Giacomo Puccini - Il Trittico (Il Tabarro - Suor Angelica - Gianni Schicchi); Tosca; Turandot; Madame Butterfly; La Fanciulla Del West (The Girl of the Golden West)

This lot of Puccini operas has been auditioned in its entirety (excepting the sealed “Il Trittico”).

There may often be a correlation between a visual appraisal and how a record actually sounds; but not always. While visible conditions are included for the “collector”, I try my best to impart to the potential purchaser whether a record is free from aural damage (scratches) and other defects. This is a rating system geared toward the listener. If say, there is poly-bag sleeve ghosting (transfer) to a record that sounds as if it were rarely played, if at all – (clean and quiet), then I will note the ghosting transfer for the collector, but rate the record NM for the listener. The reverse also holds true. In this case, a two-groove scratch, virtually invisible on a glossy black surface would have not been noted in “Visual Grading”. (See last opera listing below with (*) for a fuller description of this flaw.)

Il Trittico - Sealed Set containing (3) One Act Operas:

Il Tabarro

Renata Tebaldi – Mario del Monaco – Robert Merrill

Suor Angelica

Renata Tebaldi – Giulietta Simionato

Gianni Schicchi

Renata Tebaldi – Fernando Corena

Recorded July 12-26,1962 – Teatro Pergola, Florence – Recoding Engineer Kenneth Wilkerson

London “Jubilee” Re-issue - 411 655-3 – UK – (3 LPs) SEALED

The plastic seal is beginning to peel off from this set. There is a 5/8” “Close-Out” slit through the box cover in the bottom left corner.

Tosca - Opera in 3 Acts

Renata Tebaldi – Mario Del Monaco – George London

Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome

Bonaventura Somma – Choir Master – Conducted by Francesco Molinari-Pradelli

London OSA 1210 – UK – 1960 – 2 LPs (NM)

Finding copies of the 55-year-old Tebaldi classic is very easy.

Finding one that plays clean and quiet is difficult. But this one is such an example.

The Box Cover front cover graphic is also in wonderful shape with very little wear. There is a 1 inch split in the bottom edge of the back cover.

Turandot – Opera in 3 Acts

Eva Morton – Waldemar Kmentt – John Paul Bogart – Jose Carreras – Katia Ricciarelli

Vienna Boys' Choir

Vienna State Opera Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Lorin Maazel

Live Concert Recording at the Vienna State Opera House - September, 1983

Sefel Records (Canada) / CBS Masterworks (Columbia) – Digital Stereo - 13M 39160

Records Pressed by CBS Grammofoonplaten, Netherlands – 1984 – 3 LPs (NM)

Katia Ricciarelli as Liu is worth the price of admission on this one: That “admission” is putting up with the occasional set wagons rumbling across the stage. Thankfully coughs have been dodged out and the only time one hears from the audience is for applause/ovations. The sonics are overall very good on the live recording.

The box set covers and enclosures (libretto included) are in EX+ condition (Downgraded because of loss of the “Gold Seal” Masterworks logo to the front cover.

Enclosed is a 18” by 13” reproduction of a Tosca “One-Sheet” poster advertising the production's premier in Rome, 1900.

(See listing Picture)

Madame Butterfly - Opera in 3 Acts

Leontyne Price – Richard Tucker – Rosalind Elias – Philip Maero

RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf

RCA – LSC-6160 - (“Little Dog”) - U.S. - 1963 – 3 LPs (NM)

The Box Set cover is showing its age with modest wear to the front graphics. The “binding” edge no longer holds the back or bottom box – the edge graphic is beginning lift off (repairable).

There is one split corner and the cover of the libretto/notes has a bit of smudging. Overall, the box set still maintains its integrity (VG).

La Fanciulla Del West (The Girl of the Golden West) - Opera in 3 Acts

Carol Neblett – Placido Domingo – Sherrill Milnes

Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, conducted by Zubin Mehta

Deutsche Grammophon/Polydor - 2709 078 – Italy – 1978 - 3 LPs (5 sides NM – 1 side *VG)

* There is a two-groove scratch (light to moderate) a few minutes from the beginning of side #4.

This is in the middle of Act II during a recitative by Ms. Neblett. Because the rest of this lengthy opera is clean and quiet, it only makes sense to keep it in the running in spite of this short flaw.

The Box Set Cover and enclosed libretto/notes are in NM condition.

This lot will be well-packed and promptly shipped.

Free shipping via Media Mail is offered on this auction.

Usually, items will be packed and shipped within 12-24 hours of receipt of payment. This will happen 90% of the time. However, to cover all packing/shipping contingencies, I have opted for the 2-day turnaround for shipment.

If you are unsatisfied with this collection you can return it for a full refund. Return shipping cost will be the responsibility of the purchaser.

This Auction is for the U.S. Only. Thanks.