Decca SXL 2113: Another High-Priced Disappointment

Decca SXL 2113

Music of Rimsky-Korsakov

Ernest Ansermet, conductor
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Pressing: UK, ED1


Condition: NM

Date first published: 1958

Stampers: 
ZAL 3625-1K
ZAL 3626-2K

Performance: 7/10

Sound: 6/10


Price range: $24-610 (mean $216) on popsike.com

Comments: Once again ... absolutely no correlation between price and sound quality of the original pressing of one of the most valuable Decca records on the market.  To begin with, this is nice music, but in my humble opinion it's not Rimsky-Korsakov's more exciting music, and that in part makes for a less interesting program.  Much of this music is rather mellow (not that there is anything wrong with this), so the recording is more of a display of how well low level detail can be captured.  In general, I found the ED1 to sound rather constricted dynamically.  Yes, it has that early tube sound, but this does very little to enhance the music here.  The US London issue is no different and costs an arm and a leg less.  With the Decca, you are essentially paying 10 times the price for the colorful cartoon cover.  Interesting that Moon and Gray gave this LP their high praise with a score of 17 out of 20.  I'm afraid to say that I can't agree with their assessment.