Robert Casadesus

Featuring two of the most prominent European classical musicians of their time, ZINO FRANCESCATTI & ROBERT CASADESUS features both individual performances and duets. Francescatti was perhaps the finest violinist of the mid-20th century; coming from a family of musicians, he was a child prodigy who gave his first concert at the age of five. Casadesus also came from a musical background, and won acclaim throughout his career as a technically perfect pianist and fine classical composer. The pair collaborate here in performances of works by Beethoven, and individually perform work by composers as diverse as Debussy and Bazzini.

From the notes:"It is often said, not without justification, that Toscanini's performances stand out from those of his contemporaries for what might be called their (for the time) 'modern' approach, which is to say that the excesses of Romantic subjective interpretation were, generally speaking, not for him. What distinguished his readings principally is his extraordinary command of structure, realised through the appositeness of his chosen tempi, very rarely varied, and only then to make a definite musical point, almost as a punctuation in the overall schematic plan, allied to orchestral playing of considerable concentration and commitment. Toscanini never needed to indulge in jejune 'point-making' as an interpretative habit - nor did he countenance it in other conductors." written by Robert Matthew-Walker

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 21 in C major K.467 & No. 24 in C minor K.491-
Robert Casadesus, piano; Members of The Cleveland Orchestra; George Szell, conductor
Classical | 1 CD | EAC Rip | 254 MB | FLAC+LOG+Cue | Full scans | RS links
Publisher: CBS Masterworks

Editorial Reviews - Amazon.com
The brilliant, energetic readings of Robert Casadesus and George Szell set a standard for this repertory that has yet to be surpassed. Dramatic and tightly wound, but never dry or unsmiling, these accounts combine grace and lucidity with an almost operatic lyricism, and remain among the most satisfying and evocative in the catalog. The sound is dry but firm and detailed, and Sony has done an excellent job of remastering. –Ted Libbey