CLASSICAL Pierre Fournier ,George Szell ,Alfred Wallenstein Dvořák & Elgar: Cello Concertos <Tower Records Exclusive>|Japan made SACD Hybrid
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CLASSICAL Pierre Fournier ,George Szell ,Alfred Wallenstein Dvořák & Elgar: Cello Concertos
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CLASSICAL Pierre Fournier ,George Szell ,Alfred Wallenstein Dvořák & Elgar: Cello Concertos |Japan made SACD Hybrid
$48.00
Sale price
$48.00
Regular price
Factory-sealed, new Obi strip, everything included- Pierre Fournier, George Szell, Alfred Wallenstein, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Dvořák & Elgar: Cello Concertos.
PART NUMBER: PROC-2025
SKU: 4988031215296
LABEL: TOWER RECORDS UNIVERSAL SACD COLLECTION
RELEASE DATE: 3/22/2017
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*Limited edition. World's first SA-CD release (2)
*SA-CD hybrid disc
*Uses the latest 2017 mastering (WAV data digitally converted at 192kHz/24bit from the original analog master tapes in Germany was mastered at Emil Berliner Studios and then converted to DSD for the SACD layer. The analog master tapes underwent thorough restoration work to the extent possible, depending on their age and storage condition, before the conversion work was carried out)
*Uses the original jacket design (other jackets are also included in the booklet)
*Standard packaging
*Disc printing surface: Green
This timeless masterpiece by Fournier has been newly remastered in France from the original master.
His dignified performance of Elgar is now available on SA-CD for the first time in the world! A superb recording by DG.
Pierre Fournier, the renowned French cellist, was affectionately known as the "Prince of the Cello" for his dignified playing and refined demeanor. He boasted a wide repertoire ranging from Bach to contemporary music, but when he visited Japan in 1966, he said, "I like Romantic and Impressionistic music. I'm not so sure about ultra-modern works," and "I love the works of people like Honegger, Poulenc, and my friend Martinů, who have blossomed with modern individuality on top of traditional beauty" (from the Mainichi Shimbun, January 11, 1966, evening edition, culture section). This SA-CD hybrid disc includes two Romantic works that he favored. The fact that he is performing with the Berlin Philharmonic, with whom he made great success in his debut performance on January 11, 1939, and made Fournier's name known throughout Europe, further enhances the value of this disc.
The Dvořák sessions took place from June 1st to 3rd, 1961, under the direction of Szell. Records from the Berlin Philharmonic show that neither Szell nor Fournier performed in any concerts around this time, indicating that they gathered purely for the sessions. Similarly, the Elgar sessions took place from October 20th to 23rd, 1966, and again, neither Wallenstein nor Fournier performed around this time. The Dvořák sessions lasted three days, and the Elgar sessions four days, allowing ample time for session recording without being interrupted by concerts. As a result, both the performances and recordings are exceptionally beautiful. Fournier's fluid phrasing and rich, serene tone are maintained throughout. While lyricism and musicality flow deeply, the expression and form never lose their elegance. His performance, devoid of excessive expression, is beautiful and highly persuasive, proving why he is considered a "prince."
Furthermore, ears accustomed to recent cello recordings will keenly feel how cello sound has changed over time. Recent cello recordings tend to capture the sound sharply, perhaps influenced by rising technical standards and greater expressive detail. However, Fournier's recording here faithfully captures the rich resonance, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the cello's inherent charm.
His dignified performance of Elgar is now available on SA-CD for the first time in the world! A superb recording by DG.
Pierre Fournier, the renowned French cellist, was affectionately known as the "Prince of the Cello" for his dignified playing and refined demeanor. He boasted a wide repertoire ranging from Bach to contemporary music, but when he visited Japan in 1966, he said, "I like Romantic and Impressionistic music. I'm not so sure about ultra-modern works," and "I love the works of people like Honegger, Poulenc, and my friend Martinů, who have blossomed with modern individuality on top of traditional beauty" (from the Mainichi Shimbun, January 11, 1966, evening edition, culture section). This SA-CD hybrid disc includes two Romantic works that he favored. The fact that he is performing with the Berlin Philharmonic, with whom he made great success in his debut performance on January 11, 1939, and made Fournier's name known throughout Europe, further enhances the value of this disc.
