Paumgartner: Mozart Thamos, King of Egypt (Incidental Music) - Epic LC 3158 ("Jubilee" Ed)

Jacket VG / LP EX / US pressing

This fine LP from Epic (LC 3158, US pressing, yellow radial label, mono) features conductor Bernhard Paumgartner and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra’s magnificent presentation of Mozart’s Incidental Music to “Thamos, King of Egypt” K. 345, for a play by Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler, warmly recorded in Vienna on 26 June 1954.

Joining Paumgartner and the VSO on this memorable occasion were the Vienna Chamber Choir and vocal soloists Ruthilde Boesch (narrator), Ilse Hollweg (soprano), Maria Nussbaumer-Knoflach (contralto), Waldemar Kmentt (tenor), and Walter Berry (bass).

There are erudite and eloquent liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Paumgartner himself (printed in English only), as well as the complete vocal texts (printed in German only).

The lovely cover design was executed by A & M Oberman.

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 a small bit of writing and a piece of tape to the front panel, and a price sticker and light discoloration to the rear panel, but that is all. There are no seamsplits, bends, or other defects, and the whole remains solid, bright, and highly attractive – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Although surfaces are not perfectly silent, this is a fine copy and the playback is enjoyable. However, if you must have a flawless or NM copy, then please do not buy this LP. Overall, rates as an excellent collector's copy.