80222-2

Price: £9.99

“Things are even better with the second Rasumovsky. The cello line is coiled and dynamic and they take a persuasive tempo in the slow movement. In fact they always did, even in 1960 when their tonal resources were on the wane but their sense of emotive warmth was barely compromised. The scherzo is daintily phrased and the finale sports a fine pomposo gait, with both Roisman and second violin Alexander Schneider blending together with great élan. The Op.130 quartet sounds rather more immediate than Op.59 No.2 even though it as recorded somewhat earlier.” (MusicWeb June 2018)

1-4 String Quartet E Minor, Op.59/2 (Razumovsky)

i Alegro

ii Molto adagio

iii Allegretto

iv Finale: Presto

5-10 String Quartet No. 13 in Bb major, Op.130

i Adagio ma non troppo – Allegro

ii Presto

iii Andante con moto ma non troppo

iv Alla danza tedseca: Allegro assai

v Cavatina: Adagio molto espressivo

vi Finale: Allegro

Barcode: 744718022229

WHL 006/7

Price: £13.99

Wilhelm Furtwängler, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra * with Edwin Fischer (pno)

Beethoven: Symphony No.5
Wagner: Excerpts from Tristan and Parsifal
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6
Furtwängler: Adagio solemne from Symphonic Concerto

“Mark Obert-Thorn’s transfers amount to truthful reportage of the original 78s, and Furtwangler’s legendary 1938 Pathetique is a real performance – a tragic comedy on difficult times with searing climaxes and a mastery of musical transition that no other conductor could surpass…..
Furtwangler’s artful handling of the first movement’s main melody is as breathtaking as his panic-stricken through the, finale’s last climax, but both gestures seem wholly to Tchaikovsky’s.structure. The Wagner excerpts with broad arched lines are typically compelling “. (Gramophone)
As to the Brucknerian Solemne, it may not be ‘great’music, but I find it both endearing and peculiarly moving.

Track list:

1-4 Beethoven: Symphony No.5
5-6 Wagner: Excerpts from Tristan und Isolde
7-8 Wagner: Excerpts from Parsifal
9 Furtwängler: Adagio Solemne (from Symphonic  Concerto*)
10-13 Tchaikovsky Symphony No.6 ‘Pathetique’

Barcode: 744718300723

80251-2

Price: £14.99

Beethoven Romance in F
First release of 1995 recording
Pinkas Zukerman
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta

“Beethoven’s F major Romance is inflated to Brahmsian dimensions by a plushly upholstered accompaniment from what sounds like a full-strength London Philharmonic … (Gramophone January 2016)

The sharp contours of Berg’s Concerto are rounded off by Zukerman, with Mehta an observant and willing accomplice; so too the Sony engineers, who tuck the more Expressionist details away … it often rewards a balance struck between Romantically inclined soloist and incisive conductor, and provides the model of a beating heart within a glinting suit of armour. The second disc has more to offer. Brahms is in the room again, this time not as uninvited guest but welcome host to recital works with a charm as unaffected as Zukerman’s portamento. The central section of Robert Fuchs’s Op 82 No 1 is unthinkable without the examples of Brahms’s vocal and instrumental Regenlieder, and if the remaining Fantasiestücke of this selection are hardly less indebted to the master’s Hungarian dances, especially in the harmony they are written from the inside out, never a moment too long, and caught on the wing here not only by Zukerman’s unfailing cantabile but also by Marc Neikrug’s alertly sprung accompaniments. The 24-year-old Joachim had met Brahms for the first time only two years before writing these Hebrew Melodies, which sing with a personal if rather unrelieved contralto. Zukerman and his viola are placed further from the microphones than his violin in the Fuchs, but uses the space to advantage No 2 is in C minor, marked Grave, but a true Nigun in all but name!

Track list:

CD1

[1] Beethoven: Romance in F, op.50                                       9:51

Alban Berg Violin Concerto (1935)

[2] Andante (Prelude) – Allegretto (Scherzo)                           11:13

[3] Allegro (Cadenza) – Adagio (Chorale Variations)                14:57

Pinchas Zukerman, violin/ London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta

CD2

Robert Fuchs: Nine Fantasy Pieces

[1] Etwas Langsam, sehr innig, op.74, no.2 (D major)                2:03

[2] Leidenschaftlich, aber nicht rasch, op.82, no.1 (C minor)     7:51

[3] Langsam, wehmütig, op.74, no.9 (G minor)                           3:15

[4] Leicht bewegt, op.74, no.6 (E minor)                                     2:59

[5] Andante, quasi Allegretto, op.40, no.3 (G minor)                   2:48

[6] Allegro Scherzoso ma non troppo, op.40, no.2 (B-flat major) 2:23

[7] Ziemlich langsam, träumerisch, op.74. no.1 (B minor)          3:10

[8] Langsam, schwebend, op.74, no.7 (C major)                         2:58

[9] Kräftig und entschloßen, op.82, no.5 (D minor)                     3:14

Joseph Joachim Hebrew Melodies, op.9

[10] Sostenuto (G minor)                                                             4:41

[11] Grave (C minor)                                                                    7:56

[12] Andante cantabile (F major)                                                 9:39

Pinchas Zukerman (viola)

Marc Neikrug, piano

Companies, etc.

• Copyright (c) – Biddulph Recordings – 2015
• Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sony Music Entertainment – 2015

Credits

• Conductor – Zubin Mehta (tracks: 1-1 – 1-3)
• Engineer – James Nichols (tracks: 2-1 – 2-9), Kevin Boutote (tracks: 2-10 – 2-12), Tony Faulkner (tracks: 1-1 – 1-3)
• Executive Producer – Eric Wen
• Liner Notes – Douglas Jarman
• Mastered By – Tom Lazarus
• Orchestra – The London Philharmonic Orchestra (tracks: 1-1 – 1-3)
• Piano – Marc Neikrug (tracks: 2-1 – 2-12)
• Producer – Philip Traugott
• Viola – Pinchas Zukerman (Viola) (tracks: 2-10 – 2-12)
• Violin – Pinchas Zukerman (tracks: 1-1 – 2-9)

Barcode: 744718025121

 

80228-2

Price: £9.99

Joseph Szigeti
Mieczyslaw Horszowski (pno) * also Myra Hess (pno)

Beethoven Violin Sonata No.10 in G, Op.96
Schubert Violin Sonata* in A ‘Duo’, D574
Brahms Violin Sonata No.3 in D minor, Op.108

Total track time: 72:46

“These are beautiful performances, full of subtle shades and asides but definitely not for those who prioritise a firm, vibrant violin line” (Gramophone)

Barcode: 744718022823

80223-2

Price: £13.99

Georges Moleau (bass) Mieczyslaw Horszowski (pno)

Schubert String Quartet No.13 in A minor, D804
No.14 in D minor, “Death & The Maiden” D810
Schubert String Quartet No.15 in G, D887
Schubert ‘Trout’ Piano Quintet in A, D667

Full track time: 148:34

Barcode: 744718022328