Micha Elman - plays Vivaldi, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Paganini (1931-1951) (2011)

The sources for the present transfers were American Victor “Z” pressings for the Vivaldi; British HMV shellacs for the Beethoven Romances; a Japanese LP transferred from the original wide-range lacquer masters for the Mendelssohn; and 45 rpm vinyls for the Paganini. The original recording of this last item, an elaborate arrangement by Elman, is rare and has never previously appeared on CD, as have neither the Vivaldi nor the Beethoven Romance in F. Some swish is inherent in the master of the second side of the Vivaldi, and there are occasional gritty patches on the lacquers that were used for the Mendelssohn concerto’s LP transfer.