Starker: Bach 6 Suites for Solo Cello - Mercury SRI-3-77002 (3LP box set)

$

245

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This beautiful and now increasingly rare 3LP box set from Mercury (SRI-3-77002, Dutch pressings, blue/gold "Golden Imports" labels, stereo, booklet included) features Janos Starker's masterly traversal of Bach's Six Suites for Solo Cello BWV 1007-1012, warmly recorded in Ballroom Studio A, Fine Recording, New York during 1963 and 1965, produced by Harold Lawrence and engineered by Robert Eberenz.

Disc 1

Suite No. 1 in G Major BWV 1007 – rec. 7 September 1965

Suite No. 2 in D minor BWV 1008 – rec. 15 April 1963

Disc 2

Suite No. 3 in C Major BWV 1009 – rec. 21/22 December 1965

Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major BWV 1010 – rec. 21/22 December 1965

Disc 3

Suite No. 5 in C minor BWV 1011 – 24:46 – rec. 15 & 17 April 1963

Suite No. 6 in D Major BWV 1012 – 27:00 – rec. 7/8 September 1965

From a technical standpoint, Starker is almost unrivaled in his mastery of these scores. Happily, his technical fluency is outshone only by his probing musicianship. Starker has recorded these works on five separate occasions – this Mercury/Philips set was his third and arguably the highwater mark of his remarkable achievement in these works.

Included is the 4-page booklet with liner notes by Peter G. Davis. The photographs throughout are by Mary Morris.

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 box is VG. The only real flaw concerns a ripple or cut across the box front. It does not penetrate below the surface – it is just "topical". There is also a bit of shelf wear, visible in the photo. However, there are no corner breaks, seam splits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the box remains solid, bright, very attractive – overall, this rates as a very good collector’s copy.

The condition of the booklet is NM – there are no flaws to speak of.

The condition of the 3 LPs is near-MINT throughout and playback is superb in all 3 – overall, these rate as truly fine collector's copies.

Having said that, if you must have absolutely flawless surfaces, then please do not buy this set. But I have no hesitation in describing them as NM. There are no scratches, tics, pops, or clicks. There is no surface noise. But this is not a new set. It is used. It appears largely unplayed or seldom played. In any case, it was well cared for. Overall, these rate as truly fine 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 should be made within 3 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 economy airmail (10-20 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.