EMI HMV ASD 286: Glorious Sound in Sargent's Handel

EMI HMV ASD 286
Handel: Water Music & Royal Fireworks Music, Overture in D Minor, Overture to "Samson"
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Malcolm Sargent, conductor

Pressing: UK, ED1, white/gold

Date first published: 1959

Matrix numbers: 2YEA 262-11, 2YEA 263-8

Performance: 8/10

Sound: 8/10

Price range: $25-115 (mean $44) on popsike.com

Comments: No, this is not one of the pricier EMI HMV ASDs, but yes, it boasts some of EMI's best early stereophonic sound.  I'm generally not a big fan of the sound of the earliest issues in the ASD catalog, but there are a selection that have really impressed me.  This is another one of them.  Sir Malcolm Sargent leads the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in some of Handel's most well known works:  The Water Music, The Royal Fireworks Music, and two Overtures.  The music should delight all but the most die-hard period performance fans.  This is "big band" Handel, but there is nothing wrong with this.  I can venture to say that of the early stereo recordings of these works, this is a sure contender for the finest sounding one that I've heard.  It certainly bests the sound quality on the original Decca FFSS of George Szell conducting the London Symphony, a record whose original pressing generally always sells for a lot of money but has horrible sound*.  The sound here is warm and vivid, with a slightly more laid back presentation.  While the orchestra on whole is well balanced, the brass and winds that carry the fanfare melodies are especially well recorded, and the percussion (most notably the timpani) are captured with great bass depth and impact.  All of this with remarkable clarity. 

This one is an all-around winner.


*The FFRR pressing of this Szell, however, is a suitable competitor.