Haskil: Beethoven Piano Sonatas Nos. 17 & 18 - Philips Réalités C. 35

Jacket EX- / LP NM-

This beautiful limited-edition (No. 806) gatefold album from Philips (C. 35 “Réalités”, French pressing, pink/white label, mono, heavy gatefold jacket) features Clara Haskil in vibrant and luminous accounts of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas No. 17 in D minor Op. 31 No. 2 "Tempest" and No. 18 in E-flat Major Op. 31 No. 3, both recorded in the warm acoustics of the Bachzaal, Amsterdam, on 12 April 1955, classics of the gramophone.

Incidentally, the remarkable cover art reproduces a photo taken by Jean-Pierre Sudre.

Those unfamiliar with Philips Realites series would do well to investigate them – they consist of a very heavy laminated cardboard gatefold jacket with very extensive liner notes (by Claude Samuel) and numerous archival photos – in one example of Haskil on stage at the Salle Pleyel. All texts in French only.

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 bit of corner and edgewear, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings, and the whole remains extremely solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is NM-. 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.