The Cream of the SAX Crop (Top $)
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole; Tchaikovsky: Serenade Melancolique
Philharmonia
Kiril Kondrashin
$7500
Comments:
Only alternative British pressing is the Classics for Pleasure CFP 40040.
SAX 2323
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto/Meditation
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Constantin Silvestri, Leonid Kogan
$3000
Comments:
Alternative British pressings in the SAX 2nd label (semi-circle) at $400. Classics for Pleasure CFP 40083 also available.
SAX 2307
Brahms: Violin Concerto
Philharmonia
Kiril Kondrashin, Leonid Kogan
$2200
Comments:
For those a budget try the Regal SREG1095 or the Concert Classic SXLP30063.
Beethoven: Symphony 9; Wagner: Mastersingers Prelude
Cleveland Orchestra
George Szell
$2000
Comments:
Only the Blue and Silver pressing is available.
SAX 2531
Sonatas for 2 Violins
Leonid Kogan, Elizabeth Gilels
$2000
Comments:
ODEON pressing available at small discount.
SAX 2253
Encores
David Oistrakh, Vladimir Yampolsky
$1300
Comments:
The British Regal SREG2019 is available. French SAXO2253 available at substantial discount.
SAX 2510
Beethoven: Symphony 7; Wagner: Tannhauser
Cleveland Orchestra
George Szell
$1000
Comments:
Just the Blue and Silver.
SAX 2508
Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Philharmonia
Erich Leinsdorf, Nathan Milstein
$900
Comments:
The semi-circle SAX can be had for $100.
SAX 2304
Mozart: Concerto 3; Prokofiev: Concerto 2
Philharmonia
Alceo Galliera, David Oistrakh
$830
Comments:
The Mozart can be had on Concert Classic SXLP30086. The Prokofiev on SXLP30155. Both are available in the desirable Chevrons blue label.
SAX 2386
Beethoven: Violin Concerto
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Constantin Silvestri, Leonid Kogan
$10000
Comments:
Also on SAXF 162, CS 2132 - Connoisseur Society, VIC-28088 Japan, CVD 850, and the British Classics for Pleasure CFP 139. The Connoisseur Society pressing is an oddity and may be in error, but it is the same principals.
Final Comments:
These are the most expensive SAX, but may not be the best as supply and demand play a big role in price.
Thanks for the lineup and for making us aware of the more affordable reissues. Have you been able to sample any of these reissues and, if so, what were your thoughts on the sound quality?
ReplyDeleteThe Electric Recording Company will be reissuing SAX 2386, the most expensive SAX. This will be a very interesting release, in my opinion. I hope that it is priced better than the original!
I've only got one of the SXLPs of SAX 2304 which I've commented on with the Milstein Mozart 4, 5. I've got an Odyssey of Szell Beethoven 9 on one LP. The reissue pressings of these are more expensive, so I am figuring out which labels/years I prefer before purchasing these. I will be looking to buy the British reissues. The only choice is on the Brahms Kogan; Regal or Concert Classic. Both would be extremely good, but slightly different I suspect.
ReplyDeleteI have the Connoisseur reissue of SAX 2386, and the original, and I can tell you that not only is it the same performance, but it is a very good sounding record. Maybe slightly less transparent than the original, but it has more bottom end. It sounds so good that I am seriously thinking about selling my original and paying a few bills!
ReplyDeleteHaha, do it! I really don't think you'll regret it very much once you add the $10,000 in your Paypal account to your bank account. =)
DeleteI wish! My copy is VG+ to VG++, a nice listen, but not quite the perfect copy that would get the astronomical prices. Still would probably bring at least $1,000 to $1,500.
DeleteSo at the minimum, you can pay a few bills. Alternatively, you can use the money to buy more records!
DeleteI haven't begun to comment on my recent opinions on the price inflation of collectible vinyl, but in all honesty, $10,000 for a single record is ludicrous. I've heard cheap reissues which sound superior to the originals, both in terms of clarity, dynamic range, and lack of distortion. I have the classics for pleasure of that Kogan Beethoven which, while it might not be the last word copy, sounds really fantastic and cost me less than $20.
$2629 I see. You must be pretty happy with the selling price. So now the question is what do you think of this record? Will you replace with the Electric Recording Company reissue? The ERC will not be the same as it is recorded on a very nice, restored all tube rig from 1965 (amazing dedication on ERC's part). The Classics for Pleasure is a fine LP. I think since you had such a fine sale on this LP, you should risk the ERC and report back. (?) We all want the ERC pressing. I'd bite at $100, I suspect it is going for $300.
