Notes and Editorial Reviews
Certainly the title is apt. Fournier was, indeed, an aristocrat
among cellists, a musician of absolute refinement whose compelling
intensity was derived through subtle increments, not ladled
out by the yard. He has been the subject of a number of retrospectives
and some important restorations. Many of the recordings included
in this 7 CD Icon box will therefore be very familiar - I suppose
the Brahms Double with Oistrakh is the most well known - but
equally there are some surprises from amongst the discography
and some interesting early recordings
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made either pre-war or
during the war itself that might have proved elusive. There
are also competing recordings of the same piece - the most extensive
is the Rococo Variations - which will allow one to appreciate
a different performance, and pianist, and acoustic.
Fournier first recorded in 1937. His first major solo undertaking
was the Arpeggione sonata with Jean Hubeau, included
here, and his first major chamber undertaking the Fauré
G minor Piano Quartet with Thibaud, Vieux and Marguerite Long.
Readers may well have their own favourite studio or live recordings
from his discography and they may, or may not, accord with the
selection here. Remember that Fournier recorded for companies
other than EMI as well. Major recordings of the Dvořák
exist with other conductors - Szell for instance or Georges
Sebastian (live) to cite just two. He left behind traversals
of the Beethoven sonatas with Gulda and with Kempff, and the
Brahms (neither sonata is in this set) with Firkušny.
I will just be skimming the surface in this review. Listening
to these recordings again - or, in a few cases for the first
time - reminds me forcefully just how subtle and refined a musician
he was, and also how his performances could vary. The Dvořák
is a case in point. Here with Kubelík we have what may
seem, to some, to be a rather understated approach, lacking
in externalised panache. It’s certainly different from
the two other performances cited above. Nevertheless it convinces
by virtue of its refined chamber intimacies, its tautly moving
tempi and its rich sweep. The Schumann Concerto has a
similar advantage in that Sargent is the accompanist and, as
in the case of the Rococo variations that he also directs, we
are assured of an articulate, structure-conscious reading of
great imagination. The other Rococo Variations recording,
by the way, is a wartime effort with Bigot which is a lot less
tidy, if a bit faster. Of the Brahms Double there’s
little reason to add more than what has already been noted about
this illustrious meeting, presided over by the underrated Alceo
Galliera.
An accompanist in many ways as fine as Sargent was Walter Susskind
and he and Fournier play to each other’s strengths in
the Saint-Saëns A minor. Kubelík is on hand
again for the Haydn concerto in D, which performance
comes in for some ribbing from annotator Tully Potter. This
concerns the use of the Gevaert edition, though this was pretty
standard in 1951 so I can’t feel too aggrieved about its
use. This third disc sees a bonanza of pianist-accompanists
- Hubeau in the Arpeggione, Babeth Léonet, and
Jacques Février in the Poulenc sonata; the most recent
recording, by the way, set down in 1971. The Paris recording
of Schumann’s Fantasiestücke with Léonet
is in rather rackety sound and it is quite some shock to jump
from it to the Poulenc. This last catches perfectly the
highly refined melancholy of the writing.
The Beethoven sonatas with Schnabel were recorded in
1947-48. At around the same time Szgeti, Primose, Fournier,
and Schnabel gave concerts as a flexible ensemble, an association
that was not unfortunately captured in the studios, but some
fascinating material was recorded off-air - notably Brahms’
Piano Trio in B Op. 8 which has been issued on Arbiter 121.
Stack this early post-war set of the Beethovens near the 1959
Gulda and on a par with the Kempff. Such is the artistry and
unsentimental authority of the playing that one would simply
not wish to do without this set. It’s an ensemble on all
altogether different level of engagement to the mismatched Piatigorsky-Solomon
duo recording of 1954.
The Fauré Piano Quartet can be found in the sixth
disc. It’s always been my template. It sported France’s
leading string players in Thibaud (ageing, it’s true,
and soon to be superseded, if we must allow the quasi-sporting
motif, by Francescatti and Neveu) and the magnificent Vieux.
Marguerite Long anchors things superbly. There are thankfully
quite a few morceaux and charming encore pieces. It would not
be a fitting set without them. Some indeed can be heard in multiple
performances. Let me note in passing the scuffily recorded but
rhythmically charged Stravinsky Chanson russe
with Tasso Janopoulo, Thibaud’s sometime accompanist.
