Sold Date: May 26, 2016
Start Date: March 25, 2016
Final Price: $145.00 $105.00 (USD)
Seller Feedback: 3661
Buyer Feedback: 17

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome 2 LP gatefold set from La Voix de son Maitre (FALP 381-382, French pressing, heavy flat vinyl, red/silver semi-circle labels – ED1, mono, booklet included) features Wilhelm Furtwangler's legendary ‘live’ 29 July 1951 account of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125, given with the Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra and soloists Elisabeth Schwarzkopf (soprano), Elisabeth Hongen (alto), Otto Edelmann (tenor), and Hans Hopf (bass), a famous performance needing no introduction.

This exalted and iconic performance was issued by permission of Wieland and Wolfgang Wagner and Frau Elisabeth Furtwängler. With the chorus trained by Wilhelm Pitz, Furtangler's Bayreuth Ninth's remains among the very greatest ever captured on record.

Of EMI’s CD re-issue of this performance in their “Great Recordings of the Century” series, BBC Music Magazine wrote:

“The performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony given to mark the reopening of the Bayreuth Festival in 1951, with Wilhelm Furtwängler as high priest, has some memorable flaws (that agonisingly out-of-tune horn solo in the slow movement!), but this is Furtwängler’s most rhapsodic and idealistic traversal of the choral finale on record, and the whole proves an incomparably vivid concoction of energy and breadth, tradition and vision.”

A note on the production details of this set: This is the only copy I have ever seen to employ a gatefold design, with very heavy board on either side and the center section containing a pocket to hold the small liner notes booklet. All other copies I have come across feature the usual box. In any case, it is of extremely solid construction and collectors need not hesitate.

The 4-page booklet, in addition to including a portrait of Furtwangler and the text to Schiller’s Ode (in German only), has fine notes by Gustave Szmazeuilh, printed in French only.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the heavy gatefold album is VERY GOOD. There is edgewear and discoloration, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, owners' markings, or other defects, and the album remains extremely solid and attractive. Overall, this is a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the 2 LPs is EXCELLENT throughout. Though there is light surface noise throughout, the sound is tremendously vivid and, in general, playback remains quite fine. If you must flawless or NM surfaces, however, then please do not buy this set. Overall, these are excellent collector's copies.

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!

PAYMENT:
Payment by PayPal is greatly preferred. Payment should be made within 5 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 airmail (7-10 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 contact me.

FEEDBACK:
I will promptly leave feedback for all buyers. Please do not leave negative, or even neutral, feedback without first giving me an opportunity to resolve any dissatisfaction you might have with an item or transaction. I do understand that, on occasion, a buyer might believe the item description to be inaccurate or that a buyer may be disappointed in some other way regarding the sale. I promise I will do my very best to resolve any unhappiness you've experienced in your buying experience with me to your complete satisfaction. Thank you.

REFUNDS:
Returns are honored, and any buyer you makes a return will be refunded in full. Please contact me 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.