Description: Les Arts Florissants, Direction By William Christie. Monteverdi Altri Conti. Harmonia Mundi HM 1068. Booklet Insert Of Notes and Lyrics in English, French, and German. Item Details Manufactured in: France Pressing By: Polygram, West Germany Recorded: December, 1980 Original Issue: 1981 This Issue: 1981 Label: Harmonia Mundi HM 1068 Runout Deadwax Matrix Numbers: Side 1: (stamp:) 328 1068 A POLYGRAM (etch:) T HM 1068A C2 Side 2: (stamp:) 328 1068 B POLYGRAM (etch:) T HM 1068B A5 Was bought new by this seller many years ago and now offered from his private collection (you have absolutely known provenance). Has had 1-2 plays only on an expertly setup high-end audiophile turntable, arm, and cartridge. Has never been exposed to heat or tobacco smoke and always stored vertically in a specially designed record cabinet (Rackit) to prevent warpage. Was cleaned on a VPI HW 16 with Audio Intelligent solutions and ultra-pure water rinse (50X purer than distilled water) before my pre-sale sound check. I wear nitrile surgical gloves while cleaning and play testing to avoid any chance of transferring finger oils to the vinyl. Very sensitive play testing was performed straight off my Ayre P-5xe fully balanced phono preamp over Sennheiser HD 600 headphones using a Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 tube headphone amp fitted with Voskhod Soviet matched tubes (see last photo). Header and sides information --> Track list 1: Altri canti di Marti, Perche t'en fuggi o Fillide, Chiome d'Oro, Lamento della Ninfa, Hor ch'ei Ceil e la Terra. 2: Gira ilnemico, Amor che deggio far, Tirsi e Clori. I never take "distant" photos nor the so-prevalent type with the LP sticking halfway out of the jacket. I take close-ups under photo lamps so you can see nearly everything I describe in the jacket grading. It is virtually impossible to know the true vinyl condition from any photograph. That takes very bright and close visual inspection PLUS play testing with thorough coverage on high resolution equipment. Grading Details Note: Record grading by text characters is subjective and does not fully describe quality levels. Please see photos and my detailed descriptions below. Outer Jacket Inspection: VG++(jacket front)/NM- (jacket rear) You can see the single crease in the upper front left corner on my photo. Also seen on the front is a small "gouge" in the jacket surface right next to the big capital "I." There is a small bend on the bottom sleeve corner, more visible on the jacket rear. Otherwise the overwhelming majority of the jacket surfaces are nearly perfect. Vinyl visual inspection: After cleaning, surface visuals were inspected under high intensity halogen light. I rotated and tilted the record in multiple angles with my eyes a few inches away from the vinyl. I couldn't find any traces or blemishes of any kind. Visually the vinyl looks perfect. Both sides have LAST Vinyl wear preventative treatment stickers on them. I usually treated each new LP with LAST before first play. Play Testing: NM/NM Extensive play testing was performed after visual inspection. I listened to the beginning, middle, and end of each track for a few minutes on each needle drop, and longer when the music captured me. I also listened to all lead-in, lead-out and transition grooves between each track. Here is rundown of each side from my notes. Side 1 Play This LP has exemplary clarity, tonal purity, and realistic detail. The madrigal-style singing was recorded perfectly and it's the best example of this kind of music I have ever heard. My notes say: "gorgeous harmonies, perfect audio quality." The vinyl is exceptionally quiet. I didn't hear any ticks during transition grooves. Track 3 was my favorite and it was a "must record" to digital for my archives. Side 2 Play Everything I said about Side 1 was just as great if not even better on Side 2. Tracks 3 and 4 were my favorites. I found myself forgetting to lift the stylus and go on as I just kept listening and feeling without any conscious thinking. My notes say: "Track 4 is a great way to complete this album, spectacular!" In summary, musical, audio, and vinyl quality are all exceptional. I would grade the play quality Mint but for the fact that it is not still sealed, but it does sound brand new in every way. Packaging Record will be placed outside the jacket to protect against seam splitting. Original inner sleeve is included separately. Booklet insert is included separately. Record has been placed into a new MFSL-style "rice paper" sleeve, as the original, even if plastic lined, may be holding onto some dust. This will keep vinyl surfaces clean during shipping and ultimate buyer usage. Outer jacket is contained in a new clear polyethylene protective sleeve.Sent in good quality record mailer with cardboard stiffeners. Shipping Shipping will be via USPS Media Mail for a flat charge of $4.75 per single album sale. A combined shipping discount is available on multiple sales completed within 5 business days($4.75 plus $0.50 for each additional LP). If you intend to buy more than one LP do not pay immediately but wait for my all-combined invoice. A discount for the combined items will show on that invoice. Then, once payment is received, the items will ship.
Price: 4.49 USD
Location: El Dorado Hills, California
End Time: 2024-08-29T13:53:52.000Z
Shipping Cost: 4.75 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Artist: Les Arts Florissants
Speed: 33 RPM
Record Label: Harmonia Mundi
Case Type: Cardboard Sleeve
Material: Vinyl
Edition: First Edition
Type: LP
Format: Record
Record Grading: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Language: French
Release Year: 1981
Record Size: 12"
Style: Renaissance
Country/Region of Manufacture: France