I suppose disc seven, recorded with Gerald Moore in 1957, reveals
this kind of art in all its glory. One performance after another
illustrates just why Fournier was so admired and loved as an
artist. From the noble Bach Chorale Prelude realisations,
through that bumblebee, to two pieces by Granados (one
in Fournier’s arrangement, the other in Cassadó’s)
everything is well nigh perfect.
A number of items in this set appeared in the 4 CD box called
Les Introuvables de Pierre Fournier put out by
French EMI [5 69708 2] - principally the Beethoven sonatas with
Schnabel, the Schumann and Haydn concertos, Rococo variations,
Arpeggione sonata, some Fauré items, the Lili Boulanger,
and all of disc 7, though this last hasn’t undergone any
subsequent transfer restoration so far as I can tell. There
is a vast 18 CD Art of Pierre Fournier box, released in Japan
[DG Japan POCC 9711-28 447665-2] that complements this EMI one,
should Fournier be your ardent focus of desire.
As for the engineering I do, where comparison exists, prefer
the ‘Les Introuvables’ transfers which bear a degree
more surface noise but are more aerated and open. It’s
not a vast difference however. Given the cheapness of this set
I wouldn’t want to put off anyone, who has yet to experience
it, hearing Fournier across a wide spectrum of repertoire in
performances as noble, selfless and wonderful as are these.
– Jonathan Woolf, MusicWeb International Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Concerto for Cello in A minor, Op. 129 by Robert Schumann
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Conductor:
Sir Malcolm Sargent
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1850; Germany
2.
Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102 "Double" by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
David Oistrakh (Violin)
Conductor:
Alceo Galliera
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1887; Austria
3.
Concerto for Cello in B minor, Op. 104/B 191 by Antonín Dvorák
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Conductor:
Rafael Kubelik
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1894-1895; USA
4.
Concerto for Cello no 1 in A minor, Op. 33 by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Conductor:
Walter Susskind
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1872; France
5.
Variations for Cello and Orchestra on a Rococo theme, Op. 33 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Conductor:
Eugčne Bigot
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Lamoureux Concerts Association Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1876; Russia
6.
Concerto for Cello no 2 in D major, Op. 101/H 7b no 2 by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Conductor:
Rafael Kubelik
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Classical
Written: 1783; Eszterhazá, Hungary
7.
Sonata for Arpeggione in A minor, D 821 by Franz Schubert
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Jean Hubeau (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1824; Vienna, Austria
8.
Phantasiestücke (3) for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 73 by Robert Schumann
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Babeth Léonet (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1849; Germany
9.
Sonata for Cello and Piano by Francis Poulenc
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Jacques Février (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1948; France
10.
Sonata for Cello and Piano no 1 in F major, Op. 5 no 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Artur Schnabel (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1796; Vienna, Austria
11.
Sonata for Cello and Piano no 2 in G minor, Op. 5 no 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Artur Schnabel (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1796; Vienna, Austria
12.
Sonata for Cello and Piano no 3 in A major, Op. 69 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Artur Schnabel (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1807-1808; Vienna, Austria
13.
Pieces (12) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 85: Abendlied by Robert Schumann
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Tasso Janopoulo (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1849; Germany
14.
Songs (6), Op. 86: no 2, Feldeinsamkeit by Johannes Brahms
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Marthe Pellas-Lenom (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: ?1877-79; Austria
15.
Melodies (2) for Piano, Op. 3: no 1 in F major by Anton Rubinstein
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1852; Russia
16.
Sonata for Cello and Piano no 4 in C major, Op. 102 no 1 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Artur Schnabel (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1815; Vienna, Austria
17.
Sonata for Cello and Piano no 5 in D major, Op. 102 no 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Artur Schnabel (Piano)
Period: Classical
Written: 1815; Vienna, Austria
18.
Sonata for cello in C Major: Minuet by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Classical
19.
Pieces (12) for Piano 4 hands, Op. 85: Abendlied by Robert Schumann
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1849; Germany
20.
Sonates progressives (6) for Violin and Piano: no 3 in D minor, J 101/Op. 10 no 3 - Rondo by Carl Maria von Weber
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1810; Germany
21.
Elégie for Cello and Piano, Op. 24 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1880; France
22.
