It is Schnabel, with that depth of vision and those idiosyncrasies, who remains, after all these years, essential listening.
Two “first” complete recordings of Beethoven symphonies grace this disc, a look into the past that both fascinates and awes, as Nikisch and Fried demonstrate the musicianship of a bygone age.
The tragically doomed and extraordinarily gifted Christian Ferras appears in two concertos deeply ingrained in his personality, here restored in excellent sound.
The legendary Cuban virtuoso Jorge Bolet’s 1952-1953 inscriptions restored, and they reveal a polished artist of colossal technique and intelligent refinement.
“Jacob Lateiner was one of the greatest pianists of the Twentieth Century,” claims producer Leslie Gerber, and herein is the undeniable proof.
A tour of the Op. 18 of Beethoven over a 22year period by the premier quartet ensemble of the time, live from the Library of Congress.
Dynamic and aggressive Beethoven from the legendary Sviatoslav Richter in Moscow, 1952-1960; and except for one flawed recording, well reproduced.
The veteran maestro raises the New York temperature in powerful Beethoven renditions from 1953 and 1959.
A superlative assemblage of Eileen Joyce shellacs, which taken as a whole reveal a potent virtuoso of the first order, to whom poetry and fire came naturally.
Horszowski began playing before the public at around the age of nine and continuing until his 100th year.