardly justifies its revival save as a matter of instrumental interest; nor are the two unfamiliar short pieces really such a great find. Both seem to have been used by Paganini as occasional preludes to the original A major version of the Moto perpetuo; nevertheless, I am sure that Paganini's playing of that piece was well worth waiting for. And I know for certain that Accardo's playing of it today is worth waiting for: a stunning performance. Most of the Carnival of Venice Variations, too, have the same quality.

“The Chamber Orchestra of Europe must have enjoyed the sessions enormously. But alas! there can have been little to hold their attention in the accompaniments they were called on to play themselves.”

Incidentally, the liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket – provided in English, German, and Italian – were written Edward Neill.

CONDITION:

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

The condition of the jacket is near-MINT. There is very slight bumping/wear at corners, as well as some minor discoloration to the rear panel, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings and the album remains perfectly solid, bright, glossy, and very attractive – overall, a very fine collector’s copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT and the playback is superb – again, a very fine collector's copy.