09 February 2013

Francescatti & Casadesus play... Franck / Debussy. Violin Sonatas - CBS 1946/7

Cesar Franck:  Sonata in A major                        
I:  Allegretto ben moderato  -  II:  Allegro  -  III:  Recitativo - Fantasia (Ben moderato)  -  IV:  Allegretto poco mosso 
Claude Debussy:  Sonata in G minor   
I:  Allegro vivo  -  II:  Intermede  -  III:  Finale       
2 files zip FLAC   Mega Download
Zino Francescatti, violin  -&-  Robert Casadesus, piano  
EMI / Columbia  33CX 1111    Original 1953 pressing: 1949 Columbia ML 4178. CBS Matrices: XLP1175 -2C (recut) / XLP1176 -1B.  
Recorded: 7 May 1947 / 26 April 1946       Superlative Debussy performance (excellent sound).  The Franck amplified by 1dB to 'match' Mvt.IV (with its somewhat compressed dynamics).      Sleeve-note >>>






5 comments:

  1. Thank you. I know these recordings very well but I am curious to listen to your transfers.

    Have a nice day

    Andrea

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    Replies
    1. Didn't think they were currently available (had intended uploading long-ago) - but seems they are - so 'my mistake' for transferring them...and might as well delete this post...and get around to selling the LP.

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    2. Not your mistake at all!! I for one had never heard these fantastic recordings. Grew up with the electrifying Heifetz/Rubinstein of the Franck as well as the early Cortot/Thibaud recordings. This is a wonderful complement. Thank You!!

      Herb (Canada)

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    3. Pretty well all the time I've done these blogs it's been uppermost in my mind not to 'duplicate' material that is available on CD - although the 'Historical' category is different inasmuch as current transfers from 78 are likely to 'sound different/not always better' - so can be 'justified' even if there's a CD issue.

      In this case the transfers (judged against any recent CD) may well be inferior - simply due to the '1949 technology' employed to create the tape/s (not to mention my 60yo pressing!): so discovering there was a Jap Sony issue (just a few months back) was a bit annoying: but the Debussy, in particular, I felt was such a splendid performance - hence the original intention to upload it (also the Brahms Concerto/Ormandy on another blog: to which I would've added the original 6-eye stereo of the Double Concerto/Walter - and the Brahms/Bernstein is an LP I bought as a teenager.

      But not everyone 'has everything' on CD - so this, despite my bout of self-flagellation, serves a purpose to those who'd never heard them - and, until a week back, I'd never listened to the UK stereo Bruch VC1 - which sounded remarkably good...

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  2. Also this is the first time that any Debussy's string sonata makes sense to me - wonderful playing! You were not kidding about the 'superlative'.

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