Perlman: Beethoven "Spring" & "Kreutzer" Sonatas - French Decca, superb copy

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redgarnett Store ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome gatefold LP – a fine collector’s copy – from Decca (591195 / BA-365, French pressing, silver/red/blue label, stereo) features Itzakh Perlman and Vladimir Ashkenazy's brilliant accounts of Beethoven’s Violin Sonatas No. 5 in F Major Op. 24 “Spring” and No. 9 in A Major Op. 47 “Kreutzer”.

These wonderful performances stem from their complete cycle of the 10 Violin Sonatas, recorded over sessions held between October 1973 and September 1976 (producers: Christopher Raeburn, Michael Woolcock, Richard Beswick / engineers: Kenneth Wilkinson, Colin Moorfoot, John Dunkerley).

There are fine liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by N. Lesieur, printed in French only. The striking cover photo of Perlman and Ashkenazy is uncredited.

Wrote composer and critic Christopher Headington in the January 1989 issue of The Gramophone:

"Here, as has already been said by a colleague ''discernment is matched by spontaneity'' and the whole series is remarkably fine, while their celebrated performance of the Kreutzer Sonata has a quite superb eloquence and verve."

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In the October 1984 issue of The Gramophone, Headington's colleague, the critic Lionel Salter, added:

"Their virtues of vitality, sense of rapport and deeply ingrained musicality have already, rightly, been much praised."

Although recorded – hard to believe – some 30 years ago(!), these performances arguably still reign supreme among stereo cycles of the Beethoven Violin Sonatas. Perlman and Ashkenazy were at the height of their considerable powers and were in perfect accord, each matching the other bar for bar in inspiration, poetry, and virtuosity – stunning!

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 some discoloration and spotting to the right interior and rear panels, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings and the jacket remains solid, bright, and glossy – 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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