Beecham Schubert

Sir Thomas Beecham is strongly identified with the orchestral music of Schubert, largely from these final recordings made over a period of years at different locations. In fact, it is amazing that these performances sound so cohesive, since bits and pieces were recorded over such a long time span. But Beecham was that rare performer who could make fastidious work sound spontaneous–and there are many such moments among these three symphonies. Indeed, these recordings could be recommended just for the wonderful woodwind solos. On the other hand, I find the string playing a little harsh and overdriven.

Sept ans après un Indispensable associant les 8e (par Mravinski) et 9e (Krips), Gaëtan Naulleau a écrémé la discographie des six autres symphonies.

Beethoven reputedly wasn't Beecham's favorite composer, but you wouldn't know it from this performance; it's exceedingly well conceived, highly energetic, and has that unique Beecham sparkle to it. The fillers also are delightful. All recorded in Ascona, Switzerland in 1957.

From the notes: Although Myra Hess became a legendary musical figure in Britain towards the end of her life (an image sharpened greatly by the series of lunchtime concerts give at the National Gallery to soothe the nerves of the war-weary Londoners) she had prior to 1939 enjoyed a greater success abroad than in the country of her birth. Indeed, she did not give a BBC broadcast until 1927, and her first English recordings (two discs only) were not made until 1931, some twenty-four years after a reasonably auspicious 1907 London début with Beecham….. The Beecham concert (it took place at the Queen's Hall on 14th November 1907) had been followed later in the same year by a Birmingham recital, in which she was joined by a young violinist who wa also subsequently to achieve great fame, her friend Joseph Szigeti." written by Charles Haynes

Never before have all Arthur Rubinstein albums been available together like this. Arthur Rubinstein – The Complete Album Collection features all of the legendary pianist’s issued recordings made by RCA Victor between 1940 and 1976, plus one recording issued on the DECCA label in 1978. Also included in this set are the recordings Rubinstein made in England for the His Master’s Voice (HMV) label between 1928 and 1940. As a bonus, this special package also has the sensational world-premiere release of two Carnegie Hall concerts recorded on December 8 and 10, 1961.

From a landmark Janacek album to a previously unpublished Schubert/Mozart recording, this collection presents the Deutsche Grammophon, British and American Decca, and Westminster legacy of Rudolf Firkušný (1912-1994), acclaimed by Stereo Review as 'the outstanding champion of Czech piano music on the international circuit'.

In the late 1940s, the pioneering Decca recording engineers perfected a new set of microphone techniques that allowed the full range of frequencies to be fully heard by listeners for the first time, and the term ‘full frequency range recording’ was launched. It was a major revolution in sound quality, and the beginnings of high fidelity.