The Bargain Bin: A Chopin Recital by Benno Moiseiwitsch
A Chopin Recital
Benno Moiseiwitsch, piano
Pressing: UK
Condition: NM-
Date first published: 1959Stampers: 2YEA 270-6, 2YEA 271-9G
Performance: 9/10
Sound: 8/10
Purchase price: $7
Comments: I was fortunate to stumble upon this record while browsing the racks at Orpheus Performing Arts in Boston. You just don't see many of these Regal releases in the U.S., and after all of Meles' talk about Regals, it wasn't a hard decision to pick this up for the very reasonable price of $7. It's a lovely album of Chopin piano works performed by the Ukrainian-born British pianist Benno Moiseiwitsch (1890-1963). The program consists of two Ballades (No. 3 and No. 4), two Scherzos (No. 2 and No. 4), two Nocturnes (No. 12 and No. 18), and the Fantaisie-Impromptu. Although I generally go for Rubinstein, Argerich, Horowitz, Cziffra, or Francois when it comes to analog Chopin, this album is something of a hidden gem. Moiseiwitsch plays both brilliantly and lyrically with a relaxed confidence. Some very minor surface hiss aside, the piano is recorded in warm and full-bodied sound, and the acoustic is ever so slightly on the drier side. This is an intimate recital. Turn up the volume and it feels a little like Moiseiwitsch is right there in the living room with you. 
Updating my spreadsheet with this rare bird.
ReplyDeleteI have spreadsheets of the REG/SREG, XLP/SXLP, HQM/HQS & WRC records I come across. The REG/SREG info below may be of use to you
ReplyDelete1014 Classical Pritchard Campoli Beethoven Violin Concerto
1016 Classical Kempe Berlin Philharmonic Beethoven Overtures
1017 Classical Kempe Brahms Symphony No 1
1028 Classical Malcolm Sargent Royal Philhamonic Orchestra Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture March Slave Romeo & Juliet Sleeping Beauty Waltz SXLP 20023
1030 Classical Malcolm Sargent Royal Philhamonic Orchestra Strauss Waltzes
1035 Classical serafin Verdi Overtures
1036 Classical Boult Philharmonia Louis Kentner Brahms Piano Concerto No 2
1042 Classical Felix Slatkin Britain - Dohanyi Yuong Persons Guide to the Orchestra
1044 Classical Arrau Beethoven Sonatas No 23 22 & 32 Variations C minor
1048 Classical - Malcuzynski Chopin Mazurkas
1049 Classical Von Matacic Various Russian Orchestral Music Uses cover art from ASD 288
1053 Classical Menges Philharmonia Solomon Beethoven Piano Concerto No 3 - Sonata No 27
1059 Classical Karajan / Galliera Philharmonia Dinu Lipatti Greig & Schumann Piano Concertos
1068 Classical Carlos Vila Gwenneth Pryor Beethoven Spring & Kreutzer Sonatas
1084 Classical - Moiseiwitch Chopin Ballades
1085 Classical Constatantin Silvestri Philharmonia Tchaikovsky Symphony No 5
1090 Classical Gilels - Oistrakh Beethoven - Mozart Piano Concerto No 4 - Violin Concerto No 3
1091 Classical Santini Various Rome Opera Concert
1092 Xmas Guildford Cathederal Christmas Carols
1095 Classical Kondrashin Philharmonia Kogan Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
1096 Classical Guilini Philharmonia Frank Symphony
1097 Classical Silvestri Philharmonia Tchaikovsky Symphony No 4
1098 Classical Oistrakh Obrin Knushevitosky Beethoven Triple Concerto
2010 Classical Kurz Various Grand Marches
2011 Classical Cantelli Philharmonia Beethoven Symphony No 7 ASD 254
2012 Classical Susskind Ferras Bruch - Lalo Violin Concerto / Symphonie Espanol
2013 Classical Malcolm Sargent Sibelius Symphony No 5
2014 Classical Octors Solheid Leka - Mozart Sonatas
2015 Classical Galleria Ravel - Bizet - Resphigi Daphne & Chloe - Carmen Suites - Pines of Rome
2019 Classical Oistrakh Yamplowsky Various Encores
2020 Classical Henry Kripps Philharmonia Premenade Orchestra Various Concert Waltzes
2026 Classical Alexander Gibson Royal Philhamonic Orchestra Grieg Peer Gynt Incidental Music
2028 Classical Andre Vandernoot Christian Ferras Moxart Violin Concertos 4 & 5
2030 Classical Malcolm Sargent Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Rossini Overtures ASD 435
2038 Military Marine Defence Force Band Famous marches of the world
2042 Classical serafin Record 1 Verdi Requium
2043 Classical serafin Record 2 Verdi Requium
2047 Classical Record 1 Cornelius The Barber of Bagdad Schwarzkopf
2048 Classical Record 2 Cornelius The Barber of Bagdad Schwarzkopf
2068 Classical Wagner Flying Dutchman Excerpts SAX 2296
2696 Classical Richard Tauber Various Operatic Recital
Absolutely incredible, Andy. Thank you so much for contributing your spreadsheet to our blog! I'm sure it'll serve as a very nice reference to readers!
