Mengelberg: Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Ov, Tannhauser Ov, etc. - EMI Japan GR-2316

Jacket VG+ / LP EX

This handsome LP from EMI / Angel Japan (GR-2316, Japanese pressing, gray Angel “Great Recordings of the Century” label, mono, with OBI) features historical recordings of legendary conductor Willem Mengelberg, provided here in superlative transfers and lovely presentation.

In all three works, Mengelberg conducts the Concertgebouw Orchestra in recordings made at the Grote Zaal, the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

The exact contents are as follows:

Luigi Cherubini: Overture to Anacreon

(rec. 10 June 1927)

Richard Wagner: Overture to Tannhäuser

(rec. 1 May 1926)

Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet Overture-Fantasy

(rec. 30 May 1930)

Those not familiar with Japanese pressing would do well to investigate them. They often offer original artwork or, as is the case here, a perfect reproduction of the original jacket. The quality of the vinyl pressing itself is worthy of audiophile standards. Though this may not be the original Westminster LP, it undisputably delivers much smoother, and truer, sound.

There are extensive liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket, printed in Japanese only. The text (titles, etc.) on the actual LP, however, are in English.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY 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 VERY GOOD+. There is minor wear at corners and a small tear to the Obi on the reverse side. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, owners’ markings, or other defects, and the jacket remains solid, bright, and attractive– overall, a very good collector’s copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Please note: Any surface noise heard on this LP stems from the original 78s. Thus, surfaces are not silent, but this is no reflection of the condition of the LP – it is from the source material and the transfer work. This is a truly fine copy, but I am grading it as EX (vs. NM) just to compensate for the inherent surface noise.