US
March 1962- Label and catalog number
- Westminster WST 318
- Format
- LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set
Ludwig van BeethovenFidelio
Vinyl pressings
Fidelio
by Ludwig van Beethoven · 1962
11 pressings5 countriesOperaClassical
Fidelio was first pressed on vinyl in 1962. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
How to spot a first pressing of Fidelio
2 pressings came out in 1962, the album's first year, in 2 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
Germany
August 1962- Label and catalog number
- Heliodor 429 066/68
- Format
- LP, Stereo, Box Set
- Runout / matrix
1 G2 -SL B 429066-2 A Made in GermanyRunout side A, stamped
H2 -W D2 429067-3 A Made in GermanyRunout side B, stamped
H2 -W E 3 429068-3 A Made in GermanyRunout side C, stamped
H2 -W F 3 429068-5 B Made in GermanyRunout side D, stamped
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
All 11 vinyl pressings
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
1960s5 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | US | Westminster WST 318First yearLP, Album, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1962 | Germany | Heliodor 429 066/68First yearLP, Stereo, Box Set | LP, Stereo, Box Set |
| 1964 | UK | World Record Club OH 107 / World Record Club OH. 107LP, Album, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Westminster WM-1003LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono | LP, Album, Reissue, Mono · Mono |
| 1965 | US | Westminster WMS-1003LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
1970s1 pressing
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Australia | World Record Club S-4763 / World Record Club S-4764LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Stereo, Box Set · Club edition |
1980s2 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Japan | Westminster VIC-5205~7LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1980 | US | MCA Westminster MCA3-14300LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
Year unknown3 pressings
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Germany | CBS S 72 488/489/490LP, Box Set | LP, Box Set |
| ? | Germany | CBS S 71025LP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| ? | UK | World Record Club 3-OC 104'5'6LP, Reissue | LP, Reissue |
Tracklist
- Fidelio (An Opera In Two Acts)
Questions
How many vinyl pressings of Fidelio are there?
11 vinyl pressings of Fidelio are listed here, from 5 countries, released between 1962 and 1980.
When was Fidelio first released on vinyl?
The earliest pressings are from 1962, in US, Germany. One of them is Westminster WST 318, released March 1962.
How do I tell if my copy of Fidelio is a first pressing?
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use WST 318, 429 066/68) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
How much is Fidelio on vinyl worth?
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
