Sold Date: November 5, 2024
Start Date: November 4, 2024
Final Price: $595.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 4677
Buyer Feedback: 243

ITEM DESCRIPTION:

This handsome and extraordinarily rare LP from Hispavox (HH 10-60, Spanish pressing, blue/silver label, mono, no stereo edition exists) features one of the most elusive Sarasate discs ever recorded, that by Cuban-Spanish violinist Eduardo Hernández Asiain (1911-2010) and pianist Jesús Galdea, recorded in Madrid in 1958.

There are some sellers online describing the Mexican Gamma issue, with near identical cover art, as the original issue. This is false. This was an original Hispavox recording and was first issued in Spain. The Gamma is equally attractive, but is the first Mexican issue, licensed from Hispavox.

The main offering is his rare 12" LP Sarasate disc. However, I am including as a bonus the same recital on the first Argentinian pressing. See full details below. This listing originally included two 7" EPs, but after inspecting them further, their condition is not strong enough to merit inclusion. So now there is just one bonus item, the other 12" LP pressed in Argentina.

Their program consists of the following works:

Aires gitanos (Zigeunerweisen)    9.25

Romanza andaluza                       5.20

Zapateado                                     3.42

Malagueña                                    5.07

Introducción y Tarantela                5.11

Capricho vasco (Zortzico)             4.46

Danza española No. 7                  6.18

Habanera                                       5.41

The photographs on the album front and rear are uncredited. There are extensive liner notes (in Spanish only), by Antonio Iglesias.

Asiain can withstand the most exalted comparisons, be they with Ruggiero Ricci, Aaron Rosand, Itzhak Perlman, or Michael Rabin. Moreover, he and Galdea are well-balanced, the microphone(s) not too close in a warm, but not over-reverberant acoustic.

At this time of publication, Spain was still suffering under the exigencies of Franco's dictatorship. There was an important recording industry, boasting quality technical and production standards, but print runs were generally smaller, perhaps 500 to 1000 copies for most classical titles. Asiain's Sarasate recital was re-issued in later years by Hispavox and Claves, but this early issue remains highly elusive and desirable – a curate's egg for the violinophile.

Asiain made few other commercial recordings until much later in life – these can be found as downloads on the Klasikart label. For 1950s/1960s-era 12" LPs, this is all we have of the great Eduardo Hernández Asiain. Select tracks from this album were released as EPs in Spain, but these are not nearly as rare.

As a bonus, I will include the following:

The first Argentinian pressing of the Asiain/Sarasate disc, which was issued on the Music Hall label, catalog number 14052.

Condition: Jacket EX / LP EX.

CONDITION OF HISPAVOX 12" LP – 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 jacket is EXCELLENT+ There is minor aging and very light discoloration to the rear panel. However, there are no seam splits, bends, owners' marking, or other defects and the fine laminate remains perfectly intact, the album boasting a nice lustre. Overall, this ranks as an EXCELLENT+ collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Visually, there are rubs, papers sleeve and other non-sounding small scratches and marks, as well as some spindle trails on Side 1. This includes a small cluster of scratches that doesn't sound. In terms of sound, although the surfaces are not perfectly silent, really this is a fine copy and playback is excellent. Arguably, it is best played with a mono cartridge. If you must have a flawless or NM copy, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this is an excellent collector's copy.

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 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 let me know.

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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.