Keilberth/Bamberg SO: Johann Strauss Waltzes - Telefunken TCS 18018

Jacket NM / Vinyl GOOD (US pressing - silver/black label - stereo)

This handsome LP from Telefunken (TCS 18018, US pressing, silver/black label, stereo) features Joseph Keilberth and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in a captivating album of Waltzes by Johann Strauss Jr., warmly recorded in the Kulturraum, Bamber on 10 July 1957.

Included are the following works of Johann Strauss Jr.:

An der schönen, blauen Donau (The blue Danube) - Walzer, op. 314

Wein, Weib und Gesang (Wine, Women and Song) - Walzer, op. 333

Künstlerleben (Artist’s Life) - Walzer, op. 316

Kaiser-Walzer (Emperor Waltz), op. 437

The underrated Keilberth was a remarkable musician, one now enjoying critical reassesment following Testament's issue of his transcendent 1955 Bayreuth Wagner 'Ring Cycle'. Hopefully, this will lead to further re-issues from Keilberth's large and highly distinguished discography. His Strauss is revelatory, and comparisons with Karajan, Fricsay, Krauss, et al. are not to Keilberth's disadvantage. The sound throughout is superb.

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 near-MINT. The only flaw concerns minor bumping at the upper and lower-right corners, but that is all. There are no seampslits, bends, or owners' markings and the whole remains solid, bright, glossy, and extremely attractive in appearance – overall, a very fine collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is GOOD. Though there is surface noise throughout, in general the playback remains enjoyable. However, those requiring a flawless or near-MINT copy are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as a very good collector's copy.