Quartetto Italiano: Mozart String Quartets K. 499 & K. 575 - Spanish Philips 65 00 241

Jacket VG / LP NM / Spanish pressing

This lovely LP from Spanish Philips (65 00 241, Spanish pressing, red/silver label, stereo) features the great Quartetto Italiano in magnificent accounts of Mozart’s String Quartets No. 20 in D Major K. 499 and No. 21 in D Major K. 575, both recorded in the warm acoustics of La tour de Peltz, Salle des Remparts in August 1971.

At this time the Italians were comprised of Paolo Borciani (1st Violin), Elisa Pegreffi (2nd Violin), Dino Asciolla (Viola), and Franco Rossi (Cello).

In reviewing the Quartetto Italiano’s entire Mozart cycle, The Gramophone’s critic wrote in his/her August 1987 review:

“The playing of the Quartetto Italiano has a freshness, range and subtlety that vividly realizes the music in all its variety, showing that the music making can be both spontaneous-sounding and thoughtful.

“This series of performances dates from between 1966 (when the six quartets Nos. 14-19 dedicated to Haydn were recorded) to 1973 and was rightly saluted on its completion as a fine achievement. The playing of the Quartetto Italiano has a freshness, range and subtlety that vividly realizes the music in all its variety, while technical problems seem to have been solved so that the music making can be both spontaneous-sounding and thoughtful throughout. 

“There is no doubt that the chief musical glories of this release, in music and playing alike, lie in this celebrated "Haydn" set together with the D major, K499 and the three "Prussian" Quartets K575, K589 and K590. But a longer discussion is impracticable here: suffice it to say that they are admirable (despite an occasional slowish tempo) and that the recording is fresh and faithful.”

There are fine liner notes on the reverse side of the jacket by Shin Augustinus Kojima, printed in Spanish only. The beautiful cover photo is uncredited.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

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 tear to the open edge of the jacket as well as a patch of creasing to the same. However, there are no seamsplits, bends, or owners' markings, and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is near-MINT. Although surfaces are not absolutely 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.