Ughi: Mozart Compl works for violin & orchestra - RCA Italy RL 71007 (3LP box, DDD)

Box NM- / LPs NM

This beautiful and extremely rare 3 LP box set from RCA Italiana (RL 71007, Italian pressing, Red Seal “Digital” label, DDD stereo, booklet included) features violinist Uto Ughi’s integral set of Mozart’s Violin Concertos, plus two of the three works for solo violin and orchestra, all made with the Orchestra da Camera di Santa Cecilia, Ughi leading the players from the bow.

The exact contents are as follows:

Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major K. 207
Violin Concerto No. 2 in D Major K. 211
Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major K. 216
Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major K. 218
Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major K. 219 “Turkish”
Violin Concerto No. 6 in E-flat Major K. 268/365a (attr. to Johann Fredrich Eck)
Concerto No. 7 in D Major K. 271a/271i “Kolb”
Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E Major K. 261

Rondo for Violin and Orchestra in C Major K. 373

Ughi plays with unfailing grace and vitality, revealing the strength and invention of Mozart’s Violin Concerti, the accompaniment throughout judged to perfection, the sound of truly demonstration quality.

With one exception, all works were recorded in the warm acoustics of the Basilica di Santa Sabina between September 1985 and January 1986. That exception is K. 271a, which was sent down at Sala di Via dei Greci, Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia, Rome in February 1984.

These remarkable recordings were produced and engineered by Thomas Gallia and Paolo Dery, except for K. 271a, which was done by Pasquale Soggiu.

The striking cover photo of Ughi was taken by Elisabetta Catalano. Included is a nice CD-size booklet with extensive notes on the music by Claudio Casini and Luigi Bellingardi, as well as profiles of Ughi and l'Orchestra da Camera di Santa Cecilia – all texts provided in Italian, French, English, and German.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:

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

The condition of the box is near-MINT. The only flaw barring a MINT grading concerns a bit of wear to the top of the spine. Otherwise, the box appears almost as new. There are no corner breaks, seamsplits, bends, owners’ marks, or other defects, and the whole remain solid, bright, glossy, and highly attractive – overall, a lovely collector’s copy.

The condition of the booklet is near-MINT. Really there are no flaws to speak of – a superb copy.

The condition of the 3 LP is near-MINT throughout and playback is superb in all 3 – overall, these rate as truly fine collector's copies.