Philips 835 198/200 AY: Arthur Grumiaux's Legendary Bach Sonatas and Partitas
Philips 835 198/200 AY (3 LP box set)
Bach: 6 Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo
Arthur Grumiaux, violin
Pressing: Dutch, red/silver label
Condition: NM
Date first published: 1960
Stampers: N/A
Performance: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Price range: $24-1580 (mean $183) on popsike.com
Comments: This famous 3 LP set of Grumiaux performing the Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo contains some of the most beautiful solo violin playing ever recorded and is the most lifelike reproduction of the violin I have heard on vinyl to date. I have nothing new to say anything about the performances, which have been on the short list of reference recordings for these works for about as long as they have been around. Grumiaux plays with such authority and produces a truly gorgeous tone on his instrument, only enhanced by the resonant acoustic of the recording venue (not detailed in the album booklet notes). Turn the volume up, sit in the sweet spot, and yes, it sounds like the Belgian violinist is standing right before you giving a private recital. It's that good.Now, the price ranges listed above are generally for the first pressings of this set, which have the dark maroon label with the Philips Hi-Fi Stereo logo. I opted not to clean out my bank and rather got a copy of a later pressing with the red and silver label. I have absolutely no regrets, because the surfaces of these later Dutch pressings are dead quiet (I would venture to say more so than the originals, having heard several of the Hi-Fi Stereo first pressings), permitting the music to just emanate from a black background.
A very listenable alternative is the same album, digitally remastered by Philips in 2006 on a 2 CD set. The sound on the CDs, if not quite as phenomenal as the LPs, is incredibly lifelike, and the whole album will cost you a mere fraction of the cost of the LPs. If you have not heard these recordings, I urge you to go out and get them immediately.
wow that was interesting. I am fairly ignorant of Phillips. I want this record or one like it.
ReplyDeleteLook for the red/silver pressings, since they should go for a lot less than the "plum Philips" originals. That being said, the later pressings are still not all cheap. I'm perfectly happy with the later pressings.
DeleteLearned so much from this! -J
ReplyDeleteAnother bargain alternative is the DG set of the Violin sonatas and Partitas with Nathan Milstein. I would feel hard pressed to chose between the two. I find both interpretations equally compelling and the sound of the Milstein is just fine, despite being a DG.
ReplyDelete