Patané: "Intermezzo" (Mascagni, Puccini, Verdi) - Electrola SME 81028 (ED1)

Jacket VG / LP NM

This handsome and rather rare LP from Electrola (SME 81028, German pressing, white/gold label – ED1, stereo) entitled "Intermezzo" features the great conductor Giuseppe Patané and the Orchestra of the Bavarian State Opera in a captivating album of overtures and ballet music, all brought with tremendous character, brilliantly mingling both poetry and panache.

The exact contents are as follows:

Vincenzo Bellini: Overture to Norma

Giuseppe Verdi: Dance of the Moorish Slaves, Ballet Music & Act II Finale from Aida

Giuseppe Verdi: Overture to Nabucco

Ruggiero Leoncavallo: Intermezzo from Der Bajazzo

Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria rusticana

Pietro Mascagni: Intermezzo from Freund Fritz

Giacomo Puccini: Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut

Giacomo Puccini: Intermezzo from Schwester Angelica

Recorded in the mid-1960s, Patane draws playing of enormous character from the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra and one can only wish he had been afforded the opportunity to record more purely symphonic music – what must have an "Eroica" sounded under his baton?

The reverse side of the jacket carries insightful liner notes by Ekkehart Kroher, printed in both English and German. The memorable cover photo of Patané was taken by Rudolf Betz, Munich.

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 VERY GOOD. There is neat punch-hole to the upper-right corner, as well as some creasing, minor wear at corners, and creasing. However, there are no seamsplits, owners' markings, or other defects, and the album remains perfectly solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive in appearance – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Though the surfaces are not perfectly 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.