Iona Brown/ASMF: Mozart Violin Concertos Nos. 3 & 4 (r. 1979) - Decca 6.42407

Jacket EX / LP NM / German pressing

This lovely LP from Decca (6.42407, German pressing, blue label, stereo) features Mozart playing at its very finest, pairing wonderfully ebullient accounts of the composer's Violin Concertos No. 3 in G Major K. 218 with No. 4 in D Major K. 218, both with Iona Brown as the inspired soloist, leading the Academy of St.-Martin-in-the-Fields from the violin.

Both performances were set down at Rosslyn Hill Chapel during 16-18 March 1979 (producer: Christopher Hazell / engineer: Colin Moorfoot).

These recordings can be counted among the finest ever made in either work's discography. There is none of the corporate facelessness or blandness too often passes for greatness today. Iona Brown was not just a musician's musician, but a truly remarkable musical personality in her own right. The sound is of Decca's top drawer – wonderful recordings! 

At the wonderful classical music retailer ArkivMusic, one can find the following review: 

“Among the many recordings of the complete Mozart Violin Concertos, this one, with the late Iona Brown directing the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields from the violin, has lain dormant for far too long. Gramophone magazine welcomed it with the words: "a series which is outstanding for its freshness and spontaneity in a highly-competitive field. As before, the ASMF respond instinctively to [Iona Brown's] skilled direction, and the recording is exemplary". This release includes Mozart's first effort at a Violin Concerto as well as two of the most popular ? the breezy Third Concerto and the colourful Fifth, also known as the 'Turkish'.”

There are fine liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Renate Federhofer-Königs, printed in German only. The striking cover photo is uncredited.

CONDITION:

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 a slight bend/crease to the lower-left corner and a small price sticker to the rear panel, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings, or other defects, and the jacket remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Although surfaces are not absolutely silent (and thus I have rated it NM vs. MINT) this is a fine copy and playback is superb. If you must have perfect surfaces, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, this rates as a NM collector's copy.