DeleteI agree that the CFP is an excellent LP, and I am perfectly content with having paid less than $20 for it. It would take some real convincing for me to dish out $300+ for the ERC, even if production quality is superb. I'll wait to hear what other collectors say once they get their pre-ordered copies!
DeleteI got my SAX 2386 about 15 years ago, and I think it's time for someone else to enjoy it. If you can believe it, I found it in an out of the way thrift store and it cost me 20 cents. Funny story is that the store was having a sale, selling LPs at 6 for a dollar. I only found five that I wanted, and the lady at the desk was actually starting to try and figure out that she owed me 16 2/3 cents, before I magnanimously told her to keep the change. I have to admit that while I knew that it was something good, I had no idea what an incredibly rare find it was.
ReplyDeleteNo matter what, it'll be a good return on my investment.
Great story! It just goes to show that good intentions go a long way. Good luck with the sale!
DeleteWow, if you found that in a thrift store in the USA, that would have been the find of all time if the condition was perfect. I am glad you shared your story. I've recently got the CFP of the Kogan Beeth VC (sax2386) and it is quite fine. It is an oddity that Connoisseur reissue. I wonder what other EMI reissues they may have done.
DeleteOh yes. Is the original $10,000 of incredible sound? I can tell it has the potential to be magic based on the sound of the CFP. Is it your favorite EMI? Favorite classical LP?
DeleteThanks. Just wrote the listing. It's going up tomorrow night. We'll see...
ReplyDeleteJust saw your listing. I've seen your LP auctions before! Good luck!
DeleteThanks. 35 watchers so far. We'll see...
DeleteI think Vinyl Phanatic got about $3000, but my memory could be off. That paid some bills I bet.
DeleteSAX 2329 has another alternative pressing as well as CFP 40040. World Record Club ST 562
ReplyDeleteWow. I want that... so, how can I buy that spare copy off you Andy? I don't think I even have the CFP which actually is not all that cheap.
DeleteI second that notion and would snap it up in a second if I saw it! Of course there is also the out of print EMI Testament reissue. That also tends to sell for $100+.
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DeleteAargh. I lived in Australian when I was young. If I'd only known! These are probably rarer than the original.
DeleteSorry to be a Nerd - but that is incorrect!
DeleteCFP40040 uses stampers SCFP4004 A/B as it adds the 'Meditation' from the Tchaik VC LP.
ST562 retains the original 2 item coupling, albeit, it's a recut.
Ok EMI geeks from another vinyl dimension,
DeleteDo any of thse rule the sonic roost? The CFP can be had, but one might go through life and not see the World Record Club.
Dear males, I am guessing that in the last 9 years you have bought some copy of the Kogan Beethoven Concerto, but just in case here are my two cents: Treat yourself to a nice Spanish, Italian or French reissue of it. They all seem to stem from French Columbia stampers, even the late Italian 3C 045-10248. This is the one I own by the way and it sounds fabulous.
DeleteKostas are you mad? The original LP of the Kogan used to cost $10,000 and then maybe the recent reissue from the Elecritc Recording Company was "only" $500. I suspect the only one I have is the cheap Classics For Pleasure version. I have taken note of your recommendation and keep them coming!
DeleteThank you, Kostas, for visiting our blog. It's great to see new faces discovering our site after all these years. Like my colleague Meles, I have not dipped into my retirement account to purchase an original Kogan Beethoven Concerto, but I did drop $1 to buy the Classics for Pleasure. It may not have had the sonic distinction of the original or the ERC audiophile reissue, but it was still a very enjoyable listen. How did you find your Italian reissue?
DeleteIt's been some time since I checked, but I wonder if prices have changed since COVID hit. There was a surge in online bidding in the early months of COVID, probably as homebound audiophiles needed something to keep themselves busy.
DeleteWell, the original Kogan/Beethoven can be purchased for measly 7000$, so the prices have dropped! I bought my italian copy still sealed in the year 2003 in Naples, Italy. It was a wonderful trip, in more ways than one. It is this edition: https://www.discogs.com/release/14663693-Beethoven-Leonide-Kogan-Constantin-Silvestri-Beethoven-Concerto-In-Re-Maggiore-Op61 which seems to be identical to french and spanish reissues that came out about the same time.
DeleteWhat a nice find!
DeleteBTW, the Beethoven/Oistrakh Connoisseur Society was on sale in ebay us a few days ago. Cant find it right now though...
ReplyDelete