Here's my addition to the Piero Coppola trend of late. Recent postings by Neal's Historical Recordings and 78 toeren led me to dig out this "Past Masters" lp, that I've had for a long while, of Coppola conducting Saint Saens timeless Organ Symphony. The recording dates from 1930 and was made with the "Gramophone Symphony Orchestra- La Voix De Son Maitre" in Paris. Coppola was the artistic director of the French arm of HMV - The Gramophone Company for the better part of the 1920's and 1930's.
I'm really glad that I transferred this record. Past Masters or "PM" was apparently a company located in New Jersey that produced reissues and housed them in a plain white jacket with a sticker that identified the performance: very much a no frills shop you might say. Quite honestly, I'm not sure if this was some sort of quasi pirate operation but what I will say is that the results of their transfer of this symphony are stunning. You will not believe that this record was set down in 1930. It's so vivid, the balancing is superb and details jump out of the speakers. Combine great sonics with a superb performance and you have an absolute winner. This was probably the finest recording of the Saint Saens on the market until the stunning stereo spectacular of Munch in Boston, nearly 30 years later!
Featured performers for this symphony are Alex Cellier on organ, Lucien Petitjean on piano and Denise Herbrecht on piano. I cannot help but wonder if the Gramophone Symphony Orchestra is indeed the Paris Conservatory, Lamoureux or Pasdeloup in recording disguise. A thought...
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