Columbia SAX 2306: Tchaikovsky Ballets




Columbia SAX 2306
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake
Philharmonia Orchestra
Herbert von Karajan, conductor

Pressing: ED1

Stampers: YAX 245-10, YAX 246-13

Performance: 8/10

Sound: 8/10

Price Range: $28-147, mean $52 on popsike

Comments:  A relatively common, easy-to-find, and affordable Columbia SAX.  Don't let its price fool you about its sound.  This is a beautiful record with lovely performances by Karajan and the Philharmonia and sound which is warm, dynamic, and clear.  I prefer the music of Sleeping Beauty to that of Swan Lake, but both are enjoyable here.  Listening to this album, I felt as if I were sitting some distance back from the orchestra.

Comments

  1. All three Columbia pressings available along with SXLP30200 and SAXW 2306 (German). The Concert Classic SXLP is a little late. I show $70 as top price recently. I'd snag a magic notes pressing for super cheap if the opportunity arises, but probably worth going for the blue and silver on this one.

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  2. You know, I think I actually have the magic notes (or as I call them, semi-circle pressings) pressing, too. I'll have to pull it out and compare.

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  3. Yes. Inquiring minds want to know. The question in my mind is can you hear a difference between the second and third pressings. I hate all of my 5 second label SAX. Love my Karajan Water Music Magic Notes. It sounds very much like my lone Blue & Silver, but is clearly different as in not all tube. None of my Concert Classics, Classics for Pleasure, or ASD releases of Columbia material have this sound. Its hard to get a magic notes copy cheap with shipping from the UK (if you get 7 or 8 LPs you might be able to talk a seller into surface mail which comes out to about $3.50 a record.) Just got a little shipment with a Regal in it, heh heh. I'll post in the other thread where I mentioned it.

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  4. Okay, then! I will try to do a comparison!

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