Decca Recordings, 1949-1964, Vol. 1

Decca Recordings, 1949-1964, Vol. 1

Decca Recordings, 1949-1964, Vol. 1
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Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Composer: Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Composer: Franz [Vienna] Schubert
Composer: Cesar Franck
Composer: Henry Litolff
Composer: Manuel de Falla
Composer: Alan Rawsthorne
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: George Szell
Conductor: Adrian Boult
Conductor: Enrique Jorda
Conductor: Malcolm Sargent
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London
Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Performer: Clifford Curzon
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Import, Limited Edition
CD Release Date: 2003-05-13
Music Label: Decca Import
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ('Emperor'), Op. 73: I. Allegro
  2. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ('Emperor'), Op. 73: II. Adagio un poco mosso -
  3. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ('Emperor'), Op. 73: III. Rondo: Allegro
  4. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito
  5. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: II. Andantino semplice - Prestissimo - Tempo I
  6. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro con fuoco
Music CD 2
  1. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): I. Allegro moderato, F minor
  2. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): II. Allegretto, A flat major
  3. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): III. Theme and Variations, B flat major
  4. Impromptus (4) for piano, D. 935 (Op. posth. 142): IV. Allegro scherzando, F minor
  5. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major ('Gasteiner'), D. 850 (Op. 53): I. Allegro Vivace
  6. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major ('Gasteiner'), D. 850 (Op. 53): II. Con moto
  7. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major ('Gasteiner'), D. 850 (Op. 53): III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
  8. Piano Sonata No. 17 in D major ('Gasteiner'), D. 850 (Op. 53): IV. Rondo: Allegro moderato
Music CD 3
  1. Symphonic Variations, for piano & orchestra (also arr. for 2 pianos), M. 46
  2. Concerto Symphonique for piano & orchestra No. 4 in D minor, Op. 102: Scherzo
  3. Noches en los jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain), for piano & orchestra, G. 49: I. En el Generalife
  4. Noches en los jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain), for piano & orchestra, G. 49: II. Danza lejana
  5. Noches en los jardines de España (Nights in the Gardens of Spain), for piano & orchestra, G. 49: III. En los jardines de la Sierra de
  6. Piano Concerto No. 2: I. Allegro piacevole
  7. Piano Concerto No. 2: II. Allegro molto
  8. Piano Concerto No. 2: III. Intermezzo
  9. Piano Concerto No. 2: IV. Allegro
Music CD 4
  1. Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488: I. Allegro
  2. Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488: II. Adagio
  3. Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488: III. Allegro assai
  4. Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K. 595: I. Allegro
  5. Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K. 595: II. Larghetto
  6. Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major, K. 595: III. Allegro

Music reviews of Decca Recordings, 1949-1964, Vol. 1

Music Review: Cliiford Curzon: The Consummate Artist.
Rating: 5 Stars

First an oddity on CD1: at 4:56 in movement 1 of the Emperor and at 11:18 and 14:04 in the first movement of the Tchaikovsky are pitch fluctuations so noticeable that I thought there was something wrong with the CD or my computer (or CD drive). But now I think they were just fluctuations in the master tapes that couldn't be rectified (though I don't know why they couldn't have been digitally corrected). Would be interesting to know if others hear these same pitch fluctuations in their copies.

That being said, the performances are crisp and clean in good mono sound for the time. Curzon's playing is so lyrical and expressive that it's a delight to hear. Szell's conducting is crisp and attaca with very clear orchestral timbres. I think he gives great accounts of both these war horses and it's delightful to hear a younger Curzon in these pieces. I never heard Curzon in these works before so I can't compare them to later stereo recordings but these accounts sounded impressive indeed.

CD2: All Schubert. The Four Impromptus, D. 935 are lovingly played. Curzon's sensitivity and sensibility is almost painfully evident in how beautifully he plays these pieces. These are some of the best interpretations I've ever heard of these relatively well-known pieces. These are also from an older mono recording. (I'm not sure if he re-recorded these as well in stereo but it would be interesting to hear if he did). The sound for 1952 is quite good.

The big D Major Sonata, D.850 is a stereo recording from 1964, in, as to be expected, better sound. It is marvelous as well though a Richter recording I have (had?) I liked better. The Curzon recording compared to the Richter account is much finer and aristocratic and not quite as dramatic as the Richter. On the other hand, one could argue, it is more classically proportioned, with less rubato than the Richter account. I guess what I mean to say is it is an equally fine account; just that the Richter was the first recording I heard of the work and I got that interpretation into my brain.

CD3: Franck Symphonic Variations, Litloff Scherzo, De Falla Nights in the Gardens of Spain, and Rawsthorne 2nd piano concerto (only non-familiar work to me): The Franck and Litloff are in suprisingly good sound for the era (1958). The Franck is brilliant and virtuosic yet with that unmistakable sense of balance and rythym that is so characteristic of Curzon's playing. The Litloff is the same....excellent. I'm not sure if this is the same recording I had in an earlier CD with the Brahms 1st piano concerto and Szell but I think that's a later recording.

The De Falla and Rawsthorne are both older mono recordings. But, again, for the time, their sound is surprisingly good in my opinion. I'm not as familiar with the De Falla and never heard the Rawsthorne before but my impression is they are fine performances.

CD4: Mozart Piano Concertos Nos. 23 and 27 with George Szell conducting. These are stereo performances from 1964 and are different than the performances on a 2-CD set of Mozart piano concertos released earlier with Britten and Kertesz and the ENglish Chamber Orchestra. Curzon rejected these performances for release during his life though it's difficult to see why. Again, they are excellent.

All in all this 4 CD-set is a valuable addition to anyone interested in Curzon. I look forward to obtaining the other sets in the series!
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