Sold Date: January 19, 2024
Start Date: January 12, 2024
Final Price: $10.99 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 1119
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On offer here a superb, coveted, Still Factory Sealed, 2-LP Set of the great Canadian-born concert pianist Webster Aitken in live, awesome 1961 concert performances of two Beethoven keyboard masterworks: the superlative Hammerklavier Sonata (Op. 106) and the astounding, intricate, and inventive Diabelli Variations. These keyboard gems (originally recorded in Mono) have been reprocessed here to Stereo for this essential 1974 release in the Delos Memorable Concert Performance Series. One of Artur Schnabel's finest students, Aitken first concertized extensively in Austria and Europe in the 1930s, hanging with good buddies like Alma Mahler and the artist Oskar Kokoschka. Returning to the U.S., Aitken became a devoted exponent of Schubert's keyboard works, giving critically acclaimed concerts in New York and elsewhere. His audacity, skill, and masterly technique in Beethoven performance were legend. Aitken's concertizing deeply impressed some of the most exacting U.S. classical music critics of his era, including Virgil Thomson and Elliott Carter (No Less!). Thomson called Aitken "the most masterful of all our American pianists." Carter discerned Aitken's playing as "remarkable...breathtaking...imparting extraordinary eloquence."  Sealed albums here are Presumed First Edition and Presumed First Pressings. Gate-Fold Jacket is Mint as well. Not a Cut-Out. Still Glossy faces and tightly encased in shrink-wrap. Liner notes by Aitken himself. A superlative, certainly collectible copy giving a comprehensive survey of the soloist's concert career and performance practices in Beethoven keyboard masterpieces. 
All Used and Open rare classical albums sold here at V.S.O.V. are examined under brightest light to detect any visible imperfections. I will sell no album below a grade of Near-Mint and that I would not add to my own meticulously kept classical record collection developed over the last 40 years. All of your used and open purchases here will be cleaned before shipment to you using a Music Hall, wcs-2 vacuum cleaning machine for disks treated prior and gently with a very low-alcohol cleaning fluid. Play grading happily provided upon request. Kindly Contact me via Ebay before bidding to request this service. Buy your used and open classical disks here with total confidence that they will be very safely packed in proper heavy-cardboard record mailers for shipment to any location and arrive to you in near-flawless playing condition. Guaranteed or your money back! Combined shipping always on offer here. Please Just await my prompt invoice with combined shipping costs at the conclusion of your purchases and before paying. Thank You!