Furtwangler: Beethoven 9th - Electrola WALP 1286/87 (2LP box) - superb NM- copy

$

50

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This outstanding and rare 2LP cloth box set – a fine collector's copy – from German Electrola (WALP 1286/87, German pressing, first red/gold 'LANG331/3SPIEL' Electrola label, original stitched inner jackets included, mono) features Wilhelm Furtwangler's legendary ‘live’ 29 July 1951 account of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125, given with the Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra and soloists Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Elisabeth Hongen (alto), Otto Edelmann (tenor), and Hans Hopf (bass).

This exalted and iconic performance was issued by permission of Wieland and Wolfgang Wagner and Frau Elisabeth Furtwängler. With the chorus trained by Wilhelm Pitz, Furtangler's Bayreuth Ninth remains among the very greatest ever captured on record.

Of EMI’s “Great Recordings of the Century” CD re-issue of this performance, BBC Music Magazine wrote:

“The performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony given to mark the reopening of the Bayreuth Festival in 1951, with Wilhelm Furtwängler as high priest, has some memorable flaws (that agonisingly out-of-tune horn solo in the slow movement!), but this is Furtwängler’s most rhapsodic and idealistic traversal of the choral finale on record, and the whole proves an incomparably vivid concoction of energy and breadth, tradition and vision.”

The two LPs are each housed in their own individual stitched sleeves, the two sleeves fitting neatly into the heavy cloth box. The glossy red labels, with their handsome gold lettering, are also very attractive, gracing superb Electrola pressings that are a model of their kind.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

The condition of the box is near-MINT. Really, the flaws are minimal. There is almost no edgewear and only mild instances of discoloration. The gilt spine is bright and perfectly legible. There are no owners' markings or other defects of any kind. This heavy cloth box is perfectly solid, bright, and glossy – overall, this is a truly handsome collector's copy.

The condition of the full-size booklet is NM – really, there are no flaws to speak of.

The condition of the 2 LPs is NM-. Although the surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) these are fine copies and playback is superb. However, if you must have flawless surfaces, then please do not buy this set – these rate as NM- collector's copies.

PLEASE NOTE:
All LPs are provided with a new Nagaoka (or Nagaoka-style) inner sleeve. The images I've provided are of the actual item you are potentially bidding on - these are not stock images or images I've taken from other sites. Bid with confidence!

PAYMENT:
Payment by PayPal is greatly preferred. Payment should be made within 5 days.

SHIPPING:
Shipping is free to anywhere in the world; this is true regardless of the number of LPs you buy, be it 1 or a 100. All LPs will be sent via standard airmail (7-10 days delivery). Note: There is no tracking number provided with standard airmail. Should you wish to have your item(s) sent via certified airmail (i.e., with a tracking number), please let me know.

FEEDBACK:
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REFUNDS:
Returns are honored, and any buyer you makes a return will be refunded in full. Please let me know before making a return.

Please see my other classical LP and CD auctions, and feel free to write with any questions, I'll be glad to help.