The Bargain Bin


This week's Bargain Bin selection goes to:

EMI CFP 139
Beethoven: Violin Concerto

Leonid Kogan, violin
Constantin Silvestri, conductor
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra

Reissue of: Columbia SAX 2386

Stampers:
YAX 1052-5G
YAX 1053-4G

Performance: 5/5
Sound: 4.5/5

Okay, this week's "Bargain Bin" choice might not be the $1 records as were last week's choices (it still sells for $27-54 according to popsike.com), but I would call it a "relative bargain" compared to the original LP ... the famous Columbia SAX 2386, easily one of the most valuable Kogan albums around.  That album, my friends, has a price range from $33 (for a digital remastering) to $10,100 with a mean price of $2,526.  So, unless I hit the jackpot or stumble across it at a garage sale, it's not likely to be reviewed on this website any time soon.  Of course, there is the recent ERC reissue, which if still available (only 300 copies pressed) will cost you 300 GBP.  You can see, if you are looking for a vinyl copy of Kogan's Beethoven Concerto, the CFP will be the least expensive.  The question is:  how does it sound and is it worth it?

Now, since I've never heard the original, I cannot make the comparison, but I'm pleased to say that I will never feel the need to buy the original, because the CFP is quite excellent.  I would wager to say that it probably has less distortion than the original (again, not having heard the original but having heard nearly all of the orchestral and instrumental SAX albums).  The surfaces are quiet, and the sound is clear and dynamic and possesses a nice and wide soundstage.  There is a review of the ERC reissue on Analog Planet that comments:  "As for the recording, well it is an old stereo recording that's somewhat distant, with left-right separation that's strictly old school but it leaves the center for Kogan's violin, which is richly recording tonally and texturally. It's transparent and the transients are silky and natural thanks in part to ERC's cutting chain."  It's true here, too.  I wouldn't exactly use the term distant to describe the presentation, but I would say that rather than feeling like you are standing right where the conductor is, the listener has a seat in the concert hall that is 5-10 rows back.  Kogan's violin does take center stage but is not quite as forward sounding as on the Tchaikovsky recording (SAX 2323).  Kogan's tone, rich and full like Oistrakh but with a little more bite, is beautifully captured.  The performance is wonderful and right up there with the Oistrakh on SAX (interestingly, this recording has the same orchestra with a different conductor -- toss-up between Kogan and Oistrakh for sound), Milstein on SAX (the Kogan sounds better), Heifetz on RCA (the Kogan still sounds better), and Schneiderhan on DG (Kogan sounds better).

So, unless you've got the dough to splurge on the SAX or ERC reissue (and if you do, please consider donating it to charity), this is the one to get.  I am pretty certain that you will be aurally pleased without having to get another mortgage on your house.

Mean price illustration:

Columbia SAX 2386:  $2,526
ERC reissue:  $490
CFP 139:  $33* 


*Probably cheaper, considering that popsike doesn't list albums that sell for under $25.  I got mine for about $20.




Comments

  1. A near mint SAX goes for $10,000. I think ERC now wants $800 for their nice release. In an interesting note on ERC they have replicated one EMI mastering setup. EMI mastering was evolving during this time and their machine looks considerably more advanced than what EMI might have pressed this with originally. Bottom line, on all of their EMI releases they will not exactly match the original sound of a Columbia Blue and Silver. My hope is that with love and care and arduous tweaking of tubes and component selection in the mastering equipment that they may achieve something that is a true revelation. A local audiophile received a copy of this LP for Christmas and he was not overly impressed (that being said he did not generally like EMI and I only know him through the Bassophile who treated us to 7th row center for the might Cincinnati Symphony.)

    There are French, Japanese, and of all things a Connoisseur Society pressing of this LP. I agree with the sonic rating of the CFP and there are much better CFP LP's than this. I find the Kogan performance a bit bizarre and overly something. I'd like to get my hands on the Campoli SXLP or REGAL. Any other Beethoven VC suggestions outside of Oistrakh?

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  2. this recording also does exists on Eterna licensed (or no?) release. i owned such once having bought it for less than $1.

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    Replies
    1. Ahh yes, Eterna ... was that label based in Russia (or formerly USSR) or East Germany? How did it sound to you?

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