Sargent/RPO: Handel Royal Fireworks & Water Music Suites - ALP 1710

Jacket EX / LP EX / English pressing

This beautiful LP – a truly fine collector's copy – from His Master's Voice (ALP 1710, English EMI pressing, red/gold semi-circle label, mono, laminated flipback jacket, original inner sleeve included) features Sir Malcolm Sargent and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a glorious all-Handel program, recorded in the fabled acoustics of London's Kingsway Hall on 4 February 1959.

Sargent was arguably the preeminent Handel conductor of the last century and this brilliant performances show why, buoyant, full of light and shade, wit and poetry, and yet unfailingly vital always.

The exact contents are as follows:

Handel (arr. Sir Hamilton Harty): Water Music

            Allegro – Air – Bourée – Hornpipe – Andante espressivo – Allegro deciso

Handel (arr. Sir Edward Elgar): Overture in D minor

Handel (arr. Sir Hamilton Harty): Music for the Royal Fireworks

            Overture – Alla sicilana – Bourée – Minuet

Handel: Overture to "Samson"

Incidentally, there are fine liner notes, in English only, on the reverse side of the jacket by composer Robin Golding. The front cover art 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 very slight bumping/wear at corners, as well as mild discoloration, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, owners' markings, or other defects, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, this rates as a superb collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT+. Though the surfaces are not absolutely silent, really this is a fine copy and the playback is quite superb. Those requiring CD silent surfaces are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.