Quartet for Piano and Strings no 2 in G minor, Op. 45 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Jacques Thibaud (Violin),
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Marguerite Long (Piano),
Maurice Vieux (Viola)
Period: Romantic
Written: ?1885-86; France
23.
Romance for Cello and Piano, Op. 69 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Tasso Janopoulo (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1894; France
24.
Elégie for Cello and Piano, Op. 24 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Ernest Lush (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1880; France
25.
Berceuse for Violin and Piano in D major, Op. 16 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Ernest Lush (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1878-1879; France
26.
Pičce en forme de Habańera by Maurice Ravel
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Ernest Lush (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1907; France
27.
Ręverie by Claude Debussy
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Ernest Lush (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1890; France
28.
Carnival of the animals: no 13, The swan by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Gerald Moore (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1886; France
29.
Shylock Suite, Op. 57: no 3, Nocturne by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Tasso Janopoulo (Piano)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1889; France
30.
Mavra: Russian Song by Igor Stravinsky
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Tasso Janopoulo (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
31.
Nocturne for Violin and Piano in F major by Lili Boulanger
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello),
Ernest Lush (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1911; France
32.
Introduction and Polonaise for Cello and Piano in C major, Op. 3 by Frédéric Chopin
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1829-1830; Poland
33.
Song without words for Cello and Piano in D major, Op. 109 by Felix Mendelssohn
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Written: 1845
34.
Golden Cockerel: Hymn to the sun by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1906-1907; Russia
35.
Tale of Tsar Saltan: Suite, Op. 57 - Flight of the bumblebee by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1903; Russia
36.
Carnival of the animals: no 13, The swan by Camille Saint-Saëns
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1886; France
37.
Berceuse for Violin and Piano in D major, Op. 16 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1878-1879; France
38.
Tonadillas en un estilo antiguo: no 9, La maja dolorosa I-III by Enrique Granados
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1910-1911; Spain
39.
La Gitana by Fritz Kreisler
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: Austria
40.
Papillon for Cello and Piano in A major, Op. 77 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1884; France
41.
Sicilienne for Cello and Piano, Op. 78 by Gabriel Fauré
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Written: 1898; France
42.
L'enfant prodigue: Prélude by Claude Debussy
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1884/1908; France
43.
Pičce en forme de Habańera by Maurice Ravel
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1907; France
44.
Orgelbüchlein: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde gross, BWV 622 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1714-1717; Weimar, Germany
45.
Herzlich tut mich verlangen, BWV 727 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Baroque
Written: 1708-1717; ?Weimar, Germany
46.
Orgelbüchlein: Ich ruf'zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1713-1717; Weimar, Germany
47.
Orgelbüchlein: Nun komm'der Heiden Heiland, BWV 599 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1713-1717; Weimar, Germany
48.
Work(s) by Luigi Boccherini
Performer:
Pierre Fournier (Cello)
Period: Romantic
Sound Samples
Cello Concerto in A minor Op. 129 (1997 Digital Remaster): I. Nicht zu schnell -
Cello Concerto in A minor Op. 129 (1997 Digital Remaster): II. Langsam - Etwas lebhafter - Schneller (Cadenza: Fournier) -
Cello Concerto in A minor Op. 129 (1997 Digital Remaster): III. Sehr lebhaft
4 Variations on a Rococo Theme in A major, Op.33 (2007 Digital Remaster)
Double Concerto in A minor Op. 102 (2006 Digital Remaster): I Allegro
Double Concerto in A minor Op. 102 (2006 Digital Remaster): II Andante
Double Concerto in A minor Op. 102 (2006 Digital Remaster): III Vivace non troppo
Cello Concerto in B minor B191 Op.104 (2007 Digital Remaster): I. Allegro
Cello Concerto in B minor B191 Op.104 (2007 Digital Remaster): II. Adagio ma non troppo
Cello Concerto in B minor B191 Op.104 (2007 Digital Remaster): III. Finale (Allegro moderato)
Cello Concerto No.1 in A Minor, Op.33 (2007 Digital Remaster): Allegro non troppo
Cello Concerto No.1 in A Minor, Op.33 (2007 Digital Remaster): Allegretto con moto
Cello Concerto No.1 in A Minor, Op.33 (2007 Digital Remaster): Allegro non troppo
Variations On A Rococo Theme In A Major Op.33 (Remasterisé En 1997)
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