DeleteThe gems are 2095, 2011 & 2019
ReplyDeleteI've seen those floating around Ebay from time to time. The Oistrakh Yampolsky is sure to be a gem -- the SAX sells for way too much money.
DeleteEver heard 1017 Kempe Brahms1?
DeleteSREG 1024 IGOR MARKEVITCH - Stavinsky - Le Sacre Du Printemps ASD 313 ($500)
DeleteNot on SREG but I have it on HMV ASD 350
DeleteAmazing. I have cfp 131 which is very nice. Is 350 a $500 sonic powerhouse? If so, would you expect Regal to be special or better than cfp 131? With asd i often find later pressings to be very competitive (SAX 2nd and 3rd press not so much). Thoughts?
DeleteMeles, that Markevitch is a rare bird. I owned the Italian ASDQ pressing for a brief time (same cool cover with a green and gold label) but sold it as I didn't find it to be far superior to my CFP.
DeleteIf ASD 350 is similar to ASD 406 (reviewed here previously), I wouldn't exactly call it a sonic powerhouse. Regal might be good competition for the CFP, but I think the CFP (which you goaded me to buy) has plenty of admirable sonic qualities. Andy, did you buy that new when it was first released or used? I'm sure you already know that that ASD is one expensive record. I believe there is a copy of it up now on Ebay.
SREG 1060 Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro, Jurinac, Bruscantini, Sciutti, Stevens; Gui cond The Glyndebourne Festival Orchestra $140.00 ASD274-76($1500)
ReplyDeleteOpera counts!
Ditto
DeleteSREG 2064 Anna Moffo soprano; Philharmonia Orchestra SAX 2376 ($800)
1068 is a delightful recording. Without further research I can't be certain but I think this is the 1st issue
ReplyDeleteThat is what I show.
DeleteHmm ... Beethoven violin sonatas with Carlos Villa and Gwyneth Pryor ... very interesting. I just a copy for sale on the internet for $14.99.
DeleteAlso cfp 40035
DeleteYet another 1967 release..this time on MfP2071 - mono only (have)...
DeleteIf you want a genuinely worthwhile Kreutzer then (c/w op.30/3) it's Ralph Holmes' last LP: digital SAR16 (Amon Ra label - Nimbus pressed - Fortepiano acc.) gets a poor review as the CD (also have his only other (SAR9 op.24/op.30/2 analog - not as good)- but SAR16 sounds superb (for an LP..).
What about Szeryng/Rubinstein on RCA Living Stereo? I sold my copy a few years ago and am trying to reclaim an earlier stamper pressing. There's also the Oistrakh/Oborin on Philips, but frankly, I've not been such a fan of those, as much as I like Oistrakh. Perhaps it's Oborin?
DeleteThere's something 'odd' about your rara-avis, as this has the same matrices as does SXLP 30075 - release date 6705 - which precedes 6801.
ReplyDeletePresumably this is an EMI 'export series'
The 1959 CLP mono is 'plummy' but with less hiss/surface-noise (mediocre EMI vinyl at this stage)
Sorry, I had to look up "rara-avis" but now I comprehend. I didn't know that this recording was also released in the Concert Classics series. Do you have that? While I mentioned the surface hiss, this was more audible when listening through AKG K550 closed back headphones than on my floorstanding speakers. In either case, it's negligible compared to the fine music.
DeleteMeles, perhaps you could elaborate more on the marketing purpose of the Regal series? Just another budget reissue series or what?
