Efrem Kurtz - Tchaikovsky: The Sleeping Beauty/ Menuhin - Hi-Q LP

180-gram vinyl

Cut from the orginal analog master tapes at Abbey Road Studios!

Efrem Kurtz, an imposing figure on the podium, who, with a graceful baton-less technique drew exceptionally lyrical playing out of the orchestras he conducted and was in great demand for his native Russian repertoire. He recorded highlights from all three Tchaikovsky ballets for EMI in the late 1950s and they are all available again on LP from Hi-Q.

Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original stereo analog master tapes with the Neumann VMS82 lathe fed an analog pre-cut signal from a specially adapted Studer A80 tape deck with additional ‘advance’ playback head, making the cut a totally analogue process.

Pressed on 180-gram vinyl to audiophile standards using the original EMI presses by The Vinyl Factory in Hayes, England.

“...the disc confirms the suspicion that Efrem Kurtz is probably the finest conductor of ballet music in the world, certainly the supreme exponent of Tchaikovsky’s ballets...A winner of a record.” — Gramophone, September 1960

In the review of the stereo LP in The Gramophone of November 1960, W.S.M. confirmed his initial thoughts: “It is an extremely enjoyable cross-cut of Sleeping Beauty, performed magnificently under a conductor who understands Tchaikovsky’s ballet music completely. Yehudi Menuhin contributes only one solo, but that [is] a most distinguished one. The stereo is perhaps rather warmer and vivid than the very acceptable mono...”

Features:
• Hi-Q Records Supercuts 180-gram Vinyl
• Cut at Abbey Road Studios from the original stereo analog master tapes
• Superior Audiophile Pressing
• Features original album artwork

Musicians:
Efrem Kurtz, conductor
Philharmonia Orchestra
Yehudi Menuhin, violin solo

Side A:
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (La Belle au Bois Dormant)
Suite from the Ballet
1. Introduction. Prologue: No. 2, Scene dansante. No. 3 Pas de six
Act 1
2. No. 6: Valse
3. No. 8: Pas d'action

Side B:
Act 3
4. No. 22 Polonaise. No. 23: Pas de quatre
5. No. 25: Pas de quatre
6. No. 26: Pas de caractere
7. No. 28: Pas de dexu
8. No. 30: Finale et Apotheose