Markevitch: Romeo & Juliet Ov., Polovtsian Dances, etc. - Columbia FCX 349 (ds)

Jacket EX / LP EX / French pressing

This handsome LP from French Columbia (FCX 349, French pressing, blue/silver label, mono, “baguette”-style jacket, dowel spine) features conductor Igor Markevitch and l’Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française’s in a magnificent all-Russian music program, warmly recorded at the at the Maison de la Mutualité, Paris on 10 March 1954.

The exact contents are as follows:

Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Overture Fantasy

Borodin: Polovtsian Dances, from Prince Igor

Mussorgsky: A Night on Bare Mountain

Markevitch was a remarkable interpreter in all the music he conducted, but was particularly inisghtful in the Russian repertoire – witness his commanding Tchaikovsky Symphony cycle on Philips. He brings a true Slavic ardour and intensity to these scores, and the French players respond in like fashion to their charismatic guest conductor – outstanding from first to last.

Incidentally, the remarkable drawing of “Romeo et Juliett” gracing the front of the jacket was executed by Eugène Devéria.

Note: The small booklet with liner notes that often accompanied such FCX and FALP issues is missing, alas.

CONDITION:

The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the “baguette”-style jacket is EXCELLENT. There is light edgewear, as well as mild discoloration, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, owners' markings, or other defects, and the jacket remains solid, bright, and extremely attractive – overall, an excellent collector’s copy.

The condition of the dowel spine is EXCELLENT – a fine copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Although the surfaces are not absolutely silent, really this is a fine copy and playback is superb, close to NM. Those requiring a flawless or near-MINT copy are advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this is an excellent collector's copy.