Aagh the master speaks I'd not connected these two given this one was missing fro my spreadsheet. You mention the mono, so this is essentially an unreleased ASD. I don't think Regal was export , thou I do have one made in South Africa ( SREG 2066 Schubert SYMPHONY #8 Tchaikovsky CAPRICCIO KLETZKI ASD296 ($70) CFP 123). Cfp (claasics for pleasure) had odd distribution channels (gas stations etc.). I presume Regal was more a pop line not in regular classical stores? They are rare and therefore pricey for the sound. I am not sure how they rate versus SXLP Concert Classics? Were they made the same as SXLP for vinyl quality? Same stampers exactly? (AndyW please stand up too on this)
DeleteAqlam, sorry missed your earlier comment re ASD 350. Born 61 so not bought new. Found it in a charity shop about 15 years ago with a bunch of other nice LP's for £1 a piece. Condition on all the records was Ex/NM. There was also a Kogan Tchaikovsky in the haul but although the record is in NM condition the sleeve had some water damage.
DeleteNow those are ones for the "bargain bin". What a price. It reminds me of the copy of Oistrakh and Fournier's Brahms Double Concerto blue/silver SAX that I found NM- for $3. Born 78. I think Tin Ear might be the only one of us to have had the chance to purchase these brand new.
DeleteDifficult to believe the SXLP was deleted within 6 months, or so. This presumably was slated for a CSD release, given the matrices: 2YEA 270/1.
ReplyDeleteThe Barcarolle, op.60 on CLP1072 seems unreleased on a stereo LP - the other 2 Chopin's there (c/w Rach Pag Var) are on this/CLP1282.
'Regal' was a Spanish release label for EMI..can't recall this series in UK shops though...the above list contains 'recent' WRC releases, too (Beet PC3 - Solomon -1966/7 - as well as SXLP issued that year Matacic Feb 1967...ditto Lipatti March 1967)
The stereo sounded a bit thin compared to the mono CLP - but was better defined..could never decide which to dub hence didn't!
I'm going to have to give great mono a serious listen again.Local collector of chamber music is big into mono and I will have to check out some of his more prized possessions the next time he visits.
DeleteYes, there is some great mono out there. I find that mono is perfectly fine for solo instrumental and chamber recordings, for which a wide soundstage is not exactly necessary for enjoyment of the music. I'd love to get a hold of several of the French solo piano and violin recordings for Ducretet-Thompson. Some people even use a dedicated mono cartridge ...
DeleteTo get the best results you really do need to use a proper mono cartridge. I use EMT OFD25 or TND25 but other options are Ortofon Mono C, Fairchild 215a or 225, Pierre Clement E25M or the Denon DL102 which is a very versatile cartridge.
DeleteLyra I believe has some mono cartridges. Russian Mike (local mono maniac) may have gone off the deep end here so I'll quiz him. I've tried to get Aqlam to engage Boston audiophile Romy the Cat, but sadly this has not happened. I am not doing this, but Romy has two tables with six arms (scroll down):
Deletehttp://www.goodsoundclub.com/Playback/MyPlayback.aspx
I like Sakuma Sans approach to mono. He uses a Grace clone of a Gray Research 208 with a Denon DL-102. Don't let the frequency specs of the 102 fool you as they only cover the range the Japanese AM radio stations were interested in but actually are pretty flat down to 20Hz and extend out to 20kHZ.
ReplyDeleteHaving looked at his site I'm not sure I would want to engage with Romy either
Like Salvatore, Romy is probably a geek from another dimension, but we probably all are to some extent.
DeleteVery true
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Geek - as consider LP's are a quasi-Victorian Toy...
ReplyDeleteMy Ortofon 'C' made the mono Moiseiwitsch very tactile - mine cost nothing - but the diamond eventually 'dropped off'.did so previouly but found it on a pillow!
The visual FR (Fournier trace) showed a Huge mechanical resonance: extremely linear below 3kHz - up to something like +12dB @ 9kHz (tip mass is 1.5mg) - an advert claims flat to that frequency - but I didn't have the matching transformer which, allegedly, compensated for the stylus/material interaction.
The HMV 'Soldiers Tale' on my main blog was transferred using that - so an FR analysis would show the vast Treble rise (albeit padded with resistors)..but it made a Decca London sound 'slow'.
Probably more suitable for Shellac (the armature hole is too small for a suitable stone to be fitted by moi).
You are a mono Geek! I'll have to confer with Russian Mike on the Ortofon C who sadly is not very technical, but very particular about his mono sound.
DeleteDoes the stylus fairy give you anything when your diamond falls out and you put it under your pillow?
If he's 99 years old - then the treble balance should sound just dandy.
DeleteAlso used it for the Irving/Swan Lake (swoon to the triangle) also the Shostakovich 11/Rakhlin.