
audite Musikproduktion
Hülsenweg 7
D-32760 Detmold
Pierre Fournier was praised as an “aristocrat of cello playing”: his soulful, singing tone, his uncomplicated elegance and his refined sound can now be heard in these Lucerne live recordings, released for the first time. A particularly noteworthy discovery from the archives: Fournier’s encounter with the great Dvořák conductor István Kertész, whose untimely death had prevented him from recording the composer’s Cello Concerto in the studio.more
"Fournier digs deeper in the Dvořák than many other cellists bringing us one of the finest performances now on record. Even before hearing the Saint Saëns concerto I had decided that this is a Dvořák to put alongside the best on my shelves." (The Classical Reviewer)
Pierre Fournier plays Dvořák, Saint-Saëns and Casals
LUCERNE FESTIVAL Historic Performances, Vol. VII |
|
article number: | 95.628 |
---|---|
EAN barcode: | 4022143956286 |
price group: | BCB |
release date: | 27. February 2015 |
total time: | 60 min. |
Pierre Fournier (1906-1986) was one of the most eminent cellists of the generation after Pablo Casals. Praised as an "aristocrat of cello playing", he was admired for his soulful, singing tone, his uncomplicated elegance and his refined sound. This disc presents three live recordings from this legacy, recorded at LUCERNE FESTIVAL and all of them released for the first time. Together with István Kertész, Fournier performed a piece of his core repertoire in the summer of 1967: Antonín Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104 - a particularly noteworthy archive discovery since the conductor's tragically early death had prevented him from making a studio recording of the concerto. This live recording preserves the unpredictable emotional value of the concert situation: Fournier and Kertész take many risks, preferring the high definition of separate sounds as well as fresh tempi, without any temptation to fall for folklore frenzy or sentimental melancholy. Camille Saint-Saëns' First Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 33 was held in low esteem for decades, despite composers such as Rachmaninov and Shostakovich declaring it "the greatest of all cello concertos". It was not revived until the Fifties and Sixties - not least thanks to its advocacy by Pierre Fournier. In 1962, alongside Jean Martinon and the Orchestre Philharmonique de la RTF, he presented a passionate reading of the work, permitting a telling comparison to his previous studio recording. A new item in Fournier's discography, however, is the Cant dels ocells which he played in 1976 at a memorial concert on the centenary of Pablo Casals' birthday - this was also his last appearance at LUCERNE FESTIVAL. Fournier's brief announcement before this work has been included here: in it he pays tribute both to Pablo Casals - whose cello version of the old Catalan Christmas carol became an obligatory constituent of his concerts and a secret hymn for all refugees and emigrants longing for home - and also to the cellist and composer Enrico Mainardi, who had died only a few months previously, on 10 April 1976. In cooperation with audite, LUCERNE FESTIVAL presents outstanding concert recordings of artists who have shaped the festival throughout its history. The aim of this CD edition is to rediscover treasures - most of which have not been released previously - from the first six decades of the festival. These recordings have been made available by the archives of SRF Swiss Radio and Television, which has broadcast the Lucerne concerts from the outset. Carefully re-mastered and supplemented with photos and materials from the LUCERNE FESTIVAL archive, they represent a sonic history of the festival.
