RARE Audiophile Test Pressing DECCA SXL 2297 Brahms Clarinet Quintet VIENNA

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# Brahms: Clarinet Quintet / Wagner: Adagio for Clarinet and String Quartet

## Members of the Vienna Octet featuring Alfred Boskovsky

### Ultra-Rare German Audiophile Test Pressing / White Label Promo LP (Decca Stereo SXL 2297 Reissue)

Up for auction is an exquisite chamber music rarity: an authentic **German Test Pressing / White Label Promo** ("Unverkäufliche Musterplatte") of the December 1996 audiophile reissue of Johannes Brahms' masterwork *Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115* and Heinrich Joseph Baermann's *Clarinet Quintet, Op. 23* (attributed on this historic sleeve jacket to Richard Wagner). Originally recorded in April 1961 at Sofiensaal, Vienna.

This legendary performance stands as a definitive reference recording for its warmth, intimate staging, and incredible nuance. Remastered directly from the original analogue session tapes, the lacquers were cut in London by top mastering engineer Paschal Byrne at DECCA using a Neumann VMS 80 lathe with a Studer A 80 tape machine. Pressed onto premium **180g Virgin Vinyl** in Germany, the commercial run was limited to 1,000 copies per stamper. An advance *Musterplatte* test pressing like this is exceptionally scarce and highly coveted by discerning classical audiophiles.

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### ITEM DETAILS:

* **Label:** DECCA (Stereo SXL 2297 Reissue / Speakers Corner)

* **Label Variant:** White Label Test Pressing / Promo stamped *"Unverkäufliche Musterplatte"*

* **Country of Pressing:** Germany

* **Audio Engineer:** James Brown

* **Producer:** Erik Smith

* **Vinyl Weight:** 180 Gram Audiophile Virgin Vinyl

* **Includes:** Historical reissue backend insert jacket detailing production data and technical lineage.

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### SHIPPING & PACKAGING:

Your record will be packed professionally by a veteran collector. It will be shipped in a heavy-duty, dedicated cardboard record mailer with cardboard stiffeners to ensure it arrives at your doorstep safely. The vinyl will be placed outside the main jacket during transport to prevent spine splits.

**Bid with absolute confidence! International shipping is available via eBay International Shipping Program.**