The EMI Recordings

One of only seven complete sets of the Optimal GmbH pressed single sided test pressings of Coup d’Archet’s Johanna Martzy EMI Recordings, all cut at Abbey Road Studios in 100% analogue, directly from the original master tapes. The collection is presented in three linen bound slipcases. The first case contains the 8 matt laminated jackets of the Coup releases and the inserts featuring the original artwork and notes, plus details of the recording sessions, including dates, engineers, locations, etc. The other two cases contain the 22 single sided audiophile pressed discs in poly-lined inners and individually labelled white jackets. In addition to the official releases, the Brahms, the Mendelssohn (with Beethoven Romances on separate disc), the Schubert works and the Bach Sonatas and Partitas (with the Chaconne from Partita 2 on separate disc), this set of test pressings is in fact the only COMPLETE EMI recordings as it includes (across 4 sides) the recordings Johanna Martzy made with Wolfgang Sawallisch, Walter Legge’s latest wunderkind, in November 1954. This was in fact only Sawallisch’s second recording session for Columbia. Martzy was not at all happy with the performances or the resulting (over edited) recordings and subsequently vetoed it. Coup d’Archet was curious to hear it to gain insight into Martzy’s personal idea of quality control, so had these sides cut at the same time as the rest of the recordings, in February 2010. Coup d’Archet agreed with Martzy’s decision that the recordings were not of the standard she maintained, and decided against including it in their boxed set. However it remains a curiosity for those interested in the history of her oeuvre. For those who care about such things, these cuts were the first to be taken directly from the original master tapes since the first test pressings made in November and December 1954. The Japanese Lexington issue from 1995 was not. Testament Records chose to issue these recordings in 2012 on a single LP. It received positive reviews. Discs: COUP 016 A/B Brahms Violin Concerto COUP 017 A/B Bach Sonata Number 1, Partita Number 1 COUP 018 A/B/C Bach Sonata Number 2, Partita Number 2 COUP 019 A/B Bach Sonata Number 3, Partita Number 3 COUP 020 A/B Schubert Sonatina Number 1, Sonatina Number 2 COUP 021 A/B Schubert Sonatina Number 3, Sonata (Duo) COUP 023 A/B Schubert Rondo Brillante, Fantaisie COUP 024 A/B/C Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Beethoven Romances COUP 025 A/B/C/D Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Mozart Violin Concerto K 216 - Sawallisch. There was NO jacket printed for this set of four discs. Total of twenty-two (22) 12” 33rpm single sided audiophile quality pressings.