C’est une tornade musicale, tornade accrue par l’urgence du live sous la direction étincelante de Jean Martinon, chef avec lequel Fournier avait pourtant déjà gravé une fort belle version en 1960 à la tête de l’Orchestre Lamoureux pour les micros de Deutsche Grammophon. [...] Quelle prestation! Les compléments sont du même niveau, à commencer par ce Second Concerto de Dvorák avec l’accompagnement idoine de l’Orchestre du Festival de Lucerne dirigé par István Kertész, connaisseur ô combien avisé du compositeur tchèque. [...] Enfin, annoncé par Fournier lui-même à la «mémoire impérissable» de Pablo Casals, c’est Le Chant des oiseaux dans un arrangement pour violoncelle et orchestre à cordes écrit par Casals lui-même: superbe moment qui conclut de la plus belle manière un disque indispensable pour tout amoureux de Pierre Fournier.Mehr lesen
En bref, un disque à consommer sans modération et qu’on écoute avec une émotion de tous les instants et une admiration sans bornes.Mehr lesen
The two concertos were recorded for DG a few years before these Lucerne Festival appearances. The Saint-Saens was recorded around 1960 for DG; thisMehr lesen
Die Luzerner Festspiele bringen eine Reihe mit Aufnahmen aus ihrerMehr lesen
Pierre Fournier (1906–1986) has been called the “aristocrat of the cello,” and these recordings, remastered from original archival tapes ofMehr lesen
This is, quite simply, an absolutely stunning disc, with a “wow” factor off the charts. While Pierre Fournier made landmark studio recordings ofMehr lesen
Mit schlankem, gleichwohl leuchtenden Ton und wohldosierten Rubati musiziert er [Fournier] einen eher form- als sentimentbetonten Dvorak. Der vorliegende 1967er-Mitschnitt aus Luzern ist auch deshalb so bedeutend, weil Fourniers lyrisch gestimmte Interpretation in dem viel zu früh verstorbenen Istvan Kertesz einen kongenialen Partner findet. [...] Die Klangqualität fällt hier bemerkenswert gut aus. Optimal restauriertMehr lesen
Three previously unreleased, live Lucerne Festival performances document the great French cellist Pierre Fournier (1906-1986) at the height of hisMehr lesen
The loving nobility of the conception permeates the entire performance [...] Too often described as an “understated” artist, Fournier rather remains adept at imparting his grand passion with aesthetic taste.Mehr lesen
[Fournier] kostet den Reichtum an Stimmungen und Melodien voll aus.Mehr lesen
Pierre Fournier made a number of appearances at the Lucerne Festival and this release provides examples of three such visits given over a 14-yearMehr lesen
Audite's Fournier CD is a treasure, live performances by the legendary cellist. [...] All of these performances were recorded at the Lucerne Festival; audio quality is first-rate. An important release!Mehr lesen
Let me deal with the encore first! A Casals commemoration from September 1976 finds Pierre Fournier and the Festival Strings Lucerne under MatthiasMehr lesen
Die Veröffentlichung historischer Tondokumente vom Lucerne Festival – damals Internationale Musikfestwochen Luzern – ist beim Label Audite in besten Händen.Mehr lesen
Tout y est, grâce à une sonorité somptueuse et une certaine forme de charisme, indescriptible. Soyez heureux!Mehr lesen
Allein dieser Live-Mitschnitt ist Grund genug, sich an dieser CD zu erfreuen. Dvoraks Cello-Konzert in h-moll (mit Istvan Kertesz) und Saint-Saens‘ Cello-Konzert Nr. 1 in a-moll (mit Jean Martinon) lassen darüber hinaus die ganze elegante Meisterschaft Fourniers erklingen Mehr lesen
Voor de muzikale leiding tekenen kanjers als Jean Martinon en István Kertész. Ontroerend wordt het bij Fourniers aankondiging van het 'Lied van de vogels' van Casals. Hij vraagt het publiek uit eerbied voor de grote Spaanse cellist niet te klappen. Tijdens en na de magistrale vertolking is het muisstil. Adembenemend!Mehr lesen
Oui mais voilà, c’est István Kertész qui dirige une formation de circonstance, le Swiss Festival Orchestra, et lui donne dés son ouverture une carrure et un élan sciants. Tout du long ce sera d’abord son concerto, tempétueux, emporté, ouvrant sur de larges paysages, porté par une maîtrise du discours qui m’a laissé incrédule. En plus, il ne l’avait jamais enregistré. Voila un apport majeur à sa discographie !Mehr lesen
Pierre Fournier fue saluda do como el “aristócrata del violonchelo” por sus hondos y líricos ata ques, su sencilla elegancia y un sonidoMehr lesen
Fournier digs deeper in the Dvořák than many other cellists bringing us one of the finest performances now on record. Even before hearing the Saint Saëns concerto I had decided that this is a Dvořák to put alongside the best on my shelves.Mehr lesen