Michelucci: Vivaldi 4 Seasons - Philips Japan (heavy gatefold, full score)

$

34

redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This impressive deluxe gatefold album from Japanese Philips (X-5515, Japanese pressing, red/silver label, stereo, full score included) features Roberto Michelucci's exhilirating and vibrant rendition of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons Op. 8 Nos. 1-4, from 'The Trial of Harmony and Invention', recorded circa 1968 with the crack Italian ensemble I Musici.

The contents of the LP are as follows then:

Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) Op. 8, from 'The Trial of Harmony and Invention'

No. 1 in E Major "Primavera" RV 269

No. 2 in G minor "L'estate" RV 315

No. 3 in F Major "L'autumno" RV 293

No. 4 in F minor "L'inverno" RV 297

The production values for this issue are quite remarkable: the gatefold album is of leather or leather-like material, with gold embossed lettering, very sturdy. In addition to the extensive liner notes (a Japanese translation of producer Vittorio Negri Bryks’ essay) and several photos from the recording session, the full score to Vivaldi’s masterpiece is included as well.

Wrote veteran critic Edward Greenfield in his December 1970 review for The Gramophone:

“The previous version [of Four Seasons] by I Musici with Felix Ayo as soloist became the model, in fact, of a particular kind of interpretation—the polished, refined approach favoured by the finest Italian chamber orchestras. As RL said when he reviewed the last reissue only three years ago, the polish and refinement can seem excessive, and I am particularly glad to welcome the present new version from I Musici, in that virtually all the reservations one came to have have been eliminated.

"One has only to sample the first few bars of the first two movements of "Spring" to have this marked change brought home. Where the opening in the old version had the rhythms smoothed over (partly the result of having the harpsichord continuo virtually inaudible), the new one is far fresher and brighter with nicely elaborated continuo. In the slow movement the old version concentrated on sweetness of melody, and the staccato comments were smoothed over, where now they provide a nice combination of contrasted textures.

"One could go through each concerto to point a similar development, with the new version consistently brighter and fresher in fast movements, sometimes dramatically so as in the outer movements of "Autumn". In the slow movements the new soloist, Roberto Michelucci, has a fine sense of line and a tone as sweet as Ayo's, but he rarely if ever allows the style to grow too sweet, keeping a classical purity. The degree of restraint in the slow movement of "Winter" is most beautifully achieved, and where in the slow movement of "Summer" the earlier version was too smooth to sound ominous before the storm, this new version has floe atmospheric tension. The storm itself was marginally more exciting in the old version, (possibly a result of more reverberant recording) but the new one brings fine pointed comment from the harpsichord continuo.

"The only movement where the development is markedly different is the slow movement of "Autumn", where the drunken slumberers relax even more than before at a very slow tempo, with harpsichord arpeggios about as measured as they could conceivably be. Even then the result is not sentimental, though as always through both these performances the group's control of tonal refinement is most acute."

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 EXCELLENT. There is minor bumping at corners and mild shelfwear, but that is all. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, an excellent collector’s copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Although surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) this is a fine copy and playback is superb. If you must have perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a NM collector's copy.

PLEASE NOTE:
This LP has been carefully cleaned using a VPI cleaning machine. 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!

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