Furtwangler/VPO: Beethoven Symphony No. 5 - Electrola WALP 1195 (red label)

Jacket EX / LP EX / German pressing

This handsome gatefold LP from Electrola (WALP 1195 / E 90088, thick German pressing, red label, mono, original stitched seam inner sleeve included) features Wilhelm Furtwangler and the Vienna Philharmonic's powerful account of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67, recorded in the warm acoustics of the Musikvereinsaal on 28 February and 1 March 1954 (producer: Lawrence Collingwood / engineer: Francis Dillnutt) – a stunning account.

Wrote John Ardoin in his indispensible The Furtwängler Record: "Though the performance is very stately, Furtwangler nonetheless manages here to draw a greater intensity from the Viennese and to create a greater linear concentration (especially on bass lines) than in Stockholm [also with the VPO, in 1950]...and the finale is delivered with an extremely deliberate and majestic stride; even its coda is cooled a few degrees."

CONDITION:
The gradations of condition I use are as follows: MINT, Near-Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor.

The condition of the jacket is EXCELLENT. There is slight bumping/bends at corners, as well as minor creasing, a bit of scuffing to the front panel, and mild discoloration to the rear panel. However, there are no seamsplits, owners' markings, or other defects and the album remains solid, bright, glossy, and attractive – overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.

The condition of the LP itself is EXCELLENT. Although the surfaces are not absolutely silent, really this is a fine copy and the playback is quite superb. Those requiring CD silent surfaces are kindly advised to look elsewhere. Overall, this rates as an excellent collector's copy.