This handsome and rare 3LP box set from RCA Victor (LM-6120, US pressing, plum shaded dog labels – ED1, mono, box, booklet and original inner sleeves included) features Gregor Piatigorsky and Solomon's magnificent survey of Beethoven's 5 Cello Sonatas, all warmly recorded at EMI Studio No. 3, Abbey Road, London, in October 1954 – one of the greatest cycles ever committed to disc. Also included are the 3 sets of variations for cello and piano in which Piatigorsky is partnered by Lukas Foss.

Included are the following works, all by Ludwig van Beethoven:

Cello Sonata No. 1 in F Major Op. 5 No. 1

Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor Op. 5 No. 2

Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major Op. 69

Cello Sonata No. 4 in C Major Op. 102 No. 1

Cello Sonata No. 5 in D Major Op. 102 No. 2

Twelve Variations On A Theme From Handel's "Judas Maccabaeus"

Twelve Variations On A Theme From Mozart's "The Magic Flute"

Seven Variations On A Theme From Mozart's "The Magic Flute"

In reviewing the Testament CD re-issue of these performances, the wonderful critic Jed Distler wrote for ClassicsToday.com:

"The sound for Piatigorsky and Solomon’s 1954 Beethoven sonata recordings is more focused and better defined than ever before. You can hear all sorts of coloristic nuances and dynamic shading that were masked on LP, such as the pianist’s haunting, almost disembodied trills in the Fifth sonata’s slow movement. Such revelations add substance and spiritual weight to the protagonists’ suave, Apollonian decorum. Both players dovetail each other and melt into each other’s sonorities with a kind of elegant nonchalance that contrasts to the more overtly dramatic Rostropovich/Richter or Fournier/Schnabel traversals."

Included is the full-size, 4-page booklet, with texts in English only.

CONDITION – PLEASE READ VERY CAREFULLY:

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

The condition of the box is VERY GOOD. The box top is separated from the lower half, a clean break, and there is some minor wear to the spine. However, there are no corner breaks, seamsplits, owners' markings, or other defects and the whole remains extremely attractive – overall, a very good collector's copy.

The condition of the booklet is EX. Some slight aging, perhaps, but really that is all.

The condition of the 3 LPs is VERY GOOD+ throughout. Visually, the LPs are free of scratches or other obvious faults. In terms of sound, although there is occasional light surface noise, in general playback is quite fine. However, if you must have flawless or NM copies, then please do not buy this set. Overall, these rate as excellent collector's copies.