Karajan/Philharmonia: Operatic Intermezzi - Columbia SAX 2294 (b/s ED1)

$

50

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This outstanding and rare LP from Columbia (SAX 2294, English EMI pressing, blue/silver label – ED1, stereo, original inner sleeve included) features Herbert von Karajan and the Philharmonia Orchestra in an enchanting and atmospheric program of operatic intermezzi.

 

All works were recorded in the fabled acoustics of London’s Kingsway Hall, in January 1959.

 

The exact contents are as follows:

 

Giacomo Puccini: Intermezzo, from Act III of Manon Lescaut

 

Giuseppe Verdi: Prelude to Act III of La Traviata

 

Ruggero Leoncavallo: Intermezzo, from I Pagliacci

 

Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo, from L’Amico Fritz

 

Franz Schmidt: Intermezzo, from Notre Dame

 

Hector Berlioz: Royal Hunt and Storm, from Act III of The Trojans

 

Modest Mussorgsky: Entr’acte, from Act IV of Khovantschina

 

Jacques Offenbach: Barcarolle, from Les Contes d’Hoffmann

 

Enrique Granados: Intermezzo, from Goyescas

 

Wrote the critic T.H. in his review for the February 1960 issue of The Gramophone: “I found this record less attractive to listen to than I had anticipated from its title, largely because the first side is made up of such uncontrasted pieces, none of any distinction; and the last and longest, the Franz Schmidt piece, is the most wearisome of all. You may raise an eyebrow at my talking about music of no distinction when the side includes a Traviata Prelude, but taken out of its context and set amongst these second-raters, it somehow fails to make its own effect.

 

“Side two starts off with the one really thrilling piece on the whole disc, Berlioz' Royal Hunt and Storm, a tone poem in its own right and a superb one at that. Karajan secures a highly vivid performance and this lifts us at once out of that sort of music which, whatever effect it may make in the theatre, is not always strong enough to stand on its own feet.

 

“This is, as you will have gathered, a record for those who are specially interested in titles such as these and as such it can be recommended, for the playing is always beautiful (how good to hear the Offenbach Barcarolle played like this) and the recording sounds very well.”

 

Incidentally, the striking cover art reprints Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “La Loge”, held at the Courtauld Institute. There are superb liner notes, provided in English only, on the reverse side of the jacket by Philip Hope-Wallace.

 

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:

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

 

The condition of the jacket is GOOD. There is bumping/wear at corners, slight fraying to the laminate, some scuffing/discoloration, and general tattiness. On the plus side, there are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and attractive – overall, still a quite decent copy.

 

The condition of the LP is VERY GOOD. Though the surfaces are not CD silent and there is some surface noise, in general the playback is enjoyable. However, those requiring CD silent surfaces are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this is a very good collector's copy.

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