London Blueback CS 6118: Solti's 1956 Tchaikovsky 2nd

London CS 6118
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 17 (Little Russian)
L'Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris
Georg Solti, conductor

Pressing: UK, ED1

Date first published: 1960

Stampers: ZAL-3162-2M, ZAL-3163-1M

Performance: 8/10

Sound: 7/10

Price range: $28-148 (mean $61) on popsike.com

Comments: Here is another Decca/London album that was only released as a London (no SXL).  Recorded in 1956, this is pretty early stereo (though judging by its catalog number, Decca must've decided to hold on to it for a while before releasing it), which might explain why the soundstage is rather narrow and center-focused.  It's not quite mono, but it lacks expansiveness.  That being said, the sound on my pressing is very clear and undistorted with a good amount of low level detail.  Dynamic range is somewhat restricted, so you will have to dial up the volume to get a decent listening level.  Solti and the PCO take things pretty swiftly, particularly in the outer movements, imbuing the work with a youthful energy.  All in all, an enjoyable Blueback, though I prefer the performance and richer and fuller sound of Giulini and the Philharmonia on Columbia SAX 2416, which I have yet to review on this blog.

Interestingly, while this is listed in Moon and Gray's FFSS, there is no performance/sound grade for the LP.  This has been digitally remastered as part of the Decca Legends series and combined with the tracks from Solti's Romantic Russia album.