The Dvořák sessions took place from June 1st to 3rd, 1961, under the direction of Szell. Records from the Berlin Philharmonic show that neither Szell nor Fournier performed in any concerts around this time, indicating that they gathered purely for the sessions. Similarly, the Elgar sessions took place from October 20th to 23rd, 1966, and again, neither Wallenstein nor Fournier performed around this time. The Dvořák sessions lasted three days, and the Elgar sessions four days, allowing ample time for session recording without being interrupted by concerts. As a result, both the performances and recordings are exceptionally beautiful. Fournier's fluid phrasing and rich, serene tone are maintained throughout. While lyricism and musicality flow deeply, the expression and form never lose their elegance. His performance, devoid of excessive expression, is beautiful and highly persuasive, proving why he is considered a "prince."
Furthermore, ears accustomed to recent cello recordings will keenly feel how cello sound has changed over time. Recent cello recordings tend to capture the sound sharply, perhaps influenced by rising technical standards and greater expressive detail. However, Fournier's recording here faithfully captures the rich resonance, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the cello's inherent charm.
Among the conductors, Wallenstein's steady conducting, which brought out the rich sound of the Berlin Philharmonic in his Elgar recordings, is wonderful, but the real highlight is undoubtedly Szell's Dvořák. The rich tone of the horns in the second theme of the first movement, and the abundant lyricism, seem to reflect both the composer's nostalgia and Szell's own nostalgia. Looking at the Berlin Philharmonic's performance records, Szell's debut was on December 19, 1916, when he was just 19 years old. That's a year earlier than the older Furtwängler's debut. Szell achieved success in America after the war, but this recording serves as proof, through sound, that his musical homeland was in Central Europe.
These recordings are separated by four years, but a characteristic feature is that the soloists are placed at the forefront and the sound image is recorded somewhat larger. It's interesting that this differs from the approach taken by Karajan's later Dvořák recordings with Rostropovich, and it's fascinating to see how engineers and producers have different approaches. Fournier's recordings, captured with a rich and powerful sound, remain superb even today, and this latest reissue allows you to enjoy this legendary performance with even greater clarity and spaciousness. The sound of Elgar, in particular, which has never been released on SA-CD before, is especially noteworthy.
For this series, the original analog master tapes from Germany were meticulously maintained and restored before being digitized in high-definition (DSD). A dedicated engineer from the German label then spent considerable time and effort mastering the recordings specifically for this series. The SA-CD layer offers a highly detailed master sound. The CD layer has also undergone the latest digitization and mastering, setting it apart from previous releases in terms of sound quality. Furthermore, this series utilizes the original jacket design, and the liner notes include a new introductory essay. This fourth installment of the "Vintage SA-CD Collection" will release a total of three titles.
These recordings are separated by four years, but a characteristic feature is that the soloists are placed at the forefront and the sound image is recorded somewhat larger. It's interesting that this differs from the approach taken by Karajan's later Dvořák recordings with Rostropovich, and it's fascinating to see how engineers and producers have different approaches. Fournier's recordings, captured with a rich and powerful sound, remain superb even today, and this latest reissue allows you to enjoy this legendary performance with even greater clarity and spaciousness. The sound of Elgar, in particular, which has never been released on SA-CD before, is especially noteworthy.
For this series, the original analog master tapes from Germany were meticulously maintained and restored before being digitized in high-definition (DSD). A dedicated engineer from the German label then spent considerable time and effort mastering the recordings specifically for this series. The SA-CD layer offers a highly detailed master sound. The CD layer has also undergone the latest digitization and mastering, setting it apart from previous releases in terms of sound quality. Furthermore, this series utilizes the original jacket design, and the liner notes include a new introductory essay. This fourth installment of the "Vintage SA-CD Collection" will release